silvermaple
06-03-2014, 04:56 PM
Hi All,
I came across an interesting point about the PVD1 membranes and figured it would be good to share. I think we have all had them or if not atleast heard about them. The temperature ratings for the PVD1 membranes are 104*F. This is clearly stated in the spec sheet- PM me if you need one. Membranes are extremely temperature sensitive when it comes to the upper end and cleaning. Going above and beyond the temperature is what breaks down the pore structure in the membrane material and increases pores size. With that being said, everyone that has them installed in a D&G or a Springtech knows the temperature settings are set to 115*F. Even the little picture diagram and instructions on how to clean attached to the side of the unit says 115*F. I suggest resetting your temperature controller on the RO to reflect this if you still have PVD1's.
This really bugs me. The guys that sell us and build the equipment are supposed to really know what they are doing. When a machine comes preset to a temperature outside the parameters I have the issue. After I found this out, I replaced the membranes in my RO. I reset the controller to 104*F and I have not had any sugar pass on the PVD1 going to high brix (I go to 20-22%). Everyone calls me a liar, but I think that is because of their past experiences. I compulsively test my permeate, which is crystal clear- the digital refractometer says 0.0, the visual refractometer says 0, and when I use a hydrometer it says 0. To prove my point to a fellow sugarmaker I took some permeate and boiled it down in a sauce pan like others suggest, and I still read 0- however there was some minerals in it which a traditional RO membrane would keep with the concentrate and not allow to the permeate.
Just my $0.02 for guys that still run this membrane- maybe you can save what you have if you change the controller settings.
I came across an interesting point about the PVD1 membranes and figured it would be good to share. I think we have all had them or if not atleast heard about them. The temperature ratings for the PVD1 membranes are 104*F. This is clearly stated in the spec sheet- PM me if you need one. Membranes are extremely temperature sensitive when it comes to the upper end and cleaning. Going above and beyond the temperature is what breaks down the pore structure in the membrane material and increases pores size. With that being said, everyone that has them installed in a D&G or a Springtech knows the temperature settings are set to 115*F. Even the little picture diagram and instructions on how to clean attached to the side of the unit says 115*F. I suggest resetting your temperature controller on the RO to reflect this if you still have PVD1's.
This really bugs me. The guys that sell us and build the equipment are supposed to really know what they are doing. When a machine comes preset to a temperature outside the parameters I have the issue. After I found this out, I replaced the membranes in my RO. I reset the controller to 104*F and I have not had any sugar pass on the PVD1 going to high brix (I go to 20-22%). Everyone calls me a liar, but I think that is because of their past experiences. I compulsively test my permeate, which is crystal clear- the digital refractometer says 0.0, the visual refractometer says 0, and when I use a hydrometer it says 0. To prove my point to a fellow sugarmaker I took some permeate and boiled it down in a sauce pan like others suggest, and I still read 0- however there was some minerals in it which a traditional RO membrane would keep with the concentrate and not allow to the permeate.
Just my $0.02 for guys that still run this membrane- maybe you can save what you have if you change the controller settings.