ARMY TM 10-4610-309-14
MARINE CORPS TM 10802A-14/1
TACTICAL WATER PURIFICATION SYSTEM (TWPS)
0003 00
DESCRIPTION AND THEORY OF OPERATION
THEORY OF OPERATION
Five RO vessels, each containing two RO elements, remove dissolved solids (salts) to produce the
product water through a process called reverse osmosis. In this process, pressurized RO feed water is
delivered to the RO elements in the RO vessels. In the RO elements, the feed water flows across sheets
of membrane material (see Figure 12). Some of the water passes through the membrane sheets and is
collected to become product water. Most of the dissolved solids (salts) are blocked from passing through
the membranes. Only 1/3 to 1/2 of the RO feed water passes through the membrane sheets to become
product water. The rest of the water containing most of the dissolved solids continues flowing past the
membranes and exits the RO vessels as reject. The RO feed water enters the top vessel and flows
through each of the vessels in series and exits the bottom RO vessel as reject. The portion of feed water
that passes through the RO membranes exits as product water from the outer end of both elements in
each RO vessel. The product water collects in a manifold and flows out to the distribution system.
PRODUCT WATER
THRUST RING
BRINE SEAL
RO END CAP
FEED WATER
PRODUCT WATER
RO REJECT
MEMBRANE
PRODUCT WATER (PERMEATE) CARRIER
MEMBRANE
Figure 12. Reverse Osmosis Process.
0003 00-15
