SUEZ’s membrane elements cross the spectrum of membrane including reverse osmosis (RO), nanofiltration (NF), ultrafiltration (UF), and microfiltration (MF). Originally designed for water desalination, membrane elements are now used in a variety of applications including in the dairy industry, in manufacturing products, for high purity water and at high temperature and extreme pH conditions. SUEZ offers membranes that are designed to meet the customers’ needs in each unique situation.
Full-fit vs. Fiberglass
Full-Fit is an innovative, polypropylene outer wrap feature that has no bypass around the outside of the element. Full-Fit outer wrap is designed to protect the spiral-wound element as well as form a close fit within the pressure vessel walls, without the use of a brine seal. Full-
Fit outer wrap is a more sanitary design that functionally experiences low pressure drop, which may lead to substantial energy savings. The controlled flow around the element eliminates the voids and dead spaces conducive to bacterial growth and adhesion. Fiberglass (FRP) element casings are engineered for best use with high pressure, industrial applications where rigorous sanitary limitations do not apply. The fortified durability of FRP provides heightened protection of the spiral-wound element.
Wet. vs. Dried
SUEZ elements are shipped tested and preserved either in dried or wet condition. The wet elements contain a storage solution preventing biological growth during storage and shipping of elements. They are bagged in sealed plastic bags.
Dried element plastic bag is open but they should be kept in their bag until they are used. Dried membranes and wet preserved membranes, if properly stored, reach the same stabilized performance after some hours or a few days of operation. The flow performance of wet membranes is typically stable right from the start, while dried membranes tend to start at a slightly higher flow. The salt rejection of GE membranes in general improves during the first few hours or days of operation and remains stable then. Wet membranes stabilize faster than dried membranes.
Reverse Osmosis Elements – TFM
AD Membrane Elements
AD membrane elements are characterized by a very good sodium chloride rejection. AD Seawater Elements feature high-pressure construction.
AG Standard Brackish Water Elements
AG Standard Brackish Water Elements are selected when high rejection and operating pressures as low as 200 psi (1,379 kPa) are desired. These elements allow moderate energy savings, and are considered a standard in the industry.
AG 2PASS Series
The AG 2PASS Series has been specifically designed for 2-pass systems. These elements are made of pre- rinsed components avoiding any scaling potential on the second pass at start-up thus avoiding any loss of production.
AK Elements
AK elements are selected when high rejection and low operating pressures are desired. These elements
allow significant energy savings since good rejection is achieved at low operating pressures.
Reverse Osmosis Elements – Cellulose Acetate
The C-series elements have a higher rejection and better mechanical stability than standard cellulose acetate and they offer a lower cost per element and increased chlorine resistance compared to thin-film elements.
HL Nanofiltration Elements
HL Nanofiltration Elements are used for water softening, color removal, and reduction of THM potential.
CK Nanofiltration Elements
CK Nanofiltration Elements are used for water softening, color removal, and reduction of THM potential when chlorine is required.
PW Elements
PW Elements are used for pretreatment of process water and post treatment of ultrapure water.
Microfiltration Elements
EW Family
The EW family of elements should be selected when pretreatment is in need to keep an reverse osmosis or a nanofiltration system running. EW will remove suspended solids and other known foulants.
Specialty Membranes
Seasoft NF has the unique ability to selectively reject ions: Rejection of anions with more than one negative charge, rejection of cations depending on shape and size, rejection of organic if molecular weight is > 200 – 300 Daltons, and at least 80% of water hardness is removed with low operating pressure and high flux.
Duratherm
The Duratherm HWS and the Duratherm Series are specifically designed to maximize the benefits of hot water sanitization for industries relying on chemical free sanitization for product quality and/or industry compliance standard. Separation system sanitization protocol is performed via periodic exposure to temperature as high as 90°C at minimum feed pressure to kill microorganisms by denaturation and coagulation of the proteins chains.
Duraslick
Duraslick is a family of membrane elements engineered for use with fouling-prone brackish water applications. Duraslick is designed to utilize an innovative three-layer membrane, of which a proprietary middle layer creates extreme smoothness, and provide a high rejection of salts. Independent studies have demonstrated that Duraslick elements are superior to standard polyamide spiral wound membrane elements for desalination of difficult feed water sources. Duraslick elements retrofit existing systems to obtain lower fouling, reduced overall energy usage, increased membrane service life and an extension of operating time between required cleanings, which in turn reduces expenditures on required chemicals.