large homemade ro- 10-15 gpm

[IshamBrookFarm]

I see all the information someone could ask for on RO's that run from 15 to 200 gph, but i need to know more about building an RO thats around 600 gph. I have access to 8 inch membranes and housings, but need the information on sizes of everything else. Where i buy pumps, and how to get the high psi and gpm pumps. any information would be great, i want to try and keep this a thread for the larger RO's.

[unc23win]

Well I don't know much about building one but mine is a 600GPH and it has a 7.5HP Jet Pump on it originally it had a 5HP, the 7.5 is suppose to be ready to expand to another membrane and make it a 1200GPH.

[Daryl]

The jet pump would be the feed pump. You will need a multi stage high pressure or a piston pump to push thru the membranes.

[BreezyHill]

You can see procon pumps on ebay. You will need the large size gpm, series 6, http://www.proconpumps.com/ has more tech data.
these pumps will do 660 gpm at 250 max psi. If you are running xle membranes this is pump enough. You may want to have more than one to get more volume thru multiply vessels. Very impressive pumps for their size and cost.
Are you going to be recirculating or batch running the tank?
Ben

[bowhunter]

The series 6 Procon pumps are good for 660 gph or gallons per hour. Not sure that's big enough. For a 600 gph RO you need a pump capable of 3000 gph or 5 gpm.

[rchase]

why do you need 3000gph pump for a 600gph ro?

[BreezyHill]

I am sure that was a math error on that post and that is why it was deleted by the author.
So the procon series 6 (ps6) and a jet pump to feed the ps6 will work very well. The jet will feed your water purification cartridge and force the sap thru so that the ps6 is not forced to suck the sap thru, making the ps6 more efficient. A safety pressure switch after the water cartridge would be a good thing to shut down both pumps if the sap runs out.
The issue is the connecting lines. I have seen a friends HM system and it looked and worked great. I was a little nervous about the use of plastic connection hoses but when one lets go he will know it. Copper with lead free connections or flare connections would be safer at the pressures we are working with. Stainless lines wielded would look prettier but.... There was a series 6 on a motor but I cant find it so it must have sold already.
I can see where batch running can be a benefit. It allows for the evaporator to get up and running as soon as enough sap is collected and then the RO can concentrate as the evap runs and sap is coming in. That was not how I was planning on pluming my system but now I have to do some serious thinking. My plan was to chill the concentrate when it left the RO but ... Need to weight the options again.

[TunbridgeDave]

USPlastic.com has nylon tubing and fittings that handle high pressures. I think 1000psi. That's what my older SB machine came with. It handles 300 psi just fine, but I normally run it around 200 to 250 with xle's.

[bowhunter]

Sorry I didn't respond. Haven't been keeping up frequently. For a 600 GPH feedrate the total flow through the membrane will be about 3000 gallons per hour to meet the membrane design recovery rate. You might be able to run successfully at higher recovery rates, but it does impact the membrane cleaning cycle and it may damage the membrane over time.

[IshamBrookFarm]

Ben,
for ease i think i was going to design it just to batch run. i hear and read that recirculating is more efficient and easier on the machine but i don't know if i'm smart enough to figure that out. so these ps6 suck the sap thru the vessel and are not a high pressure pump?

[IshamBrookFarm]

ben, i see what your saying now, a jet pump will feed a purifier which goes to the ps6 which in return goes into the membranes....correct? what do they typically run these ps6 pumps with, just an electric motor?

[BreezyHill]

Sorry PC got sick...just got it back. Batch is easier but not hard to recirc. The line leaving the membranes needs a tee with one line going back to the feed from the jet to the ps6. By closing the valve partially the concentrate flow is reduced and a check valve is opened to allow flow to the feeder line of the ps6. The inclusion of concentrate in the sap flow removes more water and increases the sugar content.
Yes a jet must feed the psc by way of a purification filter to remove all debris to keep the ps6 and membranes clean longer.
We always cleaned the sap as it came into the releaser. My new system will clean it before it gets to the storage tanks for the RO. Milk tube socks work wonderfully to catch chips, tubing from saddle holes, and any other foreign matter.
Ps6 is direct drive off of a motor. Visit the link below to see a series 6 on a motor. Nice neat package. Not as loud as a piston pump, not huge pump and motor either.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Series-6-Stainless-Steel-Procon-Pump-W-3-4-HP-Motor-/181206141632?pt=BI_Pumps&hash=item2a30ba4ac0