Method and device for testing the effectiveness of magnetic treatment of feed water for reducing mineral scaling in reverse osmosis processes
Inventors
Khusid, Boris • Guerra, Katherine L. • Leitz, Frank • Shen, Yueyang • Elele, Ezinwa O. • Lei, Qian
Assignees
Government Of United States, As Represented By Us Department Of Interior Bureau Of Reclamation • Government Of United States, Bureau Of Reclamation • New Jersey Institute of Technology
Publication Number
US-10648957-B2
Publication Date
2020-05-12
Expiration Date
2037-12-22
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Abstract
A benchtop device flow setup for determining the effectiveness of magnetic treatment of feed water for reducing mineral scaling includes two similar branches, both equipped with a reverse osmosis membrane and a pump that operate in the transient regime at the same flow rate and transmembrane pressure. The flow setup is further fed with a solution at the same level of supersaturation measured in a stirred reactor, however, only one branch exposes the feed to a magnetic field.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a method and a benchtop device/system for quick evaluation of the effectiveness of electro-magnetic water conditioning in reducing mineral scaling on reverse osmosis (RO) membranes. The methodology involves two main steps: first, quantifying the degree of feed water supersaturation by measuring the kinetics of precipitation of a sparingly soluble salt in a stirred reactor; second, conducting simultaneous measurements of scale coverage on RO membranes in the transient regime of crossflow filtration within a benchtop device, where only one of two parallel branches exposes the feed water to a magnetic field.
The problem addressed by the invention is the need for accurate, rapid, and controlled benchtop testing of magnetic water treatment technologies, which are widely available but whose effectiveness in preventing mineral scaling in RO systems remains controversial. Traditional chemical antiscalants pose environmental and operational challenges, and large-scale testing is expensive. Moreover, existing benchtop tests fail to control key factors such as solution supersaturation and often do not reliably predict large-scale industrial RO system performance.
The disclosed approach operates the RO system under a transient regime of crossflow filtration, with identical flow path conditions, controlled single-pass flow, and matching levels of solution supersaturation in both test branches. By directly comparing scale formation on membranes exposed and not exposed to magnetic treatment at a quantifiable and controlled supersaturation level (characterized by parameters such as electrical conductivity), the method provides statistically reliable data on the efficacy of magnetic water conditioners, enabling bench-scale predictions of conditioning effectiveness for specific industrial processes.
Claims Coverage
There are four independent claims in this patent, each directed to either a method or an apparatus for benchtop evaluation of the effectiveness of a water treatment modality.
Benchtop RO system with parallel branches and controlled supersaturation
A method that includes: - Providing a benchtop reverse osmosis (RO) system with RO membranes operating in a transient regime of crossflow filtration for both treated and untreated feed water. - Utilizing a flow setup with two similar branches, each equipped with an RO membrane and pump, operating at the same flow rate and transmembrane pressure, and receiving the same level of supersaturation, with only one branch exposing the feed to a magnetic field. - Performing single-pass flow through the RO system.
Characterization of supersaturation using precipitation kinetics and feed characteristics
A method that includes: - Measuring the kinetics of precipitation of a supersaturated solution in a stirred reactor using at least one feed characteristic (such as electrical conductivity, turbidity, or ion concentration). - Characterizing solution supersaturation during a defined period by calculating the total relative change of the characteristic at the beginning and end of the precipitation process.
Apparatus for simultaneous evaluation of treated and untreated feed in transient regime
An apparatus including the following: - A benchtop RO system with RO membranes operating in a transient crossflow regime for both treated and untreated feed water, using single-pass flow. - Measurement means for precipitation kinetics in a stirred reactor using at least one feed characteristic. - Characterization means for solution supersaturation based on these characteristics over a specific period and total relative change during precipitation. - Testing using two branches (as above), only one of which exposes the feed to a magnetic field.
Use of parameter ξ(t) for supersaturation quantification
A method or apparatus in which: - The characterization step includes use of a parameter ξ(t), computed as the ratio between the change in at least one feed characteristic during time t and the total change (with ξ=0 at the beginning and ξ=1 at the end of precipitation), to quantify solution supersaturation in the benchtop RO system.
The inventive features cover methods and apparatus for controlled, rapid benchtop evaluation of water treatment modalities, specifically magnetic water conditioning, by using parallel RO branches, controlled solution supersaturation quantified by measurable characteristics, and the use of a ξ(t) parameter for supersaturation assessment.
Stated Advantages
Enables quick (10–30 min) benchtop testing of the effectiveness of magnetic treatment for reducing mineral scaling on RO membranes.
Allows controlled and quantifiable measurement of solution supersaturation, facilitating more accurate predictions of magnetic conditioner performance under specific industrial conditions.
Permits direct comparison of treated versus untreated feed water within identical, parallel flow regimes, improving test resolution and reliability.
Provides a statistically reliable methodology for evaluating water conditioning technologies, helping determine their applicability for large-scale RO systems.
Can be used to evaluate the efficiency of other water treatment technologies beyond magnetic treatment, as well as antiscalant additives.
Documented Applications
Quick benchtop testing of the effectiveness of magnetic water treatment for reducing mineral scaling on reverse osmosis membranes.
Evaluation of the efficiency of other technologies for water treatment in various flow systems.
Testing the efficacy of specific antiscalant additives in water treatment processes.
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