Achieving accurate dosing of scale inhibitors in full reverse osmosis (RO) membrane systems for industrial applications is a critical challenge due to a lack of understanding of membrane fouling characteristics. To address this, this study investigated membrane performance at different inhibitor concentrations and proposed a method using ultrasonic phased arrays (UPA) to evaluate the fouling layer's spatial and density characteristics. The study also examined the relationship between fouling reversibility and compaction, and the results showed a clear conversion process from inhibition to exacerbation of membrane fouling by scale inhibitors. Additionally, the fouling layer distribution characteristics were opposite at different concentrations. At insufficient concentrations, the scaling layer forms near the outlet and spreads to the far-end with a continuously decreasing thickness. Conversely, at surplus concentrations, the opposite effect was observed. At sufficient concentrations, the fouling layer thickness and range exhibited a discontinuous distribution. The high-density layer was dominant on the membrane surface and showed low fouling reversibility. However, scale inhibitors were found to minimize fouling density by interfering with ion deposition, reducing the ion content and significantly increasing its reversibility. These findings have significant implications for scale inhibitor efficiency evaluation and scientific application, which can improve industrial membrane system performance.

中文翻译：

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超声波相控阵监测阻垢剂协同条件下膜污染的见解：污染空间和密度特征

由于缺乏对膜污染特性的了解，在工业应用的全反渗透 (RO) 膜系统中实现阻垢剂的精确剂量是一项严峻的挑战。为了解决这个问题，本研究研究了不同抑制剂浓度下的膜性能，并提出了一种使用超声波相控阵（UPA）来评估污垢层的空间和密度特征的方法。研究还考察了结垢可逆性与压实之间的关系，结果表明阻垢剂对膜结垢有明显的从抑制到加剧的转化过程。此外，不同浓度下污垢层分布特征相反。在浓度不足的情况下，结垢层在出口附近形成，并以不断减小的厚度扩散到远端。相反，在浓度过剩时，观察到相反的效果。在足够的浓度下，污垢层的厚度和范围表现出不连续的分布。膜表面以高密度层为主，显示出较低的污染可逆性。然而，人们发现阻垢剂可以通过干扰离子沉积、降低离子含量并显着提高其可逆性来最大限度地减少污垢密度。这些发现对于阻垢剂效率评估和科学应用具有重要意义，可以提高工业膜系统的性能。