ARMY TM 10-4610-309-14
MARINE CORPS TM 10802A-14/1
TACTICAL WATER PURIFICATION SYSTEM (TWPS)
0020 00
OPERATOR INSTRUCTIONS
CLEANING, PRESERVATION, AND CLEANING WASTE
NEUTRALIZATION AND PUMP-OUT
RO ACID CLEANING
The filtered water, or filtrate, from the MF modules is pumped under pressure through the RO vessels.
The RO element membranes reject dissolved solids (salts) in the filtrate. Antiscalant is injected into the
filtrate during normal TWPS operation to prevent salt scale from forming on the RO membranes. If the
antiscalant is not properly injected, or if the source water is well or seawater in Middle Eastern countries,
the RO membranes can gradually become clogged with salt scale. If the RO is not properly preserved,
the membranes can become clogged with a biological film. If some of the MF fibers are damaged or
broken, silt or dirt can pass through and clog the RO membranes.
When the TWPS is operated properly, scaling, biological growth, and silt accumulation in the RO element
membranes are very unlikely. Therefore, acid cleaning of the RO is seldom required. If cleaning does
become necessary, the need for RO acid cleaning is indicated by the % Clean calculation and the % Salt
Rejection display on the OCP. Table 1 identifies the % Clean and % Salt Rejection criteria that indicates
that RO acid cleaning is needed. RO % Clean and RO % Salt Rejection are described in more detail in
data indicates scaling or silt or biological fouling, an RO acid cleaning should be performed followed by an
RO detergent cleaning.
Table 1. RO Acid Cleaning Schedule.
RO % Clean
% Salt
Problem
Cleaning
Rejection
Indicated
Required
Less than 90% and a decrease of 10% or
Decreased
Scale
RO Acid Cleaning (Low pH
more since beginning the mission or last
cleaner AC-210 Citric Acid)
cleaning.
AC-210 citric acid is used for the RO acid cleaning. RO Acid Cleaning procedures are described in WP
RO DETERGENT CLEANING
Like RO Acid Cleaning, RO Detergent Cleaning is seldom required. The excellent RO feed water
provided by the MF avoids most of the RO fouling typically associated with dirt and biological material.
If cleaning does become necessary, the need for RO detergent cleaning is indicated by the % Clean
calculation and the % Salt Rejection display on the OCP. Table 2 identifies the % Clean and % Salt
Rejection criteria that indicates that RO detergent cleaning is needed. RO % Clean and RO % Salt
Rejection are described in more detail in WP 0016, Maintaining Normal Operation. If you are unsure
whether your % Clean and % Salt Rejection data indicates scaling or silt or biological fouling, an RO acid
cleaning should be performed followed by an RO detergent cleaning.
Table 2. RO Detergent Cleaning Schedule.
RO % Clean
% Salt
Problem
Cleaning
Rejection
Indicated
Required
Less than 90% and a decrease of 10% or
Unchanged
Silt or biological fouling
RO Detergent Cleaning
more since beginning the mission or last
(High pH cleaner AC-310
cleaning.
Detergent)
0020 00-2
