help with RO pressure, and such...

[Bnleduc]

I built a small scale r/o out of a standard home water system-- It consists of a 5micron prefilter and 3 100gpd membranes running in series. I have a Watts 152012 booster pump running the system which is rated to 125psi. My mebranes are mad by "VORM" and are rated to 300psi. The system is Deathly slow. It runs at about 2gph for 2 hours and then just almost dies off. No matter what I do I cant get the pressure to run any higher than 80-95psi.... Any suggestions or thoughts? I think I'm going to tear the whole system apart and teflon tap all connections in case I'm losing pressure somewhere. It's going to run all next week and I'm really trying to get this in order by the end of the weekend, otherwise I'm going to have some real long nights boiling! thanks in advance for any input!!!!

[Clinkis]

Post a picture of your RO and perhaps we can give you some suggestions. What are your using for restricting flow? Needle valve? Does your pump have pressure relief? If so it may need to be adjusted. What is your pumps GPH? Not familiar with watts pumps. Most people use the aquatech pumps which have been proven for this application. If you are not seeing any leaks then teflon taping your connections isn't going to help.

[Bnleduc]

Thanks. I keep hearing a little hissing, so I dont think the tape would hurt--I also want to make sure i dot have any cracked fittings....

brass needle valve for restriction.
16196

gauge has since been moved to between filter and 1st membrane. Not sure on the gph of the pump, that could be a problem and a good point.... there is a screw on the top of the pump housing which I believe is a pressure relief-- it is cranked close. Thanks again!

Thanks!

[Bnleduc]

Called the pump manufacturer....turns out this is a aquatec 6800 with their label on it. From what I am finding that pump is not going to cut it.... true?

[gmc8757]

Called the pump manufacturer....turns out this is a aquatec 6800 with their label on it. From what I am finding that pump is not going to cut it.... true?

Is there a pressure adjustment screw on top of the pump? If there is, playing with that screw may help you get to higher psi levels


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Bnleduc]

thanks, I have it maxed out... I think the issues is the 6800 has a max of 7gph, and the 8800 which everyone is using has a max of a little over 60gph... big difference

[Clinkis]

Typically 8800 are used for this application. I don't have the specs in front of me but I strongly suspect that a 6800's flow rate will be too low to be effective. That screw is your pressure relief adjustment.

[Clinkis]

Just looked up specs. 6800 flow rate less then half of 8800. Definitely not going to cut it. Everything else looks good just need to upgrade pump.

[Bnleduc]

roger that! Thanks! Just ordered an 8800. Thinking I'm going to pull the 100gpd membranes out and throw the one 50gpd in and try running it just through that for the next few days while I'm waiting for the new pump...at least I may be doing something!

Cheers!

[Bnleduc]

Installed the 8800 and is now running like a champ. Thanks for the help!16258

[Bnleduc]

Thoughts on whether I would be better off switching this setup to run in parallel? It is deathly slow right now when the sap is cool.... Thanks for any help!!