Dow Membrane Filters Type SW30HRLE-400 High Flow Seawater RO Membrane Element

Dow Membrane Filters Type SW30HRLE-400 is a high-flow spiral-wound seawater reverse osmosis filter element engineered for large-capacity seawater desalination facilities, commonly installed inside FRP pressure vessels with PFTM1060UHFH1 high flow filter cartridge, and works alongside POV12UNFA high flow filter cartridge to form complete pretreatment and separation workflow. This high-flow membrane filter adopts advanced cross-linked polyamide thin-film composite structure, featuring 400 sq.ft large active membrane area, stable 99.8% salt rejection and 92% boron rejection. It delivers remarkable daily permeate output under optimized operating pressure, effectively reducing the required number of membrane elements for large-scale desalination systems. Capable of meeting strict drinking water standards in single-pass seawater treatment, Dow SW30HRLE-400 brings consistent long-run performance for island water supply, offshore platforms and coastal municipal desalination projects.

Product Description

Dow Membrane Filters Type SW30HRLE-400 belongs to the renowned FilmTec™ seawater RO product line, an 8-inch × 40-inch high-flow reverse osmosis filter designed for medium and high salinity seawater and concentrated brine treatment. The element adopts precision automated winding technology, equipped with a 28mil feed spacer to improve flow turbulence and mitigate surface fouling. Under standard test conditions, the nominal permeate flow reaches 7500 GPD (28 m³/d), making it a typical high-flow seawater membrane filter for industrial and municipal desalination.

Distinguished by HR (High Rejection) and LE (Low Energy) design concepts, this high-flow membrane filter balances high contaminant rejection and energy consumption. Unlike traditional seawater RO elements, SW30HRLE-400 achieves excellent boron removal performance, eliminating the need for expensive secondary RO boron removal processes in most projects. Manufacturers provide two packaging options: wet-preserved membrane and dry membrane. Dry-type elements remove preservation liquid restrictions, simplifying long-distance ocean transportation and overseas inventory management for global engineering contractors.

Stable service life of SW30HRLE-400 high-flow membrane filters relies on standardized pretreatment. Security filter cartridges intercept suspended particles to control feed water SDI ≤5, preventing irreversible abrasive damage to the polyamide separation layer. The membrane element supports Internal Staged Design (ISD) system layout and can be combined with other FilmTec seawater membrane models to optimize system recovery rate. Widely applied in coastal drinking water production, offshore platform water making, remote island water supply and high-salinity industrial wastewater concentration.

Working Principle

Dow Membrane Filters Type SW30HRLE-400 operates based on pressure-driven reverse osmosis filtration mechanism. High-pressure pumps deliver seawater into pressure vessels, pushing raw seawater to flow along the surface of the high-flow membrane filter. Under effective operating pressure ranging from 650 psi to 800 psi, water molecules penetrate the polyamide thin film and flow into the central collection tube to form qualified permeate. Salts, boron compounds, organic matter and suspended solids are trapped on the feed side and discharged as concentrated brine.

The 28mil thick feed spacer strengthens water turbulence, reduces sediment accumulation on the membrane surface and slows fouling development. After long-term continuous operation, pollutants gradually cover the membrane surface, leading to rising pressure difference and decreasing permeate volume. Operators can conduct periodic chemical cleaning within pH 1–13 to recover flux. It is critical to avoid free chlorine above 0.1ppm in feed water, which will cause permanent oxidation damage to the separation layer. With qualified pretreatment and standardized maintenance, SW30HRLE-400 high-flow membrane filters can maintain stable filtration performance for 3–5 years.

Technical Features

• Large 400 sq.ft active membrane area, high-flow permeate output, lowering the total quantity of membrane elements for large desalination systems.

• High rejection performance: stabilized salt rejection 99.8%, stabilized boron rejection 92%, compliant with WHO drinking water specifications.

• Optimized low-energy membrane formula, effectively reducing high-pressure pump power consumption compared with conventional seawater RO filters.

• 28mil feed spacer design, improving fluid distribution and suppressing particulate fouling on membrane surfaces.

• Wide chemical tolerance:

• continuous operation pH 2–11; short-term cleaning pH 1–13, excellent flux recovery after cleaning.

• Maximum operating temperature up to 45°C, adaptable to tropical coastal seawater and high-temperature raw water environments.

• Dual packaging choices:

• dry membrane and wet membrane, flexible for cross-border logistics and global project stocking.

• Standard 8-inch spiral wound structure, fully interchangeable with mainstream FRP seawater pressure vessels.

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• Product Advantages

• 1. Outstanding high-flow capacity:

• Single element achieves large daily water output, optimizing skid layout and reducing initial system investment.

• 2. Superior boron interception capability:

• Realizes qualified freshwater via single-pass seawater desalination, saving secondary RO equipment investment.

• 3. Optimized energy efficiency:

• Balanced flux and operating pressure cut long-term electricity expenditure for desalination plants.

• 4. Reliable consistent performance:

• Precision automated production minimizes performance deviation between individual membrane filters.

• 5. Flexible global supply solution:

• Dry membrane without storage expiry risk, convenient for overseas engineering project inventory.

• 6. Anti-fouling structural design:

• Optimized membrane leaf layout delays pollutant accumulation and extends service cycle.

• 7. Strong system compatibility:

• Supports single-stage, two-stage and ISD internal staged seawater desalination process schemes.

• 8. Complete technical support:

• Official system design guides, cleaning protocols and operation manuals available for reference.

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• Application Fields

• 1. Municipal water engineering:

• Coastal city seawater desalination plants, remote island domestic water supply projects.

• 2. Offshore energy industry:

• Offshore oil & gas platform water preparation, marine mining facility water treatment.

• 3. Tourism and island construction:

• Resort island fresh water system, coastal tourist area seawater resource utilization.

• 4. Industrial wastewater treatment:

• High-salinity brine concentration, industrial wastewater zero-discharge supporting facilities.

• 5. Aquaculture industry:

• Marine breeding base seawater purification, salinity adjustment and water quality optimization.

• 6. Desalination equipment OEM:

• Standard configuration for large and medium-sized containerized seawater RO skids.

• 7. Emergency water supply:

• Mobile seawater desalination equipment for coastal disaster rescue and temporary water shortage response.

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• FAQ

Q1: What are the core differences between dry and wet SW30HRLE-400 high flow membrane filters?

A1: Dry membrane contains no preservative liquid, without storage expiration limits, lighter and suitable for long-distance sea transportation. Wet membrane is soaked in preservation liquid, suitable for short-distance domestic deployment. Both maintain identical separation performance after installation.

Q2: What pretreatment index is required for Dow SW30HRLE-400?

A2: Feed water SDI ≤5, free chlorine below 0.1ppm, operating temperature controlled at 5–45°C. Excessive particles and oxidants will cause permanent damage to membrane filters.

Q3: Can SW30HRLE-400 high flow membrane filters treat brackish water?

A3: It is developed primarily for seawater above 30,000ppm salinity. For low-salinity brackish water, BW series brackish reverse osmosis elements deliver better cost-effectiveness.

Q4: What is the expected service life of SW30HRLE-400 seawater membrane filters?

A4: With qualified pretreatment and standardized operation, service life reaches 3–5 years. Poor pretreatment and irregular cleaning will significantly shorten the usable cycle.

Q5: What cleaning chemicals are suitable for this high-flow RO membrane filter?

A5: Acidic cleaners remove inorganic scaling; alkaline cleaners eliminate organic contamination. Strong oxidants such as chlorine and undiluted hydrogen peroxide are prohibited without professional technical guidance. Please follow official cleaning specifications.

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