ASTM D5615-23

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Designation: D5615 − 21 D5615 − 23
Standard Practice for
Operating Characteristics of Home Reverse Osmosis
Devices
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D5615; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This practice covers determination of the operating characteristics of home reverse osmosis devices using standard test
conditions. It does not necessarily determine the characteristics of the devices operating on natural waters.
1.2 This practice is applicable for spiral-wound devices.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses after SI units are provided for
information only and are not considered standard.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of
regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D512 Test Methods for Chloride Ion In Water
D1125 Test Methods for Electrical Conductivity and Resistivity of Water
D1129 Terminology Relating to Water
D1193 Specification for Reagent Water
D1293 Test Methods for pH of Water
D2777 Practice for Determination of Precision and Bias of Applicable Test Methods of Committee D19 on Water
D4194 Test Methods for Operating Characteristics of Reverse Osmosis and Nanofiltration Devices
D4516 Practice for Standardizing Reverse Osmosis Performance Data
D6161 Terminology Used for Microfiltration, Ultrafiltration, Nanofiltration, and Reverse Osmosis Membrane Processes
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D19 on Water and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D19.08 on Membranes and Ion Exchange
Materials.
Current edition approved May 1, 2021Nov. 1, 2023. Published January 2023November 2023. Originally approved in 1994. Last previous edition approved in 20202021
as D5615 – 20.D5615 – 21. DOI: 10.1520/D5615-21.10.1520/D5615-23.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
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D5615 − 23
3.1.1 For definitions of terms used in this standard, refer to Terminology D1129.
3.1.2 For descriptions of terms relating to reverse osmosis, refer to Test Methods D4194 and Terminology D6161.
4. Summary of Practice
4.1 This practice consists of determining the permeate flow rate and sodium chloride rejection for reverse osmosis devices at
345-kPa345 kPa (50-psi) feed gauge pressure, 25°C25 °C and 22 % conversion using an aqueous 300-mg/L300 mg ⁄L sodium
chloride solution.
5. Significance and Use
5.1 Home reverse osmosis devices are typically used to remove salts and other impurities from drinking water at the point of use.
They are usually operated at tap water line pressure, with water containing up to several hundred milligrams per litre of total
dissolved solids. This practice permits measurement of the performance of home reverse osmosis devices using a standard set of
conditions and is intended for short-term testing (less than 24 h). This practice can be used to determine changes that may have
occurred in the operating characteristics of home reverse osmosis devices during use, but it is not intended to be used for system
design. This practice does not necessarily determine the device’s performance when solutes other than sodium chloride are present.
Use Practice D4516 and Test Methods D4194 to standardize actual field data to a standard set of conditions.
5.2 This practice is applicable for spiral-wound devices.
6. Apparatus
6.1 The apparatus for the practice is described schematically in Fig. 1. A conductivity meter can be used to determine the salt
concentration in accordance with Test Methods D1125.
6.2 Installation:
FIG. 1 Flow Schematic of Testing Apparatus
D5615 − 23
6.2.1 Materials of construction shall preferably be of plastic or stainless steel (use 316 or better to minimize corrosion) for all
wetted parts to prevent contamination of the feed solution by corrosion products. Do not use reactive piping material such as plain
carbon steel, galvanized or cadmium-plated carbon steel, and cast iron for piping. Ensure that no contamination will occur from
oil films on new metal piping, release agents on raw plastic components, or feed solutions used in the system previously. Whether
stainless steel or plastic, all pressurized components should be designed based on the manufacturer’s working pressure rating.
Review the manufacturer’s rating for compliance with standard engineering practice.
6.2.2 The reverse osmosis testing apparatus is represented schematically in Fig. 1. It consists of a feed holding tank equipped with
a thermostated heat exchanger system to maintain the feed solution at the desired temperature, a centrifugal pump, and a home
reverse osmosis device. The feed tank is at a higher level than the pump to keep the pump suction flooded. Use a valve with
minimum flow restriction to prevent excessive pressure drop (for example, a ball valve or plug valve) for a shut-off valve. The filter
can be either a strainer (100 mesh) or a 25-μm25 μm filter (based on the supplier’s recommendation). The pressure control valve
is a back pressure regulator but can be substituted with a manually operated needle valve. The concentrate flow is controlled with
a needle valve or a capillary tube. The high-pressure shutoff should have a cutoff point at a gauge pressure of approximately 690
kPa (100 psi) or lower if any part of the pressurized system cannot withstand this pressure. The testing apparatus shall be cleaned
thoroughly before use to remove contaminants, including microorganisms.
6.3 Instrumentation:
6.3.1 See Fig. 1 for pressure tap locations. Locate these as close as possible to the reverse osmosis device. Use a calibrated
transducer or a single gauge equipped with a high-pressure “quick connect” or Taylor plug gauge fitting for measuring individual
pressures and the device pressure drop (ΔP). Individual gauges are also satisfactory but are not as reliable as a quick-connect test
gauge or a special ΔP gauge.
6.3.2 Temperature—The permeate temperature must be measured, and this should be accomplished close to the permeate port. The
probe of calibrated dial thermometers or resistance thermometers should be immersed in the flowing permeate.
6.3.3 Flow Meters—Calibrated flow meters are used to measure the concentrate and permeate flows. Alternatively, the flows can
be measured volumetrically using a calibrated graduated cylinder and a stopwatch.
6.3.4 pH Meter.
6.3.5 Temperature-Compensated Conductivity/Resistivity Meter.
6.4 Operation—Operate the apparatus by drawing the feed solution from the tank and pumping one part of it directly back to the
tank by means of the pressure control valve and the other part through the reverse osmosis device under pressure. Return both the
permeate stream and the concentrate stream to the feed tank so that its volume and solute concentration remain constant. Direct
the return flows in the feed tank to provide adequate mixing. Use the heat exchanger coils in the feed tank to increase the feed
to the specified operating temperature and thereafter to remove the energy load generated by the pump.
7. Reagents
7.1 Purity of Reagents—Reagent grade chemicals shall be used in all tests. Unless otherwise indicated, it is intended that all
reagents conform to the specifications of the Committee on Analytical Reagents of the American Chemical Society where such
specifications are available. Other grades may be used, provided it is first ascertained that the reagent is of sufficiently high purity
to permit its use without lessening the accuracy of the determination.
7.2 Purity of Water—Unless otherw
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