Custom Reverse Osmosis System Design & Manufacturing

CITOR reverse osmosis systems are designed and manufactured to Australian and international standards:

Electrical Standards:

AS/NZS 3000 (Wiring Rules): Australian Standard for electrical installations.

• All electrical work complies with AS/NZS 3000 requirements
• Certified by licensed electricians
• Compliance documentation provided

AS/NZS 3008 (Cable Selection): Cable sizing and protection standards.

AS/NZS 60204 (Safety of Machinery – Electrical Equipment): Industrial machinery electrical safety.

• Emergency stop systems
• Safety interlocks
• Electrical protection devices

IP Rating: Electrical enclosure protection against dust and water ingress.

• Control panels: Minimum IP54 (dust protected, splash resistant)
• Outdoor installations: IP65 or higher specifications available

Mechanical Standards:

AS/NZS 1210 (Pressure Equipment): Unfired pressure vessels.

• Pressure vessels designed and manufactured to AS/NZS 1210 where required
• Design verification and documentation
• Pressure testing and certification

AS 4041 (Pressure Piping): Pressure piping design and fabrication.

For most applications, RO desalination demonstrates favourable environmental performance compared to alternatives when full life cycle is considered, particularly where:

• Alternative is water trucking over significant distances
• Groundwater resources are limited or over-allocated
• Bottled water consumption would otherwise occur

CITOR systems can be specified for enhanced sustainability:

• Renewable energy compatible designs
• Energy-efficient components and configurations
• Minimal chemical dosing through optimised pre-treatment
• Long service life reducing embodied energy amortisation
• Locally manufactured equipment reducing transport emissions

Yes. Custom reverse osmosis system design is a core CITOR capability. Standard models suit many applications, but unique requirements benefit from engineered-to-specification systems. Custom systems most commonly relate to space restrictions or component layouts for which standard units are not suitable.

Proper system sizing requires analysis of several factors:

1. Daily Water Demand

Typical consumption guidelines:

• Marine vessels: 40–80 litres per person per day
• Mining camps: 100–200 litres per person per day (includes showers, laundry, kitchen)
• Resort facilities: 200–400 litres per person per day (includes pools, landscaping, amenities)
• Industrial applications: Project-specific based on process requirements

2. Operating Schedule

Systems don't need to operate 24 hours daily. Many installations run 8–12 hours per day to meet daily requirements, however all CITOR units are rated for continuous duty.

3. Source Water Quality

Water chemistry affects production rate. High-salinity sources require higher pressure and may have lower recovery rates. Challenging chemistry may require pre-treatment that can foul membranes, damage components, and reduce effective capacity.

4. Storage Capacity

Most installations include product water storage tanks to buffer supply and demand variations. Adequate storage reduces required system oversizing and provides backup during maintenance.

CITOR engineers work with clients to analyse these factors and specify appropriate system capacity.

Seawater and brackish water desalination differ primarily in source water salinity and the resulting operating requirements:

Seawater Desalination (SWRO):

• Source TDS: 7,000–45,000 PPM (parts per million)
• Operating pressure: 20–55 bar (300–800 PSI)
• Applications: Coastal facilities, marine vessels, offshore platforms, island resorts
• Energy consumption: Higher due to increased pressure requirements
• Membrane type: Sea water membrane, specifically designed for high-salinity applications
• Recovery rate: Typically 10–30% of feed water converted to product water

Brackish Water Desalination (BWRO):

• Source TDS: 1,000–7,000 PPM
• Operating pressure: 10–15 bar (150–250 PSI)
• Applications: Agricultural bore water, inland groundwater, industrial sources
• Energy consumption: Significantly lower than seawater treatment
• Membrane type: Brackish water membranes, optimized for moderate salinity levels
• Recovery rate: Typically 60–85% depending on water chemistry

Both processes use reverse osmosis membrane technology, but system components (pumps, pressure vessels, membranes, materials) are specified differently based on source water characteristics. A brackish water system cannot effectively treat seawater—it lacks the pressure capacity and membrane specifications required for high-salinity applications.

Standard systems: 2–6 weeks from contact to commissioning

Custom systems: 2–16 weeks from contact to commissioning