High rejection reverse osmosis membrane element Ecosoft HR-4040

The main advantage of the HR series membranes is efficient operation at low pressure while maintaining high salt rejection and permeate flow, allowing the use of less powerful pumps. They can also be used with feed water containing elevated nitrate and silicate levels.

The typical operating pressure is around 7–10 bar (100–150 psi), depending on feed water temperature and salinity.

The nominal permeate flow rate of one Ecosoft HR-4040 element is 11.2 m³/day, or approximately 2900 GPD.

Ecosoft HR-4040 membranes are designed for purification of low-mineralized feed water, such as tap or well water, with TDS up to 2500 mg/L. In Ecosoft RO systems operating at 75% recovery and feed water temperature of 12°C, feed water TDS of 2500 mg/L typically corresponds to permeate TDS of approximately 100 mg/L.

The operating pH range is 3–10 in operational mode and 2–12 in chemical cleaning mode. This allows effective chemical cleaning under controlled conditions.

Ecosoft HR-4040 membranes offer higher salt rejection than HF-4040 membranes and can remove nitrates and silicates from water more efficiently. Ecosoft HF-4040 membranes have lower salt rejection, but provide higher permeate flow at extra-low operating pressure and are recommended for feed water with TDS up to 1500 mg/L.

Store the membrane in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, in sealed packaging or in a preservative solution to prevent damage during storage.

Yes, membrane performance depends directly on water temperature. As temperature decreases, water viscosity increases, making it harder for water to pass through the membrane. As a result, permeate flow decreases. A drop of 1°C typically reduces performance by about 3%, so if the water is 10°C colder, permeate flow may be about 30% lower. This is normal membrane operation.

It is not recommended to use reverse osmosis without proper pretreatment. Reverse osmosis membranes are highly sensitive to iron, even more than to hardness salts. If iron content exceeds 0.1 mg/L, it can oxidize on the membrane surface and form a layer that is difficult to remove by standard chemical cleaning. If the feed water has a high iron content, pretreatment with iron removal or Ecomix systems is recommended.

If the system is stopped for up to 48 hours, the membrane can remain inside the system filled with water. If the shutdown lasts more than 2 days, the system should be flushed with fresh water once a day. If the shutdown lasts more than a week, the membrane should be preserved with a special solution to prevent bacterial and algae growth.

If pressure in the permeate line exceeds pressure in the feed line even by 0.3–0.5 bar, the membrane selective layer may separate from the substrate. In such cases, the membrane usually has to be replaced.

The main applications of this membrane are car washes, glass production, household and industrial chemicals, chemical enterprises, laboratories, and distilled water preparation.

The maximum allowable operating pressure is 41 bar (600 psi). However, systems typically operate at much lower pressures to optimize energy efficiency.

Like iron, manganese can oxidize and form a black deposit on the membrane surface. The problem is that manganese oxide acts as a catalyst, increasing the oxidizing effect of even trace amounts of chlorine and accelerating damage to the polyamide layer. The manganese level should be below 0.05 mg/L.

The recommended feed water parameters are: hardness up to 150 ppm as CaCO₃, TDS up to 3000 mg/L, chlorides below 2000 mg/L, silica up to 20 mg/L as SiO₂, free chlorine below 0.1 mg/L, chemical oxygen demand up to 5 mg O₂/L, iron below 0.1 mg/L, manganese below 0.05 mg/L, no hydrogen sulfide, SDI below 5, and pH in the range of 3–10. The TDS also specifies free chlorine tolerance below 0.1 mg/L, maximum SDI 5, and operating pH range 3–10.