THE UNIQUE REQUIREMENTS FOR VALVES IN
SRO APPLICATIONS
The seawater reverse
osmosis (SRO) industry
has been steadily
gathering momentum.
For the valve industry,
that growth opens up a
number of opportunities
for companies that
understand the unique
issues the industry
presents.
BY BEN LEE
Global Water Intelligence reported that in 2011, new construction
within the desalination industry was
about five million cubic meters per
hour (m3/hr), forecast to increase by
140% to 12 million m3/hr by 2016.
To meet the forecasted increase in
demand, individuals charged with
valve applications in this industry
know that, more than ever, paying
attention to materials selection,
equipment configuration and energy
efficiency are critical for improving
financial returns on the sizeable
investments required.
This article briefly reviews the seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO)
process and broadly addresses those
valve applications. It discusses materials of construction and the all-important pitting resistance equivalent number (PREN), along with
several new desalination valve configurations. It also touches upon energy
recovery devices (ERDs) and the critical role they play in SWRO efficiency.
