1. Orientation to OLI RO Membrane simulation
For beta testers
AQSim & OLI
January 2018
Think simulation!

2. Agenda Background on the RO membrane Resources available
Feedback we have already had
Considerations while using the software
Responses from you as SMEs
Process going forward

3. Background Flowsheet: ESP RO Membrane block RO Membrane beta
Electrolyte flowsheets
Target: industrial / process water treatment
RO Membrane block
Disruptive technology to provide
Better first-principles simulation
Membrane planning / troubleshooting
RO Membrane beta
Feedback to OLI from Membrane SMEs

4. *New* RO membrane block
Membrane library that can be extended
Library for your organization
Screening membranes within and across suppliers
Approach
“Tune” the membrane to vendor specs in OLI
Substitute “vendor” salt (e.g., NaCl) with specific water chemistry

5. Resources User guide Desalination example
Membrane technology description
White paper positioning this technology
Sample cases (upon request)
Membrane library building (upon request)
You can find document links in the Beta

6. RO membrane considerations
No preset configurations
Building block approach to designing
Independent Flowsheet adjustment: water composition, pH, filtering, feed pressures
Configurations can be saved and then reused (library)
No categorization of membrane type based on water
Sea water, brackish water, drinking water etc.
Brine analysis is in OLI Studio (copied to Flowsheet)
Results will not match vendor software

7. Feedback we have received
Challenges of matching vendor software
Cation-anion speciation (i.e., HCO3-1 and MgHCO3+1)
pH effects on speciation
Permeability list covers all ions and species (i.e., U+3, VO4-2, etc.)
Alternate validation being sought
Examples from the literature
Desalination example
Your membrane cases

8. Useful simulation techniques
Adding a new membrane to the library
Matching feed specs with membrane specs
Selecting the inlet pressure, flowrate, or permeate recovery for each membrane type
Troubleshooting
Sensitivity to flow rates because the membrane is a fixed area
This is an exception to other F-ESP units
Sizing included in the simulation
Sensitivity to feed pressure because of osmotic pressure differences

9. Participant feedback Do individual permeate concentrations matter?
What fraction of your work is new design vs existing membrane?
Vendors: pre-selected for you or do you choose?
Membrane: pre-selected for you or do you choose?
Existing membranes: what questions do you want to answer?

10. Information from beta testers
Program feedback
What is not working
What is difficult to understand
Technology feedback
How does it compare with your analysis
How does it compare with actual membrane data
Originally we anticipated until 31 January for beta 1
This may be extended due to the holidays.

11. Beta process 1-on-1 orientations / feedback sessions
Responses in to
All points are valued
All points will be answered / addressed
Ideally, all feedback by 31 January

12. OLI Membrane development
Subject Matter Expert (SME) feedback needed
FO, NF, ED, UF? Which are important to you?
What could be different?
Using RO as a prototype
Other functionality applied going forward?

13. Questions?
Let’s get started!