hodorskib's Small Scale RO Build

[CaptT820]

I got the John Guest type, worked much better for me. Thanks.
Does anyone out there use a gallon counter with their homemade RO? I want to know how many gallons I am running through the system so I can keep track of when to change the 5 micron filter. If you are running a counter, what type is it, and do you like it?

Thanks

[to100]

Where do you set up ro? How much storage for perm and cond= sap. How do you add cond to arch?
I am smaller so I try to keep track of gallons taken out to preheater. Each run is different how I set up to try figure out what works best. All depends how you meter your needle valve.
I am more interested how much syrup. I am going to try run sap into 35 gallon leg tank and feed directly off valve on tank to ro. I will either carry couple gallons at a time or set up pump to send it up to arch. My average run is mid 20s and on a long day I may have 30 over night. I have 2 five gallon buckets I can connect with 5/16 tube so overflows to the other, I have yet to try. Good luck once it warms up.

[eustis22]

Can I use well water to flush my membranes?

[hodorskib]

yes well water should be ok make sure you have a 5 micron water filter installed in case you have any iron or sediments in your water

[eustis22]

I do have the 5 micron water filter. But I just noticed that I left the plastic wrapping on it in the canister when I was pre-washing the membranes. Yes, I knpw. Please stop looking at me like that. My next question is: am I supposed to peel everything off the membranes too?

Note blue area

[hodorskib]

NOOOOO - leave the blue plastic and the labels on the RO membranes they are necessary. The only stupid questions are the ones not asked.

[eustis22]

thank you, Hodor

[eustis22]

so...I guess I'm ready to apply sap to this thing. What is the optimal outside temperature to do this? also, can someone explain the needle valve? What settings do what to which?

[wobbletop]

You don't want anything to freeze and break some plastic. The warmer the sap, the better the membrane works, but then warm concentrated sap spoils very quickly.

The needle value is to provide back pressure so it forces water through the membrane. Hodor's (sp?) website goes through the settings. I don't worry about it too much, just aim for equal concentrate and permeate.

[wobbletop]

I have a question about using the recirculate method...

Whats happens if you just leave it running and concentrating for a long time? There is a maximum sugar content the sap will reach (say 8%) but what happens if you keep going?

Does the permeate stop running? Or does the membrane start passing sugar and you lose efficiencies?