Reverse Osmosis (RO) Unit
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Navigation: Main Page -> Models -> Mass Separation Models
Contents
General Description
This model is designed to simulate a reverse osmosis membrane process, often used in water treatment, especially for desalination of sea water.
The user may specify the yield and efficiency of the process, as well as the outlet pressure requirements.
The unit expects the feed to be free of solids. If solids are fed to the unit, the user will receive a warning and any solids will be sent to the Brine stream.
If a vent stream is connected, then all gases will exit via the Vent. If gases are present and there is no vent connection then the user will receive a warning and all gases will be sent to the Brine stream.
Diagram
- The diagram shows default drawing of the Reverse Osmosis unit with connecting streams.
- The physical location of the streams connecting to the unit is unimportant. The user may connect the streams to any position on the unit.
- When inserting a Reverse Osmosis unit into a flowsheet, the user may choose a different symbol from the menu.
Inputs and Outputs
| Label | Required Optional |
Input Output |
Number of Connections | Description | |
| Min | Max. | ||||
| Feed | Required | In | 1 | 20 | Inlet liquid feed stream to the unit, usually water with dissolved salts. |
| Product | Required | Out | 1 | 1 | Outlet product stream of the unit, usually purified water. |
| Brine | Required | Out | 1 | 1 | Outlet brine or waste stream of the unit. |
| Vent | Optional | Out | 0 | 1 | Optional gas outlet from the unit. |
Behaviour when Model is OFF
If the user disables the unit, by un-ticking the On tick box, then the following actions occur:
- All feed material will flow straight out of the Brine outlet;
- No material will flow out of the Product or Vent outlets;
- No sub-models will be called.
So basically, the unit will be 'bypassed' without the user having to change any connections.
Data Sections
The default access window consists of several sections:
- ReverseOsmosis - The first tab contains general information relating to the unit and allows the user to configure the unit
- PC - Optional tab, only visible if EB.Solubility.On and/or [email protected] is enabled in the Evaluation Block.
- RB - Optional tab, only visible if Reactions are enabled in the Evaluation Block.
- EHX - Optional tab, only visible if EnvironHX is enabled in the Evaluation Block.
- Evap - Optional tab, only visible if Evaporator is enabled in the Evaluation Block.
- MU - Optional tab, or multiple tabs if more than 1 Makeup is selected. Only visible if one of more Makeups are enabled in the Evaluation Block.
- DB - Optional tab, or multiple tabs if more than 1 Discard Block is selected. Only visible if one of more Discard Blocks are enabled in the Evaluation Block. Only available in Build 138 or later.
- QFeed - Optional tab, only visible if ShowQFeed is enabled. This page shows the properties of the mixed stream as the feed to the unit. If user has specified a required pressure in the unit, the mixed feed will be set to this pressure. This may cause the temperature of the mixture to change if the delta P is significantly different.
- This is before any Evaluation Block sub-models are evaluated.
- Info tab - contains general settings for the unit and allows the user to include documentation about the unit and create Hyperlinks to external documents.
- Links tab, contains a summary table for all the input and output streams.
- Audit tab - contains summary information required for Mass and Energy balance. See Model Examples for enthalpy calculation Examples.
ReverseOsmosis
Unit Type: ReverseOsmosis - The first tab page in the access window will have this name.
| Tag (Long/Short) | Input / Calc | Description/Calculated Variables / Options |
| Tag | Display | This name tag may be modified with the change tag option. |
| Condition | Display | OK if no errors/warnings, otherwise lists errors/warnings. |
| ConditionCount | Display | The current number of errors/warnings. If condition is OK, returns 0. |
| GeneralDescription / GenDesc | Display | This is an automatically generated description for the unit. If the user has entered text in the 'EqpDesc' field on the Info tab (see below), this will be displayed here. If this field is blank, then:
|
| Requirements | ||
| On | Tickbox | This variable in used to turn the unit ON or OFF. If the unit is OFF, all feed will exit via the Brine outlet. |
| Model | Simple | User only needs to specify Yield and Overall efficiency. No setting of pressures. No sub-models can be used. |
| General | User can choose from several efficiency methods and specify the outlet pressures. Sub-models can be used. | |
| YieldReqd | Input | Required fraction of pure water in the feed which is recovered to the product stream. |
| EffMethod | Only visible if Model selected is General | |
| Overall | User can specify a single efficiency of removal for all non-water liquid species. | |
| Individual Phase | User can specify an efficiency of removal for each individual liquid phase. | |
| Impurity Frac | User can specify the fraction of impurities in the product stream. | |
| EfficiencyReqd | Input | Only available if Model is set to Simple, or with General Model, EffMethod is set to Overall. Required fraction of liquid species other than water that are recovered to the brine stream. |
| EfficiencyReqd.x | Input | Only available if EffMethod is set to Individual Phase. Required fraction of species in individual phase x (other than water) that are recovered to the brine stream. |
| ImpurityFracReqd / ImpFracReqd | Input | Only available if EffMethod is set to Impurity Frac. Required fraction of liquid species other than water in the product stream. |
| Pressure Requirements (Only visible if Model selected is General) | ||
| Prod.PressureReqd / P_Reqd | Input | Required pressure of the product stream. |
| Brine.PressDropReqd / PDropReqd | Input | Required pressure drop from the feed pressure to the brine stream. |
| OperatingP - NOTE: this pressure is applied to the (combined) feed, before sub-models (if any). | ||
| Method | AutoDetect | If there are any liquids AND no vapours present in the feed, outlet streams will take the highest pressure of the feeds. Else (eg. some vapours present) outlet streams will take the lowest pressure of the feeds. |
| LowestFeed | Outlet streams will take the lowest pressure of the feeds. | |
| HighestFeed | Outlet streams will take the highest pressure of the feeds. | |
| Atmospheric | Outlet streams will be at Atmospheric Pressure. The atmospheric pressure is calculated by SysCAD based on the user defined elevation (default elevation is at sea level = 101.325 kPa). The elevation can be changed on the Environment tab page of the Plant Model. | |
| RequiredP | Outlet streams will be at the user specified pressure. | |
| IgnoreLowMassFlow / IgnoreLowQm | Tick Box | This option is only visible if the AutoDetect, LowestFeed or HighestFeed methods are chosen. When calculating the outlet pressure and temperature of the tank, SysCAD will ignore the low flow feed streams should this option be selected. The low flow limit is set in the field below. |
| LowMassFlowFrac / LowQmFrac | Input | This field is only visible if the IgnoreLowQm option is selected. This is the amount any stream contributes to the total flow. For example, if the total feed to the tank is 10 kg/s, and this field is set to 1%. Then any feed streams with less than 0.1 kg/s will be ignored in the pressure calculations. |
| PressureReqd / P_Reqd | Input | This field is only visible if the RequiredP method is chosen. This is user specified pressure. |
| Result | Calc | The actual pressure used for the sum of the feeds which will also be the outlet pressure (unless further model options change the pressure). |
| EB... (Flow Evaluation Block) (Only visible if Model selected is General) | ||
| Solubility.On | Tickbox | Only visible if Solubility has been defined for at least one species in the project. Allows the user to switch on any predefined solubility curve to adjust the composition of material in the unit. |
| [email protected] | Tickbox | Only visible if Phase Change at Temperature has been defined for at least one species in the project. Allows the user to switch on any predefined phase changes at temperature in the unit. |
| EvalSequence | Calc | The sequence in which the sub models (which are part of the evaluation blocks) will be calculated. The sequence is determined by the priority selection for the individual sub-models. Note: If the user chooses On-AutoSequence then SysCAD will determine the sequence of the sub-models. The sequence followed will be MU1, MU2, etc., RB, EHX, Evap, DB1, DB2, etc. |
| Makeups | Input | The number of makeup blocks required. Extra dropdown options Makeup1, Makeup2, etc will be added to allow these to be switched on and off and prioritised in relation to the other sub-models. |
| MakeupX | List | This can be used to switch the Makeup Block (MU) on or off and prioritise it in relation to the other sub-models. If this is 'On' then the associated page, MUX becomes visible and may be configured. Note: This field is only visible if the entry for 'Makeups' is greater than 0. If there is one makeup then X=1. If there are two makeups, then X=1 and X=2, etc. |
| Reactions | List | This can be used to switch on the Reaction Block (RB). If this is 'On' then the associated page, RB becomes visible and may be configured. Note: The user does not have to configure a reaction file, even if this block is checked. |
| EnvironHX | List | This can be used to switch on the Environmental Heat Exchanger (EHX). If this is 'On' then the associated page, EHX becomes visible and may be configured. Note: The user does not have to configure an environmental heat exchange, even if this block is checked. |
| Evaporation | List | This can be used to switch on the Evaporation Block (Evap). If this is 'On' then the associated page, Evap becomes visible and may be configured. Note: The user does not have to configure an evaporator, even if this block is checked. |
| Discards | Input | Only available in Build 138 or later. The number of discard blocks required. Extra dropdown options Discard1, Discard2, etc will be added to allow these to be switched on. |
| DiscardX | List | Only available in Build 138 or later. This can be used to switch the Discard Block (DB) on or off and prioritise it in relation to the other sub-models. If this is 'On' then the associated page, DBX becomes visible and may be configured. Note: This field is only visible if the entry for 'Discards' is greater than 0. If there is one discard then X=1. If there are two discards, then X=1 and X=2, etc. |
| Residence Time | ||
| ResTime... | ||
| Calc | Tickbox | Allows the user to specify the volume of the unit, from which a residence time can be calculated. |
| Volume | Input | Only visible if the Calc option has been enabled. The operating volume of the unit. This will be used to calculate the apparent residence time in the unit. This is based on the volumetric flow of all outlets from the unit. |
| MassFlow / Qm | Calc | Only visible if the Calc option has been enabled. The mass flow of material from the unit. |
| Temperature / T | Calc | Only visible if the Calc option has been enabled. The temperature of the material leaving the unit. |
| Slurry | Calc | Only visible if the Calc option has been enabled. The residence time of the slurry in the unit. |
| Total | Calc | Only visible if the Calc option has been enabled. The residence time for the slurry and the vapours in the unit. If there are any vapours leaving the unit, then this value will be smaller than the Slurry figure. |
| Options | ||
| ShowQFeed | Tick Box | QFeed and associated tab pages (eg. Sp) will become visible, showing the properties of the combined feed stream. See Material Flow Section. This will be prior to any sub-model (eg reactions) actions. |
| TrackStatus | Tick Box | If this box is checked, the unit will flag warnings if gases are present but no vent connected, or if solids are present. |
| Separation Results | ||
| Yield | Calc | Fraction of pure water in the feed which is recovered to the product stream. |
| Efficiency | Calc | Fraction of liquid species other than water that are recovered to the brine stream. |
| Brine.PressDrop / PDrop | Calc | Pressure drop from the feed pressure to the brine stream. |
| Product | ||
| Prod.MassFlow | Calc | Total mass flow of the product stream. |
| Prod.WaterMassFlow | Calc | Mass flow of pure water in the product stream. |
| Prod.AqueousMassFlow | Calc | Mass flow of aqueous species in the product stream. |
| Prod.ImpurityFrac | Calc | Fraction of liquid species other than water in the product stream. |
| Prod.ImpurityConc | Calc | Concentration of liquid species other than water in the product stream. |
| Prod.VolFlow | Calc | Total volume flow of the product stream. |
| Prod.SolidMassFlow | Calc | Mass flow of solids in the product stream. |
| Prod.LiquidMassFlow | Calc | Mass flow of liquids in the product stream. |
| Prod.SolidFrac | Calc | Mass fraction of solids in the product stream. |
| Prod.LiquidFrac | Calc | Mass fraction of liquids in the product stream. |
| Prod.Temperature | Calc | Temperature of the product stream. |
| Prod.Pressure | Calc | Pressure of the product stream. |
| Prod.Density | Calc | Density of the product stream. |
| Brine | ||
| Brine.MassFlow | Calc | Total mass flow of the brine stream. |
| Brine.WaterMassFlow | Calc | Mass flow of pure water in the brine stream. |
| Brine.AqueousMassFlow | Calc | Mass flow of aqueous species in the brine stream. |
| Brine.ImpurityFrac | Calc | Fraction of liquid species other than water in the brine stream. |
| Brine.ImpurityConc | Calc | Concentration of liquid species other than water in the brine stream. |
| Brine.VolFlow | Calc | Total volume flow of the brine stream. |
| Brine.SolidMassFlow | Calc | Mass flow of solids in the brine stream. |
| Brine.LiquidMassFlow | Calc | Mass flow of liquids in the brine stream. |
| Brine.SolidFrac | Calc | Mass fraction of solids in the brine stream. |
| Brine.LiquidFrac | Calc | Mass fraction of liquids in the brine stream. |
| Brine.Temperature | Calc | Temperature of the brine stream. |
| Brine.Pressure | Calc | Pressure of the brine stream. |
| Brine.Density | Calc | Density of the brine stream. |
| GridDisplay | Tickbox | Toggles between showing the product and brine stream results in a grid (table) format or in a list. This is a global selection that will affect the display of results in other access windows. |
Adding this Model to a Project
Insert into Configuration file
Sort either by DLL or Group.
| DLL: | Separation.dll | → | Units/Links | → | Separation: Reverse Osmosis | |
| or | Group: | Mass Separation | → | Units/Links | → | Separation: Reverse Osmosis |
See Project Configuration for more information on adding models to the configuration file.
Insert into Project
| Insert Unit | → | Separation | → | Reverse Osmosis |
See Insert Unit for general information on inserting units.
