Installing RO membrane elements: checks and steps

Unpacking

• Take care with knives or scissors when opening the packaging, for your safety and so you do not cut the element.
• Bags of wet elements contain a little sodium bisulfite solution: wear eye protection and gloves.
• Handle elements gently to avoid damage.

Before installation

• Check and clean the piping and pressure vessel so that debris, solvents or chlorine cannot damage the element.
• Brine seal: every element has one at the feed end. Check that it opens outwards and is undamaged, so all feed water flows through the element.
• O-rings: the connector has one at each end. Check that they are complete and undamaged, so the product water tubes seal.

During installation

• Wet the seals with clean water or glycerine only, never lubricants, oil or thinners.
• Never hammer an element: the shell can crack and the element is lost.

Loading several elements (industrial)

Remove the end plates from both ends of the vessel. Fit a connector to the product water port of the first element and push it in, in the direction of flow, but not all the way. Fit a connector to the second element, join it to the first and push both in; repeat for the third and following elements. Refit the end plates; fill any gap with PVC shims until everything sits firmly.