RFRO™ | Reverse Flow Reverse Osmosis System
RFRO™is InfraCorp’s next-generation Innovative Desalination Technology for Cost Effective Concentrate Management and Reduced Energy Use.
It’s a Reverse Osmosis platform engineered to break traditional limitations in desalination and water recovery. By utilizing a reverse-flow hydraulic configuration, RFRO™ sustains optimal osmotic balance and energy efficiency throughout the membrane array—achieving higher recovery, lower fouling, and superior salt rejection compared to conventional RO systems
Technology Overview
Unlike traditional RO, where feed and permeate flow co-currently, RFRO™ operates in a reverse (counter-current) flow pattern between membrane stages.
This creates a balanced osmotic pressure profile, allowing higher recovery rates while preventing localized scaling and concentration polarization.
The result is a dynamic equilibrium—maintaining high net driving pressure (NDP) and maximizing every drop of water processed.
RFRO™ | Reverse Flow Reverse Osmosis System
Unlike traditional RO, where feed and permeate flow co-currently, RFRO™ operates in a reverse (counter-current) flow pattern between membrane stages.
This creates a balanced osmotic pressure profile, allowing higher recovery rates while preventing localized scaling and concentration polarization.
The result is a dynamic equilibrium—maintaining high net driving pressure (NDP) and maximizing every drop of water processed.
What Makes RFRO™ Different
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- Dual-Feed, Reverse Flow Design
Most RO systems operate with one feed side and a co-current flow direction.RFRO™ introduces two feed inlets—each feeding from opposite ends of the membrane array—creating a reverse (counter-current) hydraulic and osmotic balance.
- This dual-feed concept equalizes the osmotic pressure gradient across the membranes.
- It prevents localized salt buildup and polarization.
- It maintains consistent flux from both ends—something single-feed systems can’t achieve.
2.High Recovery with Low Energy
Because of its dual-flow equilibrium, RFRO™ maintains efficient pressure use along its entire array length.
This allows for:
- 90–95% water recovery (vs. 40–50% typical RO)
- 20–30% energy savings compared to conventional single-pass RO
- Smaller membrane area for the same output
Technology Concept
At the core of RFRO™ is its dual-feed, counter-current configuration:
- Feed Side A: High-pressure feed water enters from one end of the system.
- Feed Side B: A second, lower-pressure stream (partially treated or permeate-diluted feed) enters from the opposite end.
- The two feed streams flow toward each other, exchanging osmotic and hydraulic balance through the membrane arrays.
- Permeate is collected from both sides, while the central brine junction maintains a stabilized concentration gradient.
This reverse and balanced hydraulic design sustains optimal Net Driving Pressure (NDP) across all membrane elements, minimizing scaling and maximizing recovery.
Process Advantage Summary
|
Parameter |
Conventional RO |
CLRO™ |
RFRO™ |
|
Feed Flow Direction |
Single, co-current |
Recirculating |
Dual, counter-current |
|
Feed Inlets |
One |
One |
Two (opposite ends) |
|
Brine Outlet |
End of array |
Loop |
Midpoint discharge |
|
Osmotic Profile |
Steep gradient |
Cyclic |
Balanced |
|
Recovery Potential |
35–45% |
60–70% |
90–95% |
|
Energy Efficiency |
Moderate |
Good |
High |
|
Scaling Risk |
High |
Moderate |
Very Low |
|
Suitability |
Desalination |
Brine reuse |
ZLD / Hard-to-treat |
Quantified Performance Edge
|
Metric |
Conventional RO |
CLRO™ |
RFRO™ |
|
Feed Flow Direction |
Single |
Recirculating |
Dual (reverse) |
|
Max Recovery |
45–50% |
70–80% |
90–95% |
|
Energy Use (kWh/m³) |
2.5–3.5 |
2.0–2.8 |
1.6–2.2 |
|
Scaling Risk |
High |
Medium |
Very Low |
|
Membrane Life |
3–5 years |
5–6 years |
6–8 years |
Engineered for Hard-to-Treat Water
RFRO™ is purpose-built for high-TDS brines, industrial effluents, and ZLD applications.
Its dual-feed design handles osmotic stress far beyond conventional systems, making it the ideal solution for industries like:
- Power generation and cooling tower blowdown
- Mining and metallurgical wastewater
- Textile, chemical, and pharma effluents
- Desalination brine concentration and reuse
Primary Applications
Industrial Wastewater Reuse
Municipal Water Reuse and Recycling
Brackish Groundwater Desalination
Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) Pretreatment
Cooling Tower Blowdown Recovery
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- Maximum Recovery. Minimum Waste: RFRO™ achieves up to 95% water recovery, reducing brine volume by up to 70% compared to standard RO.
-
- Superior Energy Efficiency
The reverse-flow configuration maintains an even Net Driving Pressure (NDP) across all membranes, enabling lower feed pressure and optimized pump efficiency.20–30% lower energy use per cubic meter of permeate — delivering best-in-class operating economics
-
- Engineered for Hard-to-Treat Water
RFRO™ is purpose-built for high-TDS brines, industrial effluents, and ZLD applications.Its dual-feed design handles osmotic stress far beyond conventional systems, making it the ideal solution for industries like:
-
- Power generation and cooling tower blowdown
- Mining and metallurgical wastewater
- Textile, chemical, and pharma effluents
- Desalination brine concentration and reuse
-
- Hybrid Integration Ready
RFRO™ forms a core component of InfraCorp’sH2T™ (Hard-to-Treat Technology) ecosystem.
It integrates seamlessly with:
-
- HyO-RO™→ Hybrid forward osmosis-RO preconcentration
- Min™ZLD→ Modular zero liquid discharge polishing
- ThermoRO™→ Thermal-assisted high-salinity recovery
Together, they form a closed-loop water cycle — high recovery, low energy, zero liquid loss.
-
- Sustainability by Design
Every RFRO™ system is designed for:
-
- Lower chemical consumption (minimal antiscalant demand)
- Reduced carbon footprint (lower SEC and brine volume)
Extended component life (balanced flux and pressure profile)
RFRO™ redefines what’s possible in membrane desalination.By reversing the flow and rethinking the physics, InfraCorp engineers a system that delivers maximum water recovery with minimum energy and maintenance—a true leap forward in sustainable water reuse.