Waterguy RO after season thoughts

[gmcooper]

Ok finished a week ago. In early March I bought a model 5000. Took a little over week to get it (trucking co. issue not Waterguy). Took longer to hook up than I thought but more my trying to cover every possible route for sap, conc, and perm to travel. Glad I did, need bigger permeate tank for next year. Bought alot of fittings but everything worked as planned. AS for RO it came with concentrate (needle valve) that would not close down at all. They shipped me a new one no problem. Most days I processed average of 800 gallons and took ave 1.8% sap to over 8% up to 11%. I used 1/2 wood I usually use and made 2x the syrup. I never would have made it without it. This unit easily paid for itself this season alone. It is rated at 300 gph which is a bit misleading as I usually ran at 360 gph taking out over 1/2 water 1st pass. Recirculating I still took out over 1/2 water and ran at about 300gph. This was all at about 225 psi. I washed all but 2 nights after running. If you talk with Bill he will tell you that frequent washing is needed when processing sap. On the down side the poly wash tank they ship with it is way too big (65 gallon). The feed pump could be a bit bigger (it did work). I would like a bigger hp high pressure pump (1 1/2 to 2 or 3hp).
Need to install a low pressure switch on the feed pump with manual override to start but also shut down when tank is empty. All controls are manual, not a big deal unless you are expecting to push a button and walk away for the night. For $4955.00 including shipping I certainly got my monies worth. Would I like to have the similar size Springtech unit I priced out last spring? sure but it was at least $7000 more money that I did not have. If anyone has questions on Waterguy RO's Bill is great to talk to and takes calls on his cell. Maple is not the main part of his business but I got the impression that he makes them to help producers. I'm quite sure units for processing sap require many more calls and questions than the rest of his line of RO's.
So would I recommend a Waterguy RO ? Yes, with the notation they are a basic manually operated RO.

[danno]

Thanks for your feedback on this machine. I'm impressed that you were moving 300+ gph through that unit.

225 psi, 1 1/2 hp high pressure pump?

What kind of membranes, size and how many membranes?

What was you usual concentrate/permeate output per minute?

[gmcooper]

Hi,
Unit has 2 NF270 4040 membranes.
1st pass I was often running 225 psi 4 gpm perm and 2 gpm conc. Long runs it might drop to 3.5 perm and 2.5 conc. When it needed to be cleaned rates would drop to 3 and 3. I could close down the conc valve to 1 gpm conc and 3 perm which was taking 2%-8%. Psi was close to 250. I could have run like that but thought I would plug membrane to quick. Running lower pressure and recirculating seemed as fast and easier on the membrane. Most of my sap was under 2% and I got really happy boiling 8.5 to 11% sap.
Mark

[spud]

GMCooper

Thanks for all the information you shared about your RO. What type of changes will you be making for next year (if any).

Spud

[gmcooper]

For next year I will add a low pressure switch on the feed pump so when a tank empties it will shut down. I probably will add a high temp limit switch as well so during wash cycle it will also shut down on its own. I thought about adding a 3rd membrane for next year but will wait and see how many more taps I add.
One thing I did not mention earlier was this unit has a TDS monitor(total disolved solids). It was not exact in monitoring the the sugar content in the concentrate but I could take a reading an know about where the actual sugar content was. Also came in handy when flushing the last of the sap thru the unit at the end of the day with permeate. I didn't have to keep taking a sample just watch the meter. It took probably 10 min to flush and push the sugar out. Easily enough to make a gallon of syrup or more.
Some one had asked if I was going to sell the unit. Not unless they are willing to pay me more than I can buy a new replacement for!

[Liray]

What is the size of your wash and high pressure motors? What amps do they draw as I need to power with generator if I buy this unit.

[gmcooper]

Both HP and feed pump are 220v I'd have to look it up but I think full load was less then 20 amp total. HP might have been just over 10 and feed maybe 7.

[HazensNotchSugarShack]

My 2500 runs a 1hp booster pump and since I am adding a second membrane to mine to speed up the process I need to change to the 1 1/2 hp pump could you get me the model number off of your pump. I agree for the money I was very pleased but think that adding a recirc pump would greatly help the fouling issue. Are your two membranes in series or paralell. Thanks Rick

[gmcooper]

As for adding a second membrane I would talk to Bill on this. I can't remember if that was an option for the 2500 model. From looking around I think you might get a good deal on the bigger pump from Bill as well. Where my unit is stored now it is burried behind a bunch of stuff for the off season. I need to move a few things around in a couple weeks so I may get a chance to look then.