How reverse osmosis works: scheme and principle of operation

click fraud protection

Content

  1. The danger of tap water
  2. What is it and how does it work?
  3. Stages of cleaning
  4. Reverse Osmosis Myths
  5. Myth number 1
  6. Myth number 2
  7. Myth number 3
  8. Myth number 4

Reverse osmosis is the technology that protects you from the harmful effects of lead, heavy metals, chlorine, chemical impurities, pesticides, pathogens, bacteria, viruses, and even radioactive materials. We invite you to get acquainted with the principles of her work and verify the veracity of common myths about her.

Reverse osmosis technology - an advanced method of purification of drinking water

The danger of tap water

Pure water is one of the most important needs of our body. This is a sad fact, because a modern person has practically no access to it, especially when it comes to industrialized regions. This problem is elevated to the category of global. The data of numerous studies indicate that neither tap water nor well water is suitable for drinking now because of their severe pollution, rivers, lakes, and wells are poisoned.

Tap water can be harmful

Of course, pollutants are not at a level that can cause poisoning or other side effects instantly. However, accumulating over time, they can lead to the development of serious diseases. Even the chemicals used in urban water systems, such as chlorine and fluorine, are toxic.

The only way to protect yourself and loved ones is to purify the water. Reverse osmosis is considered one of the most effective and currently convenient ways to do this. Filtration is carried out by passing liquid through a semipermeable membrane, the cell thickness of which is 0.0001 microns (approximately 0.00001 mm).

This technology is used to create bottled and desalinated sea water. And in recent decades have appeared household reverse osmosis systemsto establish which in their apartments is being decided by an increasing number of people. Compact sizes, reasonable price and excellent quality of cleaning speak in favor of this filtration method. All this makes such devices simply indispensable in urban apartments. We offer to understand how it works reverse osmosis system.

Household reverse osmosis system installed under the sink

USEFUL INFORMATION:Main filter for water purification in the apartment: how to choose a flow filter (video)

What is it and how does it work?

Reverse osmosis technology is also known as industrial ultrafiltration. It was developed in the USA in the 1950s as part of a state-funded desalination program. Today, this method is considered one of the most convenient and effective filtering methods. It is used in many industries that require ultra-purified water in their work, as well as in everyday life.

The principle of the reverse osmosis system is the passage of water molecules through a semipermeable membrane under pressure. The reverse osmosis membrane case consists of sheets pressed against each other and wrapped around a hollow central tube. This configuration is usually called spiral or modular. It is available in various sizes, on which the system performance depends:

  • household appliances have small modules 5 cm in diameter and 25 cm long;
  • industrial - respectively 10 cm and 100 cm.

These membranes are placed in special containers called reverse osmosis membrane housings. They allow you to maintain the necessary pressure over the entire surface. It is it that is the driving force that causes the liquid to pass through the membrane that separates undesirable impurities.

The most simplified reverse osmosis scheme is shown below.

The principle of the reverse osmosis membrane

Reverse osmosis It has another amazing property: the filtered substances are automatically sent to the sewer, without accumulating in the system, as in conventional filtration. All harmful impurities are carried away in parts. This fact is the reason that the reverse osmosis membrane does not need to be replaced for several years of operation.

Stages of cleaning

The principle of operation of the reverse osmosis method is embodied in three stages:

  1. Preliminary water purification. Occurs in large vertical flasks. In the figure below they are indicated by the numbers 3, 4, 5.
  2. Passing through the membrane. The reverse osmosis membrane case (horizontal flask) is indicated by number 7.
  3. Stage cleaning. The flask indicated by number 12.

The reverse osmosis connection diagram is shown in the figure below.

Reverse Osmosis System Diagram

USEFUL INFORMATION:Methods of attaching polypropylene pipes to the wall

Water that has passed the pre-treatment stage enters a semipermeable membrane, where it is divided into two streams: one passes through the membrane and is cleaned, the second washes it outside and with all the impurities torn away by the membrane, merges into drainage. The reverse osmosis water purification system does not work quickly, so the liquid that has passed through the membrane accumulates in a special tank (No. 11 in the figure), from where it enters the post-treatment. At this stage of water filtration, an additional purification from odors and / or mineralization takes place.

Components of a reverse osmosis system

A great representative is filter Atoll A-575 box STD, it removes up to 99.9% of all impurities contained in water and prevents the formation of scale in heating appliances.

Benefits:

  • Significantly space is saved: a drinking tank is also installed inside the housing.
  • The filter is easy to keep clean when installed under the kitchen sink: no dirt gets on the structural elements of the system, no protruding elements or protruding connecting tubes.
  • The collapsible housing provides convenient access to parts and replacement parts.
  • The inline cartridge standard widely used in the world makes it possible to use Atoll filter elements in a wide assortment, for example, from Omnipure (USA) or Pentek (USA).
  • Inline cartridges are enclosed in a plastic case and have quick disconnect connections, therefore the procedure their replacement is hygienic (contact with contaminated surfaces excluded), and simple (no availability required special tool).
  • The integrated quality control system for purified water signals the need to replace the membrane element
atoll a-575 box stdsailboat

Reverse Osmosis Myths

Around the reverse osmosis system is a lot of myths.

Myth number 1

Reverse osmosis leaches the minerals our body needs.

There is no doubt that tap water contains a small amount of minerals, but their proportion is so small that it is simply not capable of exerting any influence on the state of health. For example, in a glass of orange juice there are more of them than in a whole bath of untreated liquid. On the contrary, it contains only inorganic compounds that are not digested by the body, as well as heavy metals, many of which are toxic or even radioactive. While he prefers organic minerals and trace elements, which can only be obtained from a balanced daily diet. Reverse osmosis removes inorganic minerals, metals, and more to provide you with clean, healthy, and natural drinking water.

USEFUL INFORMATION:Flexible water connection 1, 3/4, 3/8 and 1/2 inches: specifications

Pollution from which water is purified in different filtration systems

Myth number 2

A large amount of wastewater.

Yes, on the basis of the principle of reverse osmosis, a certain amount of washing water is formed, which is used to clean and rinse the membrane of pollutants filtered by it. This complex process allows you to not change the expensive membrane for several years. It also keeps the entire system clean, since most of the harmful impurities are discharged into the sewer rather than being trapped inside the filter housing. At the same time, the wastewater is clean enough, can be collected and used for watering plants, household cleaning measures.

Myth number 3

Nobody needs a five- and ten-micron pre-filter, because the membrane thickness is less than 1 micron.

The fact is that the membrane is very sensitive to chlorine, iron and organic impurities. During mechanical cleaning, their volumes are reduced to acceptable levels.

Many negative claims about reverse osmosis are not true

Myth number 4

Such water is absolutely tasteless, inanimate.

As for taste, then the question is very controversial. If you compare it with a tap, with a bright taste of bleach, then it really does not have a taste. If a well is implied, then, as a rule, it is enriched with minerals lying below the surface and has a subtle metallic flavor. Experts say that the filter, working on the principle of reverse osmosis, gives the liquid a taste similar to the taste of thawed glacial water. This is due to the use of a carbon filter at one of the cleaning stages.

To purchase or not the described filtration system for your apartment is exclusively your decision. However, remember that it has existed for more than 60 years, remaining all these years as an effective way of cleaning, which myths cannot reduce its popularity.

instagram viewer