Ultrasonic time-domain reflectometry as a non-destructive instrumental visualization technique to monitor inorganic fouling and cleaning on reverse osmosis membranes

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dc.contributor.authorSanderson R.
dc.contributor.authorLi J.
dc.contributor.authorKoen L.J.
dc.contributor.authorLorenzen L.
dc.date.accessioned2011-05-15T15:59:41Z
dc.date.available2011-05-15T15:59:41Z
dc.date.issued2002
dc.description.abstractFouling is readily acknowledged as one of the most critical problems limiting the wider application of membranes in liquid separation processes. A better understanding of fouling layer formation and its monitoring is needed in order to improve on existing cleaning techniques. The overall objective of this research was to develop a non-destructive, real-time, in situ visualization technique or device for fouling layer monitoring. Ultrasonic time-domain reflectometry (UTDR) was employed as a visualization technique to provide real-time characterization of the fouling layer. The fouling experiment was carried out with 2g/l calcium carbonate solution. Results confirmed that there is a correspondence between the flux decline behavior and the UTDR response from membranes in reverse osmosis (RO) modules. The ultrasonic technique could effectively detect fouling layer initiation and growth on the membrane in real-time at different axial velocities. In addition to the measurement of fouling, the ultrasonic technique was also successfully employed for monitoring membrane cleaning. The UTDR technique, due to its extremely powerful capabilities and its use in monitoring devices, can be of great significance in the membrane industry. © 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
dc.description.versionArticle
dc.identifier.citationJournal of Membrane Science
dc.identifier.citation207
dc.identifier.citation1
dc.identifier.issn3767388
dc.identifier.other10.1016/S0376-7388(02)00122-9
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/11309
dc.subjectCalcium compounds
dc.subjectFouling
dc.subjectReflectometers
dc.subjectTime domain analysis
dc.subjectUltrasonic reflection
dc.subjectFouling layer formation
dc.subjectOsmosis membranes
dc.subjectcalcium carbonate
dc.subjectcleaning
dc.subjectfouling
dc.subjectmembrane
dc.subjectmonitoring
dc.subjectnon-destructive testing
dc.subjectreflectometry
dc.subjectreverse osmosis
dc.subjectultrasonic technique
dc.subjectarticle
dc.subjectcleaning
dc.subjectdevice
dc.subjectfouling control
dc.subjectindustry
dc.subjectinstrumentation
dc.subjectliquid membrane
dc.subjectmonitoring
dc.subjectpriority journal
dc.subjectreflectometry
dc.subjectreliability
dc.subjectreverse osmosis
dc.subjectseparation technique
dc.subjecttechnique
dc.subjecttime
dc.subjectultrasound
dc.subjectvelocity
dc.subjectvisibility
dc.titleUltrasonic time-domain reflectometry as a non-destructive instrumental visualization technique to monitor inorganic fouling and cleaning on reverse osmosis membranes
dc.typeArticle
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