Maintenance of RO (reverse osmosis) equipment is essential to ensure its long-term stable operation and good performance. Here are some maintenance methods:

1. Daily maintenance

Regular inspection

Check the operating status of the equipment every day, including whether the readings of instruments such as pressure gauges and flow meters are normal. Carefully observe the fluctuations in the value of the pressure gauge. If the pressure increases or decreases abnormally, it may mean that the equipment has problems such as blockage or leakage. At the same time, pay attention to the display of the flow meter to ensure that the water production flow and the concentrated water flow are within a reasonable range. If the flow changes abnormally, the cause must be promptly investigated.

Pay attention to observe whether the equipment has water leakage, water seepage, and whether the various connection parts are tight. Even a small leak may cause serious problems after long-term operation, so carefully check the pipe connection, valve seal and other parts. Repair the leaks found in time, tighten the loose connections, and ensure the tightness of the equipment operation.

Check whether the raw water inlet pressure is within the normal range. Generally speaking, different RO equipment has different requirements for raw water pressure, usually between 0.2-0.4MPa. If the inlet pressure is too high, it may damage the equipment; if the pressure is too low, it will affect the water production efficiency. The raw water inlet pressure can be stabilized by installing a pressure regulating valve.

Recording operation data

Establish an operation record account to record the operating parameters of the equipment, such as inlet pressure, water production flow, concentrate flow, conductivity, etc. Detailed recording of these data can provide an important basis for subsequent equipment maintenance and performance analysis. For example, by observing the change in conductivity, it can be determined whether the performance of the reverse osmosis membrane has declined, and the change in the ratio of water production flow to concentrate flow can reflect the operating efficiency of the equipment.

By comparing data at different times, changes in equipment performance can be discovered in time so that corresponding maintenance measures can be taken. If it is found that the water production flow rate is gradually decreasing, the conductivity is increasing, or the pressure difference is increasing, it is necessary to consider reverse osmosis membrane cleaning, filter element replacement and other maintenance operations.

Filter element replacement

The filter element of the pretreatment part (such as sand filter, carbon filter, etc.) needs to be replaced regularly. Generally speaking, the replacement cycle of sand filter element is 3-6 months, and the replacement cycle of activated carbon filter element is 6-12 months. However, the actual replacement cycle will vary depending on the quality of the raw water. If the raw water quality is poor and contains more impurities such as silt, rust, etc., the sand filter element may need to be replaced more frequently; if the organic content in the raw water is high, the adsorption saturation rate of the activated carbon filter element will be accelerated, and the replacement cycle will also need to be shortened.

When replacing the filter element, choose a product with reliable quality and replace it in strict accordance with the operating procedures. Make sure that the new filter element is installed correctly and well sealed to avoid water leakage or poor filtration effect.

2. Regular maintenance

Reverse osmosis membrane cleaning

When the water output of the RO equipment decreases by 10% - 15%, the water quality of the produced water decreases (such as increased conductivity) or the pressure difference increases by 10% - 15%, the reverse osmosis membrane needs to be cleaned. Timely cleaning can restore the performance of the membrane and extend its service life.

There are two cleaning methods: physical cleaning and chemical cleaning. Physical cleaning mainly removes dirt on the membrane surface by low-pressure flushing, backwashing, etc. For example, a lower pressure water flow can be used to reversely flush the water production side of the membrane to wash away the particulate matter attached to the membrane surface. Chemical cleaning uses a specific cleaning agent, and selects the appropriate cleaning agent and cleaning scheme according to the contamination of the membrane. If the membrane is contaminated by organic matter, an alkaline cleaning agent can be used; if it is contaminated by inorganic matter, an acidic cleaning agent can be used. When performing chemical cleaning, the concentration, temperature and cleaning time of the cleaning agent must be strictly controlled to avoid damage to the membrane.

Disinfection and sterilization

Regularly disinfect and sterilize the RO equipment to prevent the growth of microorganisms. Chemical disinfectants (such as sodium hypochlorite, chlorine dioxide, etc.) can be used for disinfection, or hot water disinfection and other methods can be used. Chemical disinfectants have the advantages of strong bactericidal effect and easy operation, but attention should be paid to the residual problem of disinfectants to avoid affecting the water quality of the produced water. Hot water disinfection uses high temperature to kill microorganisms, which is relatively safe and environmentally friendly, but the operation is more complicated and requires special design and control of the equipment.

The disinfection cycle is generally 1-3 months, and the specific time depends on the quality of the raw water and the operation of the equipment. If the raw water quality is poor, contains more microorganisms, or the equipment is operated in a high temperature and high humidity environment, the disinfection cycle should be appropriately shortened.

Valve maintenance

Regularly check the various valves on the equipment to ensure that the valves are flexible and well sealed. The valve is an important component in the RO equipment, controlling the direction and flow of the water flow. If the valve fails, it may cause the equipment to fail to operate normally or leak.

Repair or replace the faulty valve in time. When repairing the valve, pay attention to check whether the valve seals, valve cores and other components are damaged, and replace them in time if necessary. At the same time, ensure that the valve is installed in the correct position and connected firmly to avoid loosening or displacement during operation.

3. Precautions

Raw water quality control

Ensure that the raw water quality meets the requirements of the RO equipment. If the raw water quality is poor, you can consider adding pretreatment equipment such as ultrafiltration and softening. Ultrafiltration can remove impurities such as macromolecular organic matter and colloids in the raw water and improve the inlet water quality of the RO equipment; softening can remove calcium, magnesium and other ions in the raw water to prevent reverse osmosis membrane scaling.

Regularly test the raw water quality so that pretreatment and maintenance measures can be adjusted in time. Through water quality testing, various indicators of raw water, such as turbidity, hardness, organic matter content, etc., can be understood. According to the test results, the pretreatment process and the operating parameters of the RO equipment can be adjusted to ensure the stable operation of the equipment and the quality of water produced.

Operation specification

The operator should strictly follow the operation manual of the equipment to avoid damage to the equipment due to misoperation. For example, when the equipment is started and shut down, the operation should be carried out in the correct order to avoid damage to the equipment caused by instantaneous pressure shock. During the operation, pay attention to observe the operating status of the equipment, and any abnormal situation should be handled in time.

Train the operators to make them familiar with the performance and operation methods of the equipment. The training content can include the principle, structure, operation process, maintenance and other aspects of the equipment to improve the technical level and sense of responsibility of the operators.

Environmental requirements

RO equipment should be installed in a well-ventilated, dry and clean environment, avoiding direct sunlight and humidity. A good environment can reduce corrosion and damage to the equipment and extend the service life of the equipment. If the equipment is installed in a humid environment, it may cause problems such as short circuit of electrical components and rust of metal parts.

A certain amount of space should be maintained around the equipment for maintenance and overhaul. Leave enough space around the equipment to facilitate operators to inspect, repair and replace parts of the equipment. At the same time, make sure there are no obstacles around the equipment to avoid affecting the heat dissipation and ventilation of the equipment.

In short, the maintenance of RO equipment needs to be carried out regularly and adjusted according to the actual operation of the equipment and the quality of the raw water. Through reasonable maintenance, the service life of the equipment can be extended, the quality and stability of the produced water can be improved, and reliable water resources can be provided to users.