Compact DTRO Systems for Small and Medium Wastewater Plants

Compact Disc Tube Reverse Osmosis (DTRO) systems are revolutionizing wastewater treatment for small and medium-sized plants. These new DTRO systems are a great way to deal with tough industrial waste and landfill leachate. DTRO technology combines the best parts of reverse osmosis with a novel disc tube design to remove more contaminants in a smaller space, making it perfect for facilities with limited space. DTRO systems are great at dealing with tough-to-treat contaminants and high-strength wastewaters with high levels of total dissolved solids (TDS) and chemical oxygen demand (COD). The unique membrane design lets it work at high pressures of up to 120 bar, which makes it possible to treat hypersaline and high-fouling wastewater streams effectively. For small and medium wastewater plants looking to meet stringent discharge regulations or implement water reuse, compact DTRO offers an efficient and cost-effective treatment option.

The main benefits of compact DTRO systems for treating wastewater

Better removal of contaminants

One of the best things about DTRO technology is that it can get rid of a wide range of pollutants from wastewater very well. The specialized disc tube membranes get rid of more than 95% of dissolved salts, heavy metals, and organic compounds. This means that DTRO works very well for treating difficult waste streams with COD levels as high as 25,000 mg/L.

DTRO can also treat hypersaline wastewaters that would damage regular RO membranes because it can handle high pressure. DTRO can concentrate brines to very high levels by working at pressures of up to 120 bar. This means that it can get the most water back and send the least amount of water out.

Design that is small and modular

Compact DTRO systems take up much less space than traditional membrane treatment technologies, as the name suggests. The unique disc tube configuration allows for a high membrane surface area to be packaged into a compact module. This makes DTRO appropriate for small and medium wastewater plants with limited available area.

The modular nature of DTRO systems also provides excellent scalability and flexibility. Treatment capacity can be easily expanded by adding additional membrane modules. This allows facilities to start with a smaller system and incrementally increase capacity as needed. The modular design also simplifies maintenance, as individual modules can be serviced or replaced without shutting down the entire system.

Energy Efficiency

While DTRO operates at high pressures, the overall energy efficiency is actually quite good compared to alternative technologies for treating challenging wastewaters. The specialized membrane and module design results in lower specific energy consumption compared to conventional RO systems treating similar high-TDS streams. Additionally, energy recovery devices can be incorporated to further improve efficiency.

For small and medium facilities, the greater energy efficiency of DTRO corresponds to lower operating costs. Some facilities have observed 20-30% energy savings compared to standard high-pressure RO systems while treating challenging waste streams.

Applications of Compact DTRO in Small and Medium Wastewater Plants

Landfill Leachate Treatment

Landfill leachate is notoriously difficult to handle due to its complex and unpredictable makeup. Compact DTRO systems are well-suited for tackling this tough wastewater stream. The high-pressure capabilities enable for successful treatment of leachate with excessive TDS and ammonia levels. DTRO achieves effective removal of organic compounds, heavy metals, and dissolved solids to provide a high-quality effluent suited for discharge or reuse.

The modular, skid-mounted architecture of mini DTRO units makes them appropriate for installation at smaller dump sites with space constraints. The strong membrane materials also endure the harsh chemical environment of leachate treatment.

Industrial Wastewater Treatment

For small and medium industrial operations, tiny DTRO offers a comprehensive solution for treating a variety of process wastewaters. The method is particularly well-suited for sectors generating high-strength effluents, such as:

• Chemical manufacturing
• Petrochemical processing
• Pharmaceutical production
• Food and beverage processing
• Textile dyeing and finishing

DTRO systems can achieve significant water recovery rates while concentrating dissolved impurities into a small amount for disposal. This aids water reuse projects and helps facilities satisfy stringent discharge limits.

Brackish Water Desalination

For small towns or industrial areas reliant on brackish groundwater sources, compact DTRO provides an efficient desalination solution. The high-pressure capabilities allow the treatment of feed waters with TDS levels up to 35,000 mg/L. The modular, containerized architecture is appropriate for remote sites with minimal infrastructure.

DTRO desalination systems provide high-quality permeate appropriate for drinking water, process water, or irrigation application. The technique offers good scalability to handle variable water demand in small and medium applications.

Selecting the Right Compact DTRO System for Your Facility

Assessing Treatment Requirements

When looking at tiny DTRO systems for your small or medium-sized wastewater plant, it's important to first carefully consider what kind of treatment you need. Things to think about are:

• The flow rate, TDS, COD, and particular pollutants in wastewater
• Limits on discharge or goals for reuse quality
• Space that is free for installing equipment
• Desired rate of water recovery
• Needs for pretreatment
• Choices for getting rid of concentrates

If you work with a knowledgeable DTRO system supplier, they can assist you choose the best setup for your specific needs.

Personalization and Integration

One of the best things about tiny DTRO systems is that they can be tweaked and added to current treatment processes. Think about choices like:

• Specialized methods for pretreatment, like dissolved air flotation and multimedia filtering
• Devices that recuperate energy to make things work better
• Advanced cleaning systems for applications that get dirty quickly
• Working with other technologies, such evaporation to get rid of all liquids
• The ability to observe and govern from afar
• Customizing the DTRO system to fit your needs will make it work better and cost less to run.

Testing the Pilot

It is highly advised to pilot test a tiny DTRO system for difficult wastewater streams or special uses. This lets you check how well it works on your actual wastewater and fine-tune the settings for best effectiveness. A lot of DTRO companies sell mobile pilot units that can be used on-site for long periods of testing.

Pilot testing gives us useful information about the water quality that can be achieved, the recovery rates, the energy use, and the maintenance needs. This information is very important for getting the full-scale system size right and figuring out how much it will cost to run in the long run.

FAQs

Q1: How much can a tiny DTRO system usually hold?

A: There are several different sizes of compact DTRO systems that work well for small and medium-sized wastewater plants. Normal flow rates are between 10 m³/day and 1,000 m³/day or more. The modular architecture makes it easy to make changes to fit your individual treatment needs.

Q2: How does the membrane life of DTRO compare to that of regular RO?

A: When treating tough wastewaters, DTRO membranes usually last longer than regular spiral-wound RO membranes. The distinctive disc tube shape and high-pressure operation assist keep the system from getting dirty and scaling. DTRO membranes can last 3 to 5 years in several uses if they are properly pretreated and cleaned.

Q3: What do tiny DTRO systems need to be kept up?

A: The maintenance needs depend on the specific use, but they usually include regularly checking the operating settings, cleaning the system with chemicals every so often, and replacing worn parts like seals and O-rings. The modular design makes maintenance easier because it's easy to get to and replace individual membrane discs if they need to be. Many systems also have automated cleaning cycles to minimize user intervention.

Morui's High-Performance Compact DTRO Systems for Treating Wastewater

Are you ready to find out how a small DTRO system can change the way your small or medium-sized wastewater treatment facility works? Guangdong Morui Environmental Technology Co., Ltd. has been in the business of tough water treatment for more than 19 years and delivers the best DTRO solutions in the industry. Our team of skilled engineers will work directly with you to create a system that is tailored to your unique wastewater properties and treatment goals.

We have more than 14 offices throughout the world, so we can quickly help you and service your DTRO system to make sure it works at its best. Morui is your trusted partner for sophisticated wastewater treatment, from the first meeting to the installation, commissioning, and continuous maintenance.

Get in touch with us today to find out more about our small DTRO systems and how they may help your facility satisfy strict discharge limitations, reuse more water, and lower running costs. Email our team at benson@guangdongmorui.com to set up a meeting or get a price for your project.

References

1. Zhang, Y., et al. (2021). "Improvements in disc tube reverse osmosis technology for treating industrial wastewater." Journal of Water Process Engineering, 40, 101890.

2. Wang, J., et al. (2019). "Performance evaluation of a full-scale disc tube reverse osmosis system for landfill leachate treatment." Desalination, 456, 97-108.

3. Li, X., et al. (2020). "Energy efficiency analysis of high-pressure disc tube reverse osmosis systems for industrial wastewater treatment." Journal of Cleaner Production, 276, 123175.

4. Chen, G., et al. (2018). "Compact disc tube reverse osmosis system for treatment of high-salinity produced water from shale gas extraction." Desalination, 439, 65-72.

6. Abdelkader, B., et al. (2022). "Techno-economic evaluation of compact DTRO systems for small-scale brackish water desalination in remote regions." Desalination and Water Treatment, 239, 85-95.

The Environmental Protection Agency. (2021). "New Technologies for Treating Wastewater and Managing Wet Weather in Plants." EPA 832-R-21-003.