New Technology for Seawater Reverse Osmosis Pretreatment Introduced

GE (USA) today introduced two new product additions to its Procera* Seawater Solutions for desalination portfolio—the ZeeWeed* 1500 RMS (Rackless Modular System) and the ZeeWeed 1000 NGC (Next Generation Cassette) for seawater pretreatment to reverse osmosis (RO) systems. GE made its announcement at the IDA World Congress, taking place in San Diego, Aug. 31-Sept. 4.

To help improve equipment durability, GE’s Procera solutions start with pretreatment components that protect membrane desalination systems by removing suspended solids and impurities. After careful analysis of an operator’s source water and conservation needs, modular desalination systems are then fitted to their applications.

For pressurised ultrafiltration (UF) systems, the new ZW1500 RMS is a cost-effective modular system, which provides a 50 percent reduction in rack footprint. It uses ZeeWeed membrane technology to produce high-quality water to feed RO systems. The ZW1500 RMS costs 75 percent less than a typical rack, has minimized site assembly, and its modular design makes for easy installation and plant expansion.

The new ZW1000 NGC reduces cassette costs by 50 percent, making immersed UF for pretreatment in a desalination plants even more cost-effective. It provides high-quality feedwater to desalination RO trains and high-quality effluent, a 25 percent reduction in membrane tanks for a smaller footprint, 25 percent lower aeration energy and modular building blocks for 50 percent fewer tank connections.

“The ZW1500 RMS and the ZW1000 NGC, our newest additions to the Procera portfolio, both reduce cost and footprint. Using ZeeWeed membrane technology, they deliver high-quality desalination water treatment in a modular easy-to-install design,” said Yuvbir Singh, general manager, engineered systems—water and process technologies for GE Power & Water.

Additional GE products being showcased at IDA World Congress include:

• The seawater sulfate removal (SWSR) nanofiltration membrane, which eliminates almost all sulfate from injection water in offshore oil production. GE’s SWSR membrane removes sulfate to drastically reduce scale and corrosion in the injection well, which can reduce oil recovery and plug the well. It also has exceptional fouling resistance due to its three-layer membrane design and smooth surface. The SWSR is an advancement of GE's DK series nanofiltration membrane and provides a high transmission of sodium chloride into the permeate water to minimize operating pressures.
• GE’s High Flow Z is a Procera pretreatment depth filter, manufactured with Z.Plex technology. Designed for RO pre-filtration and seawater filtration, it has a 6.5-inch diameter filter with very low flow resistance, excellent dirt holding capacity, enhanced resistance to surface blinding and good strength and thermal resistance.