No pressure in R.O

[Quabbin Hill Farms]

I have an older Memtech Ro i just replaced the three membranes with XLE 4021. I ran it on Monday according to the manual at 500 psi I was getting some sugar passing into the permeate. The pressure kept dropping off went down to 350 and was not getting much concentration. Tried to run it on Tuesday and could not generate any pressue all the sap seemed to be going through the water side.

i was told that 500 is way to high although thats what the manual says. Is there a chance i damaged the membranes and now they are not holding anything back. It seemed like i had no control of the permeate flow as soon as sap started flowing in the permeate flow valve ball pinned at the top of the sight glass..

Any ideas??

[wiam]

If it is like mine with fiberglass vessels the only way for sugar to get in permeate is the connector at bottom of membrane leaking or bad membrane.

[PATheron]

If you washed it after you were done the permeate may seem like its way high right off the bat. You don't control the permeate only the pressure and concentrate gpm. Start it up so it has some pressure. Adjust your concentrate to like one or two gallons per minute. After it runs a while the perm should start coming down and the pressure comes up. If the membrane is a nf 270 you run it at three hundred psi if its like an xle or mark one run it at 400. Nothing ever over 400. Hope this helps. The perm ends up being whatever it is. Theron

[Quabbin Hill Farms]

William yes mine has the 3 fiberglass canisters. How high of pressure do you run? If your machine like mine tit says to run at 500 psi on the instructionson the cabinet?

[wiam]

I usually run mine about 450. If I am in a hurry I have pushed it to 500. That is the max on these machines. You can run lower. I think membrane needs a wash sooner at 500

[Brent]

the pressure you run at is dictated by the membranes, which is not necessarily the same membranes that the
instruction manual was written for.

[Quabbin Hill Farms]

William do you get any seepage on top of the cannisters? I started up today after changing some o-rings. i was getting 450 psi @ 1.0 gpm concentrate flow at 7%. i shut downto add more sap to my feed tank when i re-started the bestyI could get was 350 psi @ .5 flow rate concentrate @ 5.5 % sugar. This thing is frustrating me. I am getting some seepage on top of the cannisters not real flow. i am still getting 1.8 sugar in my permeaste despite changing o-rings. Where do you get parts for your unit?

[wiam]

I had a problem with end cap o-rings leaking because the aluminum was pitted. For a temp fix you can put a couple wraps of thread tape before putting o-ring on the finished season for mine a couple years ago. After season I took all 4 of my caps to a machine shop that works on hydraulic cylinders and they remachined groove and fitted proper size o-ring. Giving age of these machines I know of no parts source. I had a problem with a cracked adapter at the bottom of one of my membranes. Drove me nuts putting sugar in permeate till I found it. Seemed to be a standard adapter from Leader. I think they just get brittle with age.

[Quabbin Hill Farms]

Thanks William would I be able to call you I have a few more questions and it might be easier.

Here is my e-mail if you don't want to post your number here.

quabbin@1000island.net

Thanks

Greg