Lync WQ-RS
SECTION 3: OPERATION
L- OMM-005_A
•
2/23/2022
Technical Support • (800) 433-5654 • Mon-Fri, 8 am - 5 pm EST
26
of
34
Troubleshooting
RO TROUBLE SHOOTING GUIDE
SYMPTOMS
Salt Passage Permeate
Flow
Pressure
Drop
Location
Possible Causes Verification
Corrective Action
Normal to
increased
Decreased Normal to
increased
Predominantly
first stage
Metal oxide
Analysis of metal
ions in cleaning
solution.
Improved pretreatment
to remove metals.
Cleaning with acid
cleaners.
Normal to
increased
Decreased Normal to
increased
Predominantly
first stage
Colloidal fouling SDI measurement
of feed/ X-ray
diffraction
analysis of
cleaning sol.
Residue.
Optimize pretreatment
system for colloidal
removal. Clean with high
pH, anionic detergent
formulation.
Increased
Decreased Increased Predominantly
last stage
Scaling
(CaSO4, CaSO3,
BaSO4, SiO2)
Analysis of metal
ions in cleaning
sol. Check LSI of
reject. Calculate
maximum
solubility for
CaSO4, BaSO4,
SiO2 in reject
analysis.
Increase acid addition and
scale inhibitor for CaSO3
and CaSO4. Reduce
recovery. Clean with an
acid formulation for
CaCO3, CaSO4 and BaSO4.
Normal to
moderate
increase
Decreased Normal to
moderate
increase
Can occur in
any stage
Biological
fouling
Bacteria count in
permeate and
reject. Slime in
pipes and vessels.
Shock dosage of sodium
bisulfite. Continuous feed
of low conc. Of bisulfite at
reduced pH.
Formaldehyde
sterilization. Clean with
alkaline anionic
surfactant.
Chlorine dosage up-
stream with subs.
Dechlorination. Replace
cartridge filters.
Decreased
or
moderately
increased
Decreased Normal
All stages
Organic fouling
Destructive
testing, e.g. IR
reflection
analysis.
Optimization of
pretreatment system
(e.g. coagulation process.)
Resin/activated carbon
treatment. Clean with
high pH detergent.
Increased
Increased Decreased Most severe in
the first stage
Chlorine oxidant
attack
Chlorine analysis
of feed.
Destructive
element test.
Check chlorine feed
equipment and
dechlorination
equipment.
