CDL 240 GPH RO Pump to Head Tank

[johnallin]

Setting up my new 2 post CDL 240 Hobby RO and wondering if the pump will move concentrate vertically about 8’ to my head tank and, if so, what size hose - or tube - you’re using to transfer to an elevated tank.

With the single post, I would just recirculate in the sap tank and then pump up with a Gould pump using a hose at the tank drain. Worked great.

This time I’d like to recirculate for a bit, then run through the RO and straight to the head tank.
Any suggestions appreciated.
Thanks.
EDIT. change permeate to Concentrate.

[wnybassman]

Are you meaning sending concentrate straight to the head tank? I have always done this with my RO with various procons from 200gph, 265gph and 350gph. I valved it so I can switch from recirculating back into the tank, to sending some to the head tank, and back to recirculating. Always (ALWAYS) say to yourself when doing that though "open one before closing the other". The pump absolutely doesn't like both valves closed. lol

[johnallin]

Are you meaning sending concentrate straight to the head tank? I have always done this with my RO with various procons from 200gph, 265gph and 350gph. I valved it so I can switch from recirculating back into the tank, to sending some to the head tank, and back to recirculating. Always (ALWAYS) say to yourself when doing that though "open one before closing the other". The pump absolutely doesn't like both valves closed. lol

Thanks Noel, and yes, I meant concentrate - corrected my post.
I’m thinking the tube should match the 5/8 coming off the RO or be smaller ID.
If I can recirculate and get the collection tank up to 4%, I’d like to then pull from there and go straight to the head tank at maybe 8%. Seems reasonable, but want to see how you guys make that final transfer vertically.
Thanks!

[wnybassman]

Mine shoots up at least 8 feet, probably closer to 10 feet. My normal hoses are 5/8", but the "pipe" I use to shoot up to the head tank is a chunk of 1/2" RV hose. No specific reason other than it had a garden hose fitting already on it that I could easily attach to a camlock fitting.

[dcast99]

Shold have no problem pumping directly to your head tank. With a similar size RO we pump 10 feet to our head tank. Our output hose is 1/2 inch so we just extended it with some 1/2 inch 30P mainline. Ours will also concentrate to 5 or 6% on one pass depending on how much the evap needs at the moment. Will be looking at adding a recirc line.

[johnallin]

Mine shoots up at least 8 feet, probably closer to 10 feet. My normal hoses are 5/8", but the "pipe" I use to shoot up to the head tank is a chunk of 1/2" RV hose. No specific reason other than it had a garden hose fitting already on it that I could easily attach to a camlock fitting.
Thank you.

[johnallin]

Shold have no problem pumping directly to your head tank. With a similar size RO we pump 10 feet to our head tank. Our output hose is 1/2 inch so we just extended it with some 1/2 inch 30P mainline. Ours will also concentrate to 5 or 6% on one pass depending on how much the evap needs at the moment. Will be looking at adding a recirc line.
Thank you.

[johnallin]

Mine shoots up at least 8 feet, probably closer to 10 feet. My normal hoses are 5/8", but the "pipe" I use to shoot up to the head tank is a chunk of 1/2" RV hose. No specific reason other than it had a garden hose fitting already on it that I could easily attach to a camlock fitting.


Shold have no problem pumping directly to your head tank. With a similar size RO we pump 10 feet to our head tank. Our output hose is 1/2 inch so we just extended it with some 1/2 inch 30P mainline. Ours will also concentrate to 5 or 6% on one pass depending on how much the evap needs at the moment. Will be looking at adding a recirc line.

After recirculating some 1.5% sap down to 4.5, tonight I pumped directly to the head tank...worked flawlessly and took the 4.5 up to 7.5.
Got to say I was impressed.

Next I need t need to work on some kind of manifold and/or 3-way valves to ease the rat's nest I had with hoses all over the place doing a rinse! Spent Way to much time wrestling with hose tonight for my liking.
I'm really impressed with the new RO by the way.

[SeanD]

Glad that worked out for you. That was my original plan when I set mine up, but I found that sending the concentrate back to the sap tank caused the pressure to constantly rise (and the rate to drop) and I had to really watch it - which made it hard to go collect or chase leaks. I think what was happening was the concentrate would sink to the bottom of the sap tank and the RO would be sucking more of that in than the raw sap. So, I switched over to doing separate passes, sending the first pass to a concentrate tank then sending that through the RO for a second pass to the head tank. Everything runs better this way for me. The only down side is you needed more tanks.

I can appreciate the rats nest. I've still got it! I haven't wrapped my head around a manifold to make my life easier. It's become habit now, but it would be nice to not have to reach up and switch things around. I switch the RO concentrate line from the first tank, to the head tank, to waste each night. I'd need something with 3 outlets. It's all garden hose fitting now. I'll follow your progress for ideas. Congrats in the new RO.

[jrgagne99]

I struggled with rat's nests for a couple years before I re-plumbed my 4x40 single post RO. I ended up using two 4-way garden hose manifolds and potable water garden hose to direct the concentrate and permeate outputs to either the a) overhead tanks, b) directly to evaporator, c) wash basin, or d) down the drain. I built a 3-way RO inlet manifold in 1" PVC to accept input from 1) directly from the truck tank, 2) overhead permeate tank, or 3) wash basin. This setup works nicely for me. I'll try to post a picture tomorrow.

A key to this setup is doing internal recirculation, i.e. poor-man's recirculation in the RO. This allows you to process directly to 7% or so in "one" pass. "one" in quotes because the sap is actually doing multiple passes through the RO internally.

[johnallin]

I struggled with rat's nests for a couple years before I re-plumbed my 4x40 single post RO. I ended up using two 4-way garden hose manifolds and potable water garden hose to direct the concentrate and permeate outputs to either the a) overhead tanks, b) directly to evaporator, c) wash basin, or d) down the drain. I built a 3-way RO inlet manifold in 1" PVC to accept input from 1) directly from the truck tank, 2) overhead permeate tank, or 3) wash basin. This setup works nicely for me. I'll try to post a picture tomorrow.

A key to this setup is doing internal recirculation, i.e. poor-man's recirculation in the RO. This allows you to process directly to 7% or so in "one" pass. "one" in quotes because the sap is actually doing multiple passes through the RO internally.

Thanks. That’s exactly what I’m looking for. Any pics would be great.

FWIW… 70 degree + temps over here, still had sap coming in.