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Thread: XLE 4040 plumbing - which end?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Marshall, MN
    Posts
    321

    Default XLE 4040 plumbing - which end?

    I know that the center port = permeate and outside port = concentrate, but I'm having trouble understanding the correct "end" to go in and out of my 4040 membrane housing.

    1) There's no "gravity" benefit to plumbing the sap in from the top, correct? (I'm assuming the pressure does all the work, not gravity) It's easier in my case to plumb in from the bottom.

    2) Do the permeate and concentrate come out of the same end (opposite the end where the sap goes in)? Or does the permeate actually come out the same end as where the sap went in? (or doesn't it matter?) It feels like I"m seeing conflicting info on this. To better illustrate my question:
    Option A: permeate out and concentrate out of the same end (opposite sap in)
    OptionA.JPG

    Option B: permeate out the same end as sap in
    OptionB.JPG
    Dan
    -15 years sugaring and counting - hoping to create a tradition my kids will always remember
    -400 taps, mostly buckets (Silver Maples + a few Boxelders just for the heck of it)
    -Custom-built 2x6 evap with Smoky Lake Maple raised flue, boiling in dad's old farm granary, now converted to sugar shack
    -Cobbled-together RO with XLE4040 membrane
    -New in 2021: experimenting with 3/16 tubing & a Shurflo pump.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Rochester, NY USA
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    639

    Default

    You can feed the membrane from either end...it doesn't matter. Permeate can exit either end as well, but you would normally plug one end of the permeate tube. Mine feeds sap in the "bottom" and permeate and concentrate come out the "top". Mine is exactly like your option A. The pump does the work, not so much gravity although gravity can be helpful to your pump in terms of priming and feed pressure.

    The concentrate has to go in one end and out the other because you want the fluid moving across the membrane. The output end will be restricted by your control valve to increase pressure and allow the membrane to concentrate the sap.

    Both of your drawings will work. Do what works best for your plumbing.

    I might suggest incorporating a drain if you are vertically mounting. It will make membrane removal a much less messy process. I plan to add one to mine.
    Smoky Lake 2x6 fuel-oil fired, raised flue, hoods, SSR, concentric exhaust
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  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Marshall, MN
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    321

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Urban Sugarmaker View Post
    I might suggest incorporating a drain if you are vertically mounting. It will make membrane removal a much less messy process. I plan to add one to mine.
    Oh, wow, never thought of that before - that's a great idea!
    Dan
    -15 years sugaring and counting - hoping to create a tradition my kids will always remember
    -400 taps, mostly buckets (Silver Maples + a few Boxelders just for the heck of it)
    -Custom-built 2x6 evap with Smoky Lake Maple raised flue, boiling in dad's old farm granary, now converted to sugar shack
    -Cobbled-together RO with XLE4040 membrane
    -New in 2021: experimenting with 3/16 tubing & a Shurflo pump.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jun 2018
    Location
    Nova Scotia
    Posts
    21

    Default

    Could someone add a drawing of the second add on membrane? Thanks Vernon

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Poultney VT
    Posts
    2,420

    Default

    depends if you go series or parallel how you feed the membranes. I have 2 in parallel then goes to 2 in series with a total of 4 membranes. Permeate doesnt care where it all comes out but concentrate if in series does.
    Business Name
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