TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

Expert Troubleshooting of
Membrane Systems

Training Level: Expert

To test your proficiency on the topics covered in this seminar, 20 questions are provided. The questions cover the major concepts participants learn in this seminar.

NOTE: RO units are operated at constant feed, permeate and concentrate flow rates.

Troubleshooting Tools

1. Which of the following troubleshooting tools would likely be used for the identification of the most common o-ring leak?

a. Crossflow evaluation

b. Specific ion analysis

c. Mass balance calculation

d. Water flux determination

e. Salt flux determination

f. Design software

g. EDX analysis

h. FTIR analysis

i. SDI analysis

J. ORP measurement

K. Profiling data

L. Probing data

M. NPF trend

N. NSP trend

O. NPD trend

P. HPC

Q. Chlorine measurement

R. Chem. cleaning data

S. Sulfite measurement

T. Feed water analysis

a. All

b. None

c. D.

d. E.

e. H.

f.  K.

g. M., N., & O

h. K., L., M., N., & O

2. Which two of the following troubleshooting tools would be the best for the confirmation of polymer fouling?

a. Crossflow evaluation

b. Specific ion analysis

c. Mass balance calculation

d. Water flux determination

e. Salt flux determination

f. Design software

g. EDX analysis

h. FTIR analysis

i. SDI analysis

J. ORP measurement

K. Profiling data

L. Probing data

M. NPF trend

N. NSP trend

O. NPD trend

P. HPC

Q. Chlorine measurement

R. Chem. cleaning data

S. Sulfite measurement

T. Feed water analysis

a. All

b. None

c. B. & T.

d. G., & T.

e. H. & T.

f. K. & T

g. L. & T

h. P & T

3. Which of the following troubleshooting tools would likely be used for the identification of a blown glue line?
 

a. Crossflow evaluation

b. Specific ion analysis

c. Mass balance calculation

d. Water flux determination

e. Salt flux determination

f. Design software

g. EDX analysis

h. FTIR analysis

i. SDI analysis

J. ORP measurement

K. Profiling data

L. Probing data

M. NPF trend

N. NSP trend

O. NPD trend

P. HPC

Q. Chlorine measurement

R. Chem. cleaning data

S. Sulfite measurement

T. Feed water analysis

a. All

b. None

c. B., & C.

d. D., & E.

e. G., & H.

f. M., N., & O

g. M., N., O., & P

h. P.

4. Which of the following troubleshooting tools would likely be used for the identification of permeate back pressure damage?

a. Crossflow evaluation

b. Specific ion analysis

c. Mass balance calculation

d. Water flux determination

e. Salt flux determination

f. Design software

g. EDX analysis

h. FTIR analysis

i. SDI analysis

J. ORP measurement

K. Profiling data

L. Probing data

M. NPF trend

N. NSP trend

O. NPD trend

P. HPC

Q. Chlorine measurement

R. Chem. cleaning data

S. Sulfite measurement

T. Feed water analysis

a. All

b. None

c. F.

d. G., & H.

e. D., E., G., H., K., & L.

f.  D., E., K., L., M., N., & O

g. M., N., O., & P

h. P.

5. Which of the following troubleshooting tools would likely be used during expert-level troubleshooting of persistent biofouling?

a. Crossflow evaluation

b. Specific ion analysis

c. Mass balance calculation

d. Water flux determination

e. Salt flux determination

f. Design software

g. EDX analysis

h. FTIR analysis

i. SDI analysis

J. ORP measurement

K. Profiling data

L. Probing data

M. NPF trend

N. NSP trend

O. NPD trend

P. HPC

Q. Chlorine measurement

R. Chem. cleaning data

S. Sulfite measurement

T. Feed water analysis

a. All

b. None

c. All except A. & B.

d. All except D. & E.

e. All except G. & H.

f. All except I. & J.

g. All except K. & L.

h. All except N. & O.

Problems

6. What could cause the problem(s) seen?

a. Flow meter calibration

b. Conductivity meter calibration

c. Permeate back pressure damage

d. Unit design

e. a. and b.

f. c. and d.

g. All of the above are correct

h. None of the above is correct

7. What could cause the problem(s) seen?

 

75%

      Recovery 

                                                                                                   

a. Scaling

b. Large particle fouling

c. Chemical attack

d. Permeate back pressure damage

e. a. and b.

f. c. and d.

g. All of the above are correct

h. None of the above is correct

8. What could cause the problem(s) seen?
 

                                                Startup      Today       

         Tf, oF (oC)                    75 (24)             75 (24)

         pHf, units                    6.8                   6.8

         Pf, psi (bar)                 145 (10)           190 (13)          

         Pi, psi (bar)                 130 (9)             175 (12)

         Pc, psi  (bar)                115 (8)             160 (11)

         Pp, psi  (bar)                15 (1)               15 (1)

         Cf, mg/L                      200                  200     

         Cp, mg/L                     4.6                   4.4

         Qp, gpm (m3/d)            150 (34)           150 (34)          

         Qc, gpm (m3/d)            50 (11)             50 (11

a. Scaling

b. Large particle fouling

c. Chemical attack

d. Permeate back pressure damage

e. a. and b.

f. c. and d.

g. All of the above are correct

h. None of the above is correct

9. What could cause the problem(s) seen?
 

                                                Startup      Today       

         Tf, oF (oC)                    75 (24)             75 (24)

         pHf, units                    6.8                   6.8

         Pf, psi (bar)                 145 (10)           190 (13)          

         Pi, psi (bar)                 130 (9)             160 (11)

         Pc, psi  (bar)                115 (8)             145 (10)

         Pp, psi  (bar)                15 (1)               15 (1)

         Cf, mg/L                      200                  200     

         Cp, mg/L                     4.6                   4.4

         Qp, gpm (m3/d)            150 (34)           150 (34)          

         Qc, gpm (m3/d)            50 (11)             50 (11)

a. Scaling

b. Large particle fouling

c. Chemical attack

d. Permeate back pressure damage

e. a. and b.

f. c. and d.

g. All of the above are correct

h. None of the above is correct

10. What could cause the problem(s) seen?
 

                                                Startup      Today       

         Tf, oF (oC)                    75 (24)             75 (24)

         pHf, units                    6.8                   6.8

         Pf, psi (bar)                 145 (10)           190 (13)          

         Pi, psi (bar)                 130 (9)             175 (12)

         Pc, psi  (bar)                115 (8)             145 (10)

         Pp, psi  (bar)                15 (1)               15 (1)

         Cf, mg/L                      200                  200     

         Cp, mg/L                     4.6                   14.4

         Qp, gpm (m3/d)            150 (34)           150 (34)          

         Qc, gpm (m3/d)            50 (11)             50 (11)

a. Scaling

b. Large particle fouling

c. Chemical attack

d. Permeate back pressure damage

e. a. and b.

f. c. and d.

g. All of the above are correct

h. None of the above is correct

Troubleshooting High Permeate Conductivity

11. What common problem(s) would cause the following performance graphs?

a. Scaling

b. Large particle fouling

c. No problem

d. Instrumentation calibration

e. a. and b.

f. c. and d.

g. All of the above are correct

h. None of the above is correct

12. What common problem(s) would cause the following performance graphs?

a. Scaling

b. Biofouling

c. Chemical attack

d. O-ring leak

e. a. and b.

f. c. and d.

g. All of the above are correct

h. None of the above is correct

13. What common problem(s) would cause the following performance graphs?

a. Scaling

b. Biofouling

c. Chemical attack

d. O-ring leak

e. a. and b.

f. c. and d.

g. All of the above are correct

h. None of the above is correct

14. What common problem(s) would cause the following performance graphs?

a. Scaling

b. Biofouling

c. Chemical attack

d. O-ring leak

e. a. and b.

f. c. and d.

g. All of the above are correct

h. None of the above is correct

15. What common problem(s) would cause the following performance graphs?

a. Scaling

b. Biofouling

c. Chemical attack

d. O-ring leak

e. a. and b.

f. c. and d.

g. All of the above are correct

h. None of the above is correct

Troubleshooting High Feed Pressure/Pressure Drops

16. What common problem(s) would cause the following performance graphs?

a. Polymer fouling

b. Biofouling

c. Chemical attack

d. Scaling

e. a. and b.

f. c. and d.

g. All of the above are correct

h. None of the above is correct

17. What common problem(s) would cause the following performance graphs?

a. Scaling

b. Biofouling

c. Chemical attack

d. Permeate back pressure damage

e. a. and b.

f. c. and d.

g. All of the above are correct

h. None of the above is correct

18. What common problem(s) would cause the following?

a. Scaling

b. Biofouling

c. Chemical attack

d. Polymer fouling

e. a. and b.

f. c. and d.

g. All of the above are correct

h. None of the above is correct

19. The LOI of the surface foulant/scalant was 91%. What common problem(s) would cause this?

a. Polymer fouling

b. Biofouling

c. Chemical attack

d. Scaling

e. a. and b.

f. c. and d.

g. All of the above are correct

h. None of the above is correct

20. Which of the following is(are) NOT true given the following picture?

a. This is a lead element

b. This is a first stage element

c. This element will have a relatively high pressure drop

d. This element may be the only element experiencing a performance problem

e. This element may have membrane damage

f. Probing would identify this element as a problem

g. All of the above are correct

h. None of the above is correct