The Science of an R/O unit

[JP Quality Maple Syrup]

I have read many threads in here of home made and manufactured units but was curious. I am a handy fellow and a rookie and I would like to make my own. Is there a site or manual (R/O's for dummies) that would explain the terminologies and the way they work in a bit more detail? I have asked some questions about the process, I thought I understood, but actually didn't. I thank the fellows that set me straight on the working of them but need to spend some time learning more. If you have any ideas that would be great. I plan to spend the summer building one. Thanks in advance, Jack

[not_for_sale]

Depending on your background you may understand this summary: it's a filter on a molecular level. The filter is the membrane. It's area is big and is rolled up. The concentrate is the solution on the primary side. The water molecules go through the filter and are called permeate. The higher the pressure on the concentrate side, and the more concentrate flows by the membrane, the likelier a lot of permeate is created. Pressure is the difference of pressure between the concentrate and permeate side. Once the concentrate is high in concentration of molecules that can't pass the filter membrane they can get stuck. Hence the need to flush. Also hence the need to flow a lot of concentrate past the membrane (recirculation). The real process can be nano filtration or osmosis. Osmosis is the process that happens when two solutions of different concentrations are on different sides of he membrane. The concentrations seek to equalize under equal pressure. Reverse osmosis happens because of the pressure differentials on both sides of the membrane.

[happy thoughts]

Jack- I came across this link a bit ago- plans for a home R/O that someone made using advice gotten here on Maple trader. I can't vouch for how well it works but I think the directions are detailed well enough for the mechanically inclined (I'm not one of them:).

https://sites.google.com/site/mattatuckmadnessmaplesyrup/home/homemade-reverse-osmosis-system

Also buried in these threads as I remember from last year is a really nice portable unit someone else made at home mounted on a hand truck. Maybe someone else will remember that thread and point you there.

Hope that helps. Good luck and again best wishes for a really great season.

[JP Quality Maple Syrup]

Hey happy thoughts. Thank you very much for the link. I have been researching membranes and that is a project in itself. With help from yourself and others like not_for_sale I WILL get it. I have the time to research and of course ask questions so I can work it all. My problem for me now is the weather here is not helping this year and my new evaporator is still sitting covered up in the garage. Sugar Shack not finished and there is about 4 to 5 inches of ice inside it. Half the roof done and bitterly cold weather and tons of snow. Last year was great and this year not so. My wife keeps pushing me on and I have learned tons of stuff in this site already. I go out and work on it in -20 that's celsius, for bits at a time. I hope to post some pics soon as to progress and how I got here. Anyway, we will see. Thanks again, Jack