In the water treatment industry, RO (reverse osmosis) systems are the key component for producing pure water. Behind the entire system operates a “silent commander”—the PLC (Programmable Logic Controller). It serves as the core control unit and “brain” of the RO system, ensuring stable, efficient, and safe operation throughout the process.
I. Core Functions of PLC
The RO system comprises multiple devices, including raw water pumps, chemical dosing systems, high-pressure pumps, membrane modules, conductivity meters, and pressure sensors, all requiring multi-point coordination during operation. The primary task of the PLC is centralized control and logical interlocking of these devices.
Through input ports, the PLC continuously collects various signals:
- Liquid level signals: Monitor water levels in raw water tanks and product water tanks;
Pressure signals: Assessing high-pressure pump operational status and safety thresholds;
Conductivity signals: Verifying water quality compliance.
Output ports issue control commands based on logical evaluations—such as pump start/stop, valve actuation, chemical dosing, backwashing, and flushing—enabling automated operation without frequent manual intervention.
II. Intelligent Interlocking and Safety Protection
PLC control extends beyond simple “on/off commands” to encompass critical logical decision-making and protective mechanisms.
When the system detects low water levels in the raw water tank, full production tanks, excessively low inlet pressure, or excessive product water conductivity, the PLC immediately executes shutdown or alarm commands to prevent equipment damage or water quality abnormalities.
Simultaneously, during different operational phases (startup, flushing, production, shutdown), the PLC automatically switches control logic to achieve full-process automation, significantly enhancing system reliability and consistency.
III. Remote Monitoring and Data Management
With intelligent development, modern PLCs are often connected to host computers or touchscreens (HMI), and may even integrate into building or plant-wide central monitoring systems (SCADA).
Operators can view real-time parameters such as flow rate, pressure, and conductivity via HMI, remotely adjust setpoints, or review historical operational data.
This enables more intelligent and visual operation and maintenance of RO systems.
IV. Case Study: Industrial Pure Water System Application
In the pure water preparation project for Heyue Beverage Factory, the design team employed a Siemens S7-1200 PLC to control the entire RO system. The system comprises raw water chemical dosing, high-pressure pump sets, primary and secondary RO units, product water storage tanks, and concentrate recovery units.
The PLC communicates with conductivity meters, flow meters, and variable frequency drives via Modbus protocol to perform the following functions:
Automatically determines raw water tank level to trigger raw water pump start/stop;
Adjusts backwash frequency based on product water conductivity;
Automatically uploads fault alarms (e.g., high-pressure overload, low-pressure protection, membrane blockage) to HMI;
Supports remote monitoring via Ethernet connection to the central control room, enabling unattended operation.
Application results show a 15% increase in water savings, significantly improved operational stability, and a 50% reduction in manual inspection frequency.
Conclusion:
In RO reverse osmosis systems, the PLC serves not merely as a “controller,” but as the ‘brain’ and “guardian” of the entire system.
It enables automated equipment coordination, safety protection, and remote management, making pure water production more efficient, stable, and intelligent.
Looking ahead, with the integration of IoT and smart manufacturing, PLCs will continue to play an increasingly vital role in water treatment automation.