Features of the membrane filter for water

In today's world, water quality can not be dispensed with. To use this kind of water, you can go in two ways: buy bottles of purified water every time or install a filtration system in your apartment.

Water purification systems vary. Especially popular were membrane filters for water purification. They allow you to perform water purification quickly and efficiently. And the filters cope with the tasks of any complexity and purify the water of varying degrees of contamination.

The main element that is inside the filter is a special membrane. The filter works on this principle: it passes water through the membrane( it consists of several layers of material that resembles a tissue), which keeps all impurities in the water that are unnecessary for the human body.

Cleaning Methods

The following are available for sale: membrane type water filters that purify water using the following methods:

• by microfiltration;
• by nanofiltration;
• dialysis;
• reverse osmosis.

Depending on which cleaning method you choose, a suitable membrane( filter) is installed. To choose the type of membrane, you need to determine its characteristics.

membrane characteristics Depending on the desired result, the filters have the following characteristics:

1. Ability to delay or divide. A "selective" type of membrane filter. To obtain water of high quality, it is necessary that the selectivity has the highest value. It has a different value for each substance. Determine the selectivity of a special table or catalog. It has an exact designation and is very rarely limited to the top and bottom. In addition, there are ways that you can calculate the value of each component separately.
2. Filter capacity by specific gravity. This characteristic is calculated exclusively from the table( or catalog), but only in purified water. To find out the real value, it is necessary to conduct an experiment. But, as practice shows, you can learn the working interval based on the initial parameter. In most cases, it does not exceed the values ​​of a filter having a filler, even if pyrolyx is used as the loading material for verification.
3. Strength of the filter by mechanical parameters. The characteristic is used for membranes under mechanical action, as well as vibration( when the pump is turned on), there is a friction force of the flow or turbulent deformation occurs).In addition, the strength of the membrane plays a significant role in the installation of the system. This indicator is taken into account when it is necessary to choose the method of installing the system.
4. Chemical resistance. This characteristic must be observed when selecting a system, it is responsible for the stability of the filter layer to the influence of an aggressive environment and provides a reliable barrier to acid, alkali and detergents.
5. Biological stability of the filter. Protects the membrane from microorganisms, which often accumulate on the surface.
6. Resistance to high temperatures.
7. Filter resource. This indicator depends on the operation of the filter, its regenerating modes, conditions during the idle period. Membrane filters are significantly superior to other cleaning plants with loading cleaning materials.
8. Compliance with health standards. This indicator is important in the food and medical industry.
9. Indefinite period of storage of the membrane, if not in use. This concerns the shelf life of membranes that are not in use. Even in a state of rest, bacteria and microorganisms can accumulate on them, each layer of the membrane can dry out, deform and stick together. Therefore, filter layers should be stored in a sealed package, or dried( if this item is prescribed in the instructions).
10. Cost. This characteristic reflects the cost of the membrane with respect to the total cost of the entire installation. Buy a membrane filter for water for a high price will be more difficult, even if the membrane has a ceramic spraying and will last much longer.
11. Recycling. There are several ways to recycle, each described in detail in the operating instructions of the filter unit.

Laying methods

The membrane filter for water, depending on the type of cleaning system, has different ways of laying. The following types are distinguished:

1. Flat chamber filter element: "press filter".
2. Tubular filter elements.
3. Spiral or roll water purification elements.
4. Membranes arranged in the form of fibers and having cavities inside.

Each membrane filter has different water flow and pressure distribution coefficients.

If a method of microfiltration of water is used, then it is better to choose a plant equipped with a "press filter" system. It has flat-plate filter elements or pumps with dispensers. Such devices have two membranes( flat), in which the distance is filled with drainage materials. Such systems are installed in places where the demand for high quality water is low, due to their low productivity.

Also, when cleaning water by the "Ultrafiltration" method, apparatuses equipped with tubular filter elements are installed, which additionally contribute to water softening. Inside the purification plants, porous tubes( 5 to 20 millimeters in diameter) are installed, with a thin layer of membrane material.

Systems that are equipped with the "reverse osmosis" method are installed in large enterprises. The cleaning system is a roll type having a flat frame and a plate, represented in the form of a spiral.

In addition, according to numerous reviews, membrane filters for water installed in the apparatus "fiber type" are highly popular.

Answers to frequently asked questions

You have a large selection of different water treatment systems. Which one to choose? How will it work and what kind of water will you drink? In order not to doubt, whether membrane water purification is necessary, we answer the frequently asked questions:

1. Composition of the filter. It consists of several layers of semipermeable material. The layers have a strong connection. Water comes through a membrane that purifies water.
2. Is the membrane capable of removing bacteria? Yes, of course, because the size of the membrane opening has a smaller diameter than the size of bacteria and viruses.
3. Purified water has a certain taste? In fact, there will not be any significant changes. The water will have the same flavor as it was before cleaning, but it is slightly different, depending on how many membranes are installed in the system. For example, if the plant is able to purify up to 95 percent of the water from impurities, then the water will have the same taste as distilled or spring water, which has a low percentage of minerals.
4. Does purified water affect the taste of food? On the contrary, membrane filters delay elements that "mask" the real taste of water. This also applies to cooking, especially beverages. If you use pure water, then you can put half the coffee instead of one spoon, and the taste and aroma of the drink will be bright. On the water that has passed the path of cleaning through a membrane filter, cocktails and juices are prepared.
5. After cleaning, useful substances also leave the water? Most of the minerals that are needed for the human body, it gets along with the food. Therefore, if only one percent of the minerals are not supplied with water, nothing terrible will happen. Also keep in mind that the tap water is not mineralized, because it comes from rivers and reservoirs, in which there are much more pollutants than useful minerals.
6. Where can I install the cleaning unit? As a rule, water purification systems are installed in the kitchen under the sink. Outside the tap for clean water is output. The set includes installation kit.
7. Does the system require certain skills and knowledge? You can change the filters yourself. About once every six months, the membranes need to be replaced with new ones.
8. When should I replace the membranes? If you notice that the installation began to produce less water or its taste began to change, then it's time to replace the filter. As a rule, during normal operation and timely replacement of filters, the membrane can be replaced after two to three years.

Factors affecting the water quality

Depending on certain points, the quality and quantity of water can vary:

1. Pressure. If the pressure is high, then both the quality and the amount of water will be higher.
2. Temperature. To make the water clean, it is necessary that its temperature is not lower than 24 degrees. If it drops significantly( for example, up to five degrees), it can significantly reduce its performance.
3. Dirty water can affect the operation of the unit. If the water is very dirty and the system pressure is normal, you can count on good water quality.
4. Membranes. They can have different quality: some have high performance, others - a high degree of purification.

In this video you can see the principle of water purification using membrane filters: