Membrane element failure is typically caused by deterioration in membrane performance, physical damage, or chemical degradation. Decreased desalination rate and permeate flow are the most common failure symptoms in reverse osmosis and nanofiltration systems. If these two parameters decrease gradually, it indicates normal fouling, which can be addressed through proper cleaning. However, a sudden drop in performance indicates malfunction or changes in conditions, requiring prompt corrective action; any delay will result in the loss of the opportunity to restore system performance.
When troubleshooting membrane systems, the following steps are generally followed:
(1) Access the operation data records;
(2) Add key data and conduct in-depth data analysis;
(3) Comprehensive water quality analysis;
(4) Analyze the membrane element.
