An RO Booster pump skid system helps maintain the required pressure and provides clean and safe water for industrial operations. At the same time, the skid enables the system to run smoothly.

In this blog, we’ll discuss the mechanics of RO booster pump skids, their benefits and uses across different industries.

What is a Reverse Osmosis (RO) Booster Pump Skid?

It is a steel structural frame that encompasses the components of a water filtration and water pressure enhancement system.

The durability of the steel frame ensures the components fitted inside it remain undisturbed despite harsh industrial conditions.

The skid’s integrated design houses the pumps and motors to maintain consistent water flow and pressure.

Here are some of the main components of an RO booster pump skid:

Piping and Valves

Booster pumps increase pressure on water that’s already flowing. Pipes and their routing structure are instruments that help boost the pressure towards other parts of the plant. Valves control this by regulating the pressure or stopping the flow completely.

Pressure Gauges

It’s an instrument that measures water pressure and displays numeric readings using a pointer. These gauges are attached to piping systems to monitor suction and discharge pressure.

Electric Motor

It consists of an internal rotor that helps raise water pressure. The increasing pressure enables the water to pass through the RO membrane and successfully filter the impurities to produce clean water.

Inlet and Outlet Piping

The skid connects the water supply and RO system in an industrial plant through piping. The inlet pipe allows the feed water to pass through towards the booster pump. The outlet pipe carries high-pressure water towards the RO membrane.

How does an RO Booster Pump work?

A Reverse Osmosis system basically converts feed water into clean water, which is then used for production activities.

The RO system cannot function at its optimum capacity when: • Long pipe runs across the plant affect water flow • Pressure fluctuates during seasonal temperature variations • Elevation changes in equipment reduce water pressure • Pressure losses increase while passing through multi-stage RO systems

An RO booster pump connected to the RO system enhances water purification by regulating water pressure, effectively minimising these challenges.

Filtration – In these systems, RO membranes play a significant role in segregating impurities such as ions, molecules and other chemical residues from water. For successful segregation, RO membranes need to operate at an ideal pressure.

Pressure Control – RO booster pumps are equipped with pressure sensors and switches, enabling automated pressure control. When feed water pressure falls below the specified minimum range, the control system activates to restore adequate pressure.

Skid Integration – An RO booster pump skid supports the RO system by maintaining the required water flow rate and pressure level. The skid ensures reliable and controlled water delivery to the RO membranes.

Uses of RO Booster Pump Skids in industrial plants

The skids help manufacturers and engineers deliver high-quality water for factories, large-scale plants, and processing facilities.

Its applications across industries are defined below:

Petrochemical

RO booster pump skids for oil, gas, and petrochemical drilling sites and refineries are used to polish and purify water. The pump skids help transport raw water substances from the drill site to the plant for purification. The skids can be designed and transported for both onshore and offshore installations.

Water Treatment

Once raw water is converted into pre-treated water, it flows towards the RO membranes for further purification. RO booster pumps compensate for any pressure losses during this stage and help maintain feed water pressure and flow rate. The RO booster pump skid is equipped with Variable frequency drives (VFD), flow meters, and valves, ensuring the pressure changes are monitored and controlled.

Food & Beverage

Treated water is used for soft drinks, bottled water, juices and breweries. Recipes and flavors remain constant owing to the quality of water used to produce them. RO booster pumps mounted on skid systems increase water pressure, maintaining consistent flow rate and ensuring reliable RO filtration and purification.

Pharma

Pharmaceutical water systems require a high degree of hygiene, control, reliability and consistency. Clean water and a sterile environment are a necessity for product formulation and equipment washing. The skids are designed to withstand harsh chemical sanitisation cycles, minimise contamination and prevent membrane fouling.

Why choose an RO Booster Pump skid?

Plug-and-Play Design

All the components of an RO booster pump are pre-arranged in a compact steel structural frame. The skid is pre-assembled, factory-tested, and can be connected to the RO system via power cables, a control panel, and nozzle connections. It speeds up the initial setup process instead of connecting each component separately.

Controls Pressure and Flow

The skid controls water pressure using Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) and Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) controllers. VFD control adjusts pump speed to accommodate changing RO demand. PID controller compares the real-time pressure levels with the setpoint and adjusts pump speed through VFD to maintain the required pressure.

Reduces Maintenance Downtime

Skids are equipped with Programmable Logic Controller (PLC), pressure gauges, and flow meters monitoring the condition of the booster pump. Instead of waiting for unplanned shutdowns and equipment failures, the measurements can help identify abnormalities at an early stage. The measurements are compared against preset limits and support planned maintenance activities, so it doesn’t affect the operability of the pumping systems.

Completely integrated system

The skid can hold multiple pipe layouts, valves, and controllers. Its open frame structure allows faster inspection and contains automated controllers, reducing the need for manual intervention. The automated control systems also optimise pump speed and performance based on the requirements of the RO systems.

Get a custom RO Booster Pump Skid designed for your facility

Are you looking for a reliable skid support that can maintain water pressure at crucial times?

The Plant and piping design team at Sedin Engineering can model RO booster pump skids to meet your process requirements. Our multidisciplinary engineering approach considers piping, instrumentation and relevant systems to ensure the skid can withstand operating loads and demanding conditions.

Equip your plant to run seamlessly even during maintenance shutdowns and unexpected operating conditions. Contact our team for RO booster pump skid design solutions tailored to your plant’s operational and pressure requirements.