TIPA supplies genuine Rochem membranes. PFRO is Rochem’s disc tube reverse osmosis module. Membrane cushions and ABS hydraulic discs are stacked alternately, creating a continuous open channel that reduces pre-treatment and fouling. Many raised points on the discs mix the water strongly, which prevents scaling and makes cleaning more effective. Clean water and concentrate leave through separate channels, and the module withstands up to 120 bar.
Key features
- Alternating membranes and hydraulic discs form an open channel
- Raised points on the discs create strong turbulence against scaling
- Water flows across the membrane surface in short paths, not along the module
- Separate permeate and concentrate channels
- Operating pressure up to 120 bar
- Can be installed and started in about one hour; easy to clean and maintain
Rochem modules compared with conventional RO
| Parameter | Rochem RO module | Conventional RO module |
|---|---|---|
| Feed SDI | < 15 (TSRO) / < 20 (PFRO) | < 5 |
| Feed turbidity | < 15 NTU | < 0.1 NTU |
| Suspended solids | up to 1,000 ppm | < 50 ppm |
| Salinity | Runs on 2,000 – 32,000 ppm without changing the design | Only the fixed salinity of the design or lower |
| Fouling | Low, thanks to the open channel and turbulent flow | Fouls easily, needs frequent cleaning and replacement |
| Feed channel | Open channel, about 1 mm | 3 – 7 µm |
About Rochem
Rochem membranes were first used in 1973 for seawater desalination for navies. The PFRO disc tube module was developed in the 1980s and from 1989 became widely used for landfill leachate. Rochem was ISO 9001 certified in 1999, introduced the STRO module in 2005 and the TSRO module in 2014. Rochem systems have run worldwide for more than three decades, many of them on wastewater with COD and BOD up to 140,000 ppm, as well as on warships, submarines, offshore platforms and passenger ships.
