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Cartridge Filtration & RO Guard

SWRO Intake & Pre-Treatment for Desalination

Cartridge filters are the last barrier before the high-pressure pumps and RO membranes. Rated typically 1–5 micron, they catch any particulate breakthrough from upstream media or UF pre-treatment, protecting the most expensive components in the plant. They are a guard, not a workhorse — rising differential pressure signals upstream problems.

1–5
µm absolute
Final
RO guard barrier
1.0–1.5
bar change-out ΔP
Duplex
code-stamped housings

How Cartridge Filtration Works

Final particulate barrier before RO

Pleated vs Melt-Blown

Pleated for surface area and life; melt-blown depth for solids.

1–5 µm Rating

Absolute-rated elements set the final particulate barrier.

Multi-Round Housings

316L / duplex, code-stamped vessels holding many elements.

Differential-Pressure Monitoring

Rising ΔP triggers change-out and flags upstream upsets.

Scheduled Change-Out

Disposable elements replaced on ΔP or time.

RO & HP-Pump Protection

Stops grit reaching pumps and membranes.

Design Parameters

Typical engineering envelope

ParameterTypicalNotes
Micron rating1–5 µm absoluteFinal guard
Flow per element0.2–0.3 m³/h per 10″Element dependent
Clean ΔP~0.2 barNew elements
Change-out ΔP1.0–1.5 barOr on schedule
Housing316L / duplexCode-stamped
PositionBefore HP pumpsImmediately upstream of RO

Other Pre-Treatment Stages

Continue across the SWRO intake & pre-treatment series

Related Equipment & Hubs

Engineer your SWRO pre-treatment

Our desalination engineers design the complete intake and pre-treatment train — cartridge filtration and every stage — to deliver a low-SDI, membrane-safe feed at minimum lifecycle cost.

Industries We Serve

Our expertise spans multiple industries with sector-specific water treatment solutions.

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