Yes / The water permeability constant, (Kw) is one of many important parameters that affect optimal design and operation of RO processes. In model based studies, e.g.within the RO process model, estimation of Kw is therefore important. There are only two available literature correlations for calculating the dynamic Kw values. However, each of them are only applicable for a given membrane type, given feed salinity over a certain operating pressure range. In this work, we develop a time dependent neural network (NN) based correlation to predict Kw in RO desalination processes under fouling conditions. It is found that the NN based correlation can predict the Kw values very closely to those obtained by the existing correlations for the same membrane type, operating pressure range and feed salinity. However, the novel feature of this correlation is that it is able to predict Kw values for any of the two membrane types and for any operating pressure and any feed salinity within a wide range. In addition, for the first time the effect of feed salinity on Kw values at low pressure operation is reported. While developing the correlation, the effect of numbers of hidden layers and neurons in each layer and the transfer functions is also investigated.

No / Modelling played an important role in simulation, optimisation, and control of multi-stage flash (MSF) desalination processes. Top brine temperature (TBT) is one of the many important parameters that affect optimal design and operation of MSF processes. Within the MSF process model, calculation of TBT is therefore important. For a given pressure, TBT is a function of boiling point temperature (BPT) at zero salinity and temperature elevation (TE) due to salinity. In this work, we develop several neural network (NN) based correlations for predicting TE. It is found that the NN based correlations can predict the experimental TE very closely. Also predictions by the NN based correlations were good when TE values, obtained using existing correlations from the literature are compared. Due to advancement of the microcomputer, plant automation becomes reliable means of plant maintenance. NN based correlations (models) can be updated in terms of new sets of weights and biases for the same architecture or for a new architecture reliably with new plant data.

No / The water permeability constant, (K-w), is one of the many important parameters that affect optimal design and operation of RO processes. In model based studies, e.g. within the RO process model, estimation of W-w is therefore important There are only two available literature correlations for calculating the dynamic K-w values. However, each of them is only applicable for a given membrane type, given feed salinity over a certain operating pressure range. In this work, we develop a time dependent neural network (NN) based correlation to predict K-w in RO desalination processes under fouling conditions. It is found that the NN based correlation can predict the K-w values very closely to those obtained by the existing correlations for the same membrane type, operating pressure range and feed salinity. However, the novel feature of this correlation is that it is able to predict K-w values for any of the two membrane types and for any operating pressure and any feed salinity within a wide range. In addition, for the first time the effect of feed salinity on Kw values at low pressure operation is reported. Whilst developing the correlation, the effect of numbers of hidden layers and neurons in each layer and the transfer functions is also investigated. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.