2020 same
2019 RB10 26 taps
2018 RO Bucket RB5 taps 20, leg tank in shed w/2 5/16
2017 18 taps
2016 20 taps
2015 21 taps
2014 30 2 gravity line, 2 hotel pan concrete arch 35 g leg tank
2013 LP hook up in shack buckets 12 taps
2 burner cook top 2012 finisher on a bbq tanks
2011 rookie 2+ gal
8 taps w/ milk jugs
turkey cooker
50-60 up back maybe
I would run the needle valve open so you maximize the flow across the membranes. This should improve the cleaning action. If you raise the pressure then a lot of the water will come through the membrane as permeate.
Leader 1/2 pint - Kawasaki Mule - Smoky Lake Filter Bottler
24 GPH RO, 2 1/2 x 40 NF3 (NF270), 140 GPH (Brass with no relief valve ) ProCon pump
2013 - 44 taps - 16 gallons syrup, 2014 - 109 taps - 26 gallons syrup
2015 - 71 taps - 13.5 gallons syrup, 2016 - 125 taps - 24.25 gallons syrup
2017 - 129 taps - 17.5 gallons syrup, 2018 - 128 taps- 18 gallons syrup
2019 -130 taps - 18.5 gallons syrup, 2020 ~125 taps-19.75 gallons syrup
how much permeate to do the post-wash rinse?
2024 - New Maine resident, 12X12 sugar shack under construction
2019 - New 12X12 boiling pavilion
2018 - New Mason 2X3 Hobby XL and homemade RO
It takes me about 30 minutes to rinse after a soap wash. I like to have 50 gallons on hand but if I remember correctly it is about 35 gallons.
2' x 3' backyard evaporator with homemade steam hood
38.5 gallons produced in 2022
120 taps all on 3/16" tubing
4" x 40" homemade RO built for 2023
https://sites.google.com/view/mattat...aplesyrup/home
Help me understand how membranes work. Wouldn’t I want to do the soap wash and rinse with the valve restricted so that it pushes soapy water through the membranes? If I do it with the valve open then won’t the stuff I’m trying to clean out stay in the flaps of the membrane?
Last edited by jdircksen; 02-13-2019 at 12:30 PM.
2021: 28 taps. 18"x36" flat pan and dual natural gas burners.
2020: 31 taps. 3 full size steam table pans on a custom 6x water heater natural gas burner setup.
2019: 31 taps on silvers. Back porch gas cook top with 2 full size steam table pans. An amazing 14.9 gallons in my backyard!
2018: 22 taps on 9 silvers. Propane turkey fryer and full size steam table pan on electric stove. I made 4.25 gallons in my backyard!
Your thinking is correct however with membranes the best way to wash/flush them is to create turbulence across the membrane this loosens everything and allows it to flow out. The holes in the membrane are only large enough to allow water molecules to pass through. Sugar molecules are too large and cannot pass through but sometimes will get stuck under pressure. By leaving the needle valve open the flow will loosen everything kind of like a pressure washer on your driveway washing away the dirt.. Hope this helps.
2' x 3' backyard evaporator with homemade steam hood
38.5 gallons produced in 2022
120 taps all on 3/16" tubing
4" x 40" homemade RO built for 2023
https://sites.google.com/view/mattat...aplesyrup/home
2021: 28 taps. 18"x36" flat pan and dual natural gas burners.
2020: 31 taps. 3 full size steam table pans on a custom 6x water heater natural gas burner setup.
2019: 31 taps on silvers. Back porch gas cook top with 2 full size steam table pans. An amazing 14.9 gallons in my backyard!
2018: 22 taps on 9 silvers. Propane turkey fryer and full size steam table pan on electric stove. I made 4.25 gallons in my backyard!
If you think of a membrane like paper towels. The material is in a long sheet and there are millions of microscopic holes so small that only water molecules can fit through. Then it is rolled up and looks very similar to a roll of paper towels. There is a plastic cover placed on the outside and when pressure is applied the liquid is forced through all of these layers of the material. What goes through is pure water - permeate and what cannot pass through is concentrate. Here is short video that I have used to help my students understand the process - It is using salt water instead of sap but it is the same principal.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RDA_B_dRQ0
2' x 3' backyard evaporator with homemade steam hood
38.5 gallons produced in 2022
120 taps all on 3/16" tubing
4" x 40" homemade RO built for 2023
https://sites.google.com/view/mattat...aplesyrup/home
I also have a question with regards to the washing/rinsing - this will be my 2nd year with my homebuilt RO. During the season I do a permeate rinse after each day and then a rinse with our soft well water (I know some will say not to do use this, but our water is pretty good and honestly I think better than the permeate which might have a small amount of sugar in it) before each run or every other day when not running just to keep things fresh. I completed a soap wash with H20 Biomembrane at the end of the year and stored the membranes in a vessel of sodium solution. Just pulled them out and they were pretty good, slight odor - I probably could have used more solution or else changed it after 6 months. I ran a rinse and I'm now re-running a soap wash. Any benefit or harm/foul to leaving the soap in the RO/membranes until I am ready for first run this season and then rinsing it out before starting to concentrate? Would this help prevent bacteria growth before I run next time? Otherwise, my plan is to rinse out and then continue as if we were between runs, passing some clean water through it every other day until we start.
Last edited by Msboucha; 02-17-2019 at 05:44 PM.
Season TotalsCurrent Equipment
- 2019 - 24 Taps / 11.5 Gal. Syrup
- 2018 - 24 Taps / 20 Gal. Syrup
- 2017 - 18 Taps + 7 Taps added Mid-Season / 15 Gal. Syrup
- 2016 - 18 Taps added Mid-Season / 5.25 Gal. Syrup
- Off-grid solar/battery powered home-built RO and "Sugar House"
- Homebuilt 34x17 Propane Evaporator
Great thread - appreciate everything. I’m jumping in on the RO bandwagon this year! With that, can any of you offer me some advice on the height placement of the pump? I’m reading some say it should be below the sap and watching videos where it is above the sap. In your opinions does it matter? Thanks for any advice you can offer.