Project Overview

Zhongnuo supplied a 60T/H ultrafiltration pretreatment system for a thermal power plant in Indonesia. The plant used local river water as the source for its double-pass RO boiler-water treatment system.

Seasonal changes caused large fluctuations in river-water turbidity. Suspended sediment, colloids and organic matter frequently entered the pretreatment system, increasing the risk of RO membrane fouling. To stabilize the RO feed-water quality, Zhongnuo designed a large-capacity UF system with automatic backwashing and chemical-cleaning functions.

Project Information

Customer Challenges

The power plant faced several raw-water and operating problems:

• Large seasonal fluctuations in river-water turbidity
• High levels of suspended sediment and colloidal matter
• Trace organic matter in the feed water
• Frequent fouling of downstream RO membranes
• Rising RO operating pressure
• Increased membrane-cleaning and replacement costs
• Risk of interruption to the boiler-water supply

The customer required a reliable 60000L/H UF pretreatment system for a double-pass RO plant that could maintain consistent water quality during continuous operation.

Customized Treatment Solution

Based on the river-water conditions and downstream RO requirements, Zhongnuo supplied a multi-stage pretreatment system combining conventional filtration with hollow-fiber ultrafiltration.

Process Flow

River Water → Raw Water Tank → Feed Pump → Multimedia Filter → Activated Carbon Filter → Cartridge Filter → Ultrafiltration System → UF Product-Water Tank → Double-Pass RO System → Boiler-Water Treatment

Coagulation and chemical dosing can be added when seasonal turbidity or organic loading exceeds the design range.

Main Treatment Functions

System Configuration

The 60m³/h industrial ultrafiltration system for power plant boiler water includes:

• ◊ Industrial hollow-fiber UF membranes
• ◊ Automatic PLC control
• ◊ Timed and pressure-triggered backwashing
• ◊ Chemically enhanced backwashing
• ◊ Independent CIP cleaning system
• ◊ Online flow and pressure monitoring
• ◊ Automatic chemical dosing
• ◊ High- and low-pressure protection
• ◊ Modular skid-mounted construction
• ◊ Corrosion-resistant pipelines

Technical Parameters

Actual performance depends on seasonal feed-water quality, temperature, membrane flux and cleaning conditions.

Project Results

After commissioning, the 60T/H UF system for power plant RO pretreatment in Indonesia produced stable feed water for the downstream double-pass RO system.

The project achieved the following results:

• Reduced suspended solids and colloidal impurities
• Stabilized UF outlet turbidity
• Maintained an SDI value below 1 under project conditions
• Achieved a UF recovery rate above 90%
• Reduced the fouling load on RO membranes
• Extended intervals between RO membrane cleanings
• Lowered membrane maintenance and replacement costs
• Improved the reliability of the boiler-water treatment station

The UF system does not remove dissolved salts. Desalination and final boiler-water-quality control are completed by the downstream RO and polishing processes.

Why Use UF Before RO in a Power Plant?

River water often changes with rainfall, temperature and seasonal conditions. Conventional filtration alone may not provide consistently low-turbidity and low-SDI water.

A properly designed ultrafiltration system for power plant RO pretreatment can:

• Stabilize RO feed-water quality
• Reduce particulate and colloidal fouling
• Lower RO differential-pressure growth
• Reduce chemical-cleaning frequency
• Support continuous boiler-water production
• Improve the service life of RO membranes

FAQ

Why is ultrafiltration installed before the RO system?

UF removes suspended solids, fine particles and colloids that can foul RO membranes. This helps maintain more stable RO pressure and permeate production.

Can the system treat river water during the rainy season?

Yes, provided that it is designed for peak seasonal turbidity. Coagulation, sedimentation or enhanced filtration may be required when raw-water quality exceeds the original design range.

Does UF remove dissolved salts?

No. UF primarily removes particles, colloids and high-molecular-weight contaminants. The downstream RO system removes dissolved salts.

Can the UF system operate continuously?

Yes. A modular design allows filtration and backwashing cycles to operate automatically. Standby membrane trains can be added for critical continuous-water applications.

How often do the UF membranes require cleaning?

Cleaning frequency depends on feed-water quality and pressure changes. The system uses routine backwashing, chemically enhanced backwashing and periodic CIP cleaning.

Information Required for a Quotation

Please provide:

1. Complete river-water analysis
2. Average and maximum seasonal turbidity
3. TSS, SDI, COD, TOC, iron and manganese data
4. Required net UF product-water capacity
5. Downstream RO capacity and feed-water requirements
6. Daily operating hours
7. Local voltage and frequency
8. Installation space and environmental conditions

Zhongnuo provides customized industrial UF pretreatment systems for power plant boiler water, including process design, factory testing and technical support.