+ Reply to Thread
Page 21 of 29 FirstFirst ... 11121314151617181920212223242526272829 LastLast
Results 201 to 210 of 290

Thread: hodorskib's Small Scale RO Build

  1. #201
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    Fayston, Vt
    Posts
    122

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by sbedilion View Post
    Quick question. Everything seems to be running good. Curious on what my pressure gauge should be reading. It’s currently at 80psi. Its my first time running this setup and I followed the plans to a T. Starting at 1%....coming out at 4%. Thanks in advance for any help.
    Did you measure how many gallons came out each tubing per minute?

    Also check how the membranes are plumbed up, series or parallel?

    Just a thought.
    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

  2. #202
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Marysville, Ohio
    Posts
    663

    Default

    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

  3. #203
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Greenwood, Me
    Posts
    974

    Default

    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

  4. #204
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Oakville, CT
    Posts
    261

    Default

    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

  5. #205
    Join Date
    Jan 2018
    Location
    OH
    Posts
    174

    Default

    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!

  6. #206
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Oakville, CT
    Posts
    261

    Default

    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

  7. #207
    Join Date
    Jan 2018
    Location
    OH
    Posts
    174

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by hodorskib View Post
    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.
    I was thinking that dirt got down inside the membrane, but if I'm understanding you correctly then the dirt just stays on top of the membrane (the outside) and the open valve flushes the dirt away.
    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!

  8. #208
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Oakville, CT
    Posts
    261

    Default

    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

  9. #209
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
    Location
    Vermont
    Posts
    51

    Default

    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 Totals
    • 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
    Current Equipment
    • Off-grid solar/battery powered home-built RO and "Sugar House"
    • Homebuilt 34x17 Propane Evaporator

  10. #210
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Location
    Grand Rapids, MN
    Posts
    10

    Default

    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.

+ Reply to Thread
Page 21 of 29 FirstFirst ... 11121314151617181920212223242526272829 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts