Standardized Data and Trending for RO Plant Operators

Long-term reliable membrane system performance can only be maintained by collection, analysis and evaluation of system data, allowing for effective actions whenever needed. Procedures for data collection, etc., have been devised and are the foundation of easy to use programs. And they are available at no cost to system operators. These spreadsheet programs convert system data into standardized data that can be trended. However, adoption and use of these programs has been low among personnel actually running membrane systems. Consequentially, in the aggregate, membrane systems are not being run as efficiently as is practically possible. Many tasks that confront membrane system operators require knowledge that is available only by trending of standardized system data. Such analysis provides a rational basis for overall management of system resources of labor, membranes, chemicals and equipment. These tasks include determining when to clean membrane, changing out membranes, trouble shooting, running pilot tests, and optimizing day to day system performance. This chapter reviews the common tasks operators carry out and gives examples of using standardized system data as a tool.