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Thread: Concentration issues with my RO

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
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    Merrimack, NH
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    593

    Default Concentration issues with my RO

    I have a single tower RO with a Procon Series 4 pump. The pump is rated for 115 to 330 gallons per hour at 250 psi.

    Over the past few weeks I have gotten about 700 gallons of sap. While processing I can never seem to get an even flow out of the 2 lines. My concentrate hose always seems to be running a lot harder than the permeate line. I know I should be getting them to flow evenly. I took 2% yesterday(using a refractometer to test), 150 gallons, and after 1 pass at 200psi it went to 3%, ran a 2nd pass, again at 200psi and I got it to just over 4%. Ive tried playing up and down with the pressures to make them more even but even then it doesnt seem to be concentrating to much over 4%. So far I have run 700 gallons through it and I get the same results each time. The RO is clean, I rinse every run and then Ive done 2 washes with Lapierre soap. Ive changed out the 5 micron pre filter after every run as well. From my collection tank I use a pump to feed the RO so not over working the Procon pump during the 1st pass. For the 2nd pass, that then feeds to my head tank it pulls straight from the tank which is about 3ft away. Im sure I could just recirculate it until it finally reaches 8% but that seems like a big waste of time adding potentially a few extra hours to each run.

    Any ideas? I dont know why im not seeing anything close to 8% after 2 passes. I know its a Dow Filtec 4040 Membrane.

    Thanks!
    2022 4x40" RO, Welch 1397 Vac Pump, 3 Guzzler Pumps, Lapierre Releaser, 1100 taps
    2021 Twin Baby Boys, Close to 650 taps
    2020 Upgraded RO to 2 post and 7GBS Pump. 265 taps
    2019 Smoky Lake 2x6 raised flue, Autodraw system, Maple Jet Filter Press, a beautiful new bride to be my sugaring partner :-)
    2017 Expanded Sugar Shack, new 2x6 with float box, NEXTgen Maple RO, 250+ taps, still on sap sacks
    2016 Sugar Shack, 2x6 evaporator, 160 taps, all on Sap Sacks
    2014 110 taps
    2013 35 taps

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Brockport, NY
    Posts
    253

    Default

    I don't have your RO, but hopefully others do and can specifically respond. That said, it is possible that you are concentrating to your RO's design specs. IF you have the RO listed in your bio info, the makers web site lists 25-30 percents of water (permeate)removed at 180PSI. That would yield a bit less than 3 percent from 2 percent sap. But higher pressure may raise that to what you got or are getting. Also its possible the 8 percent target you mentioned IS possible but only with warmer sap. At about what temp is your incoming sap? Dunno, just my thoughts. If it is from a maple maunufacturer give em a shout on the phone. I'd bet it wouldn't be the first time your questions have been asked.
    take care Mark

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Oneida NY
    Posts
    11,544

    Default

    What pressure does NextGen suggest you operate at? I suggest you call Steve at Next Gen for hints on getting better performance. Steve knows his units. If you don't have his number, google Next Gen Maple Products.
    While his RO's are basic, I think you might be able to get a little better performance, if that's all it is designed to do, Steve will tell you.
    Dave Klish, I recently ordered a 2x6 wood fired evaporator from A&A Sheet Metal which I will be converting to oil fired
    Now have solar, 2x6 finish pan, 5 bank 7x7 filter press, large water jacketed bottler, and tankless water heater.
    Recently bought another Gingerich RO, this one was a 125, but a second membrane was added thus is a 250, like I had.
    After running a 2x3, a 2x6, 3x8 tapping from 79 taps up to 1320 all woodfired, now I'm going to a 2x6 oil fired and a 200-425 taps.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    Merrimack, NH
    Posts
    593

    Default

    Thanks Dave, I have a note into him. He has always been good at responding, just wanted to see some other thoughts. A friend of mine seems to think that my membrane is bad. Im getting a good amount of permeate out after 2 passes but just think I should be getting higher sugar percentages.

    My sap temp is in the 30's when im running it, maybe 40 at the max. We havent had too much warm weather here lately. But its coming!
    2022 4x40" RO, Welch 1397 Vac Pump, 3 Guzzler Pumps, Lapierre Releaser, 1100 taps
    2021 Twin Baby Boys, Close to 650 taps
    2020 Upgraded RO to 2 post and 7GBS Pump. 265 taps
    2019 Smoky Lake 2x6 raised flue, Autodraw system, Maple Jet Filter Press, a beautiful new bride to be my sugaring partner :-)
    2017 Expanded Sugar Shack, new 2x6 with float box, NEXTgen Maple RO, 250+ taps, still on sap sacks
    2016 Sugar Shack, 2x6 evaporator, 160 taps, all on Sap Sacks
    2014 110 taps
    2013 35 taps

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Marysville, Ohio
    Posts
    663

    Default

    Okay. I looked at the NEXTgen website but I didn't get a lot of detail besides what you posted.

    First - I don't think there's anything wrong with your membrane. 25-30% water removal is probably about all you can do with that membrane per pass at 180 psi when it's clean and the sap is not ice cold. Therefore your concentrate flow will be about three times the permeate flow...nothing you can do about that. You probably need 4 passes to get to 8%. You can never get to 8% on two passes if you only remove 25-30% of the water...the math doesn't work. That's probably just a misunderstanding.

    Second - Temperature has a big impact on permeation rate. For each degree colder in sap temperature you lose about 3% permeate flow that you can overcome by increasing the unit pressure to maintain the same permeate flow. Many times people see their permeation rate dropping and assume it's fouling of the membrane when it's either an increase in sugar content or lower sap temperature. Check with the manufacturer to see what's the maximum pressure you can operate. I'm pretty sure you can go up to 250 psi. This will increase your permeation rate.

    Third - The website said this unit has a pressure bypass..I assume that's on the pump? You probably need to find out what that's set for. That will determine the maximum operating pressure.

    You have the basic parts to install concentrate recirculation on the system and get 8% on a single pass. It will process about 65 gallons per hour of sap and produce about 16 gallons per hour of concentrate and about 49 gallons per hour of permeate with an operating pressure around 225 psi. The recovery will be down to about 15% on the membrane which should improve the life between cleaning. I don't like to store concentrate because it has a short shelf life so I match my RO to my evaporator rate and run them both at the same time. It can get a little stressful and many people prefer to RO and boil at different times. It's just personal preference.
    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

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    Merrimack, NH
    Posts
    593

    Default

    Thanks so much,
    Maybe im just over thinking things? This weekend the real runs will start in earnest and I'll see what happens with the warmer temps and also I'll pay more attention to the amount of permeate im actually getting out of the system compared to what I started with.

    Quote Originally Posted by bowhunter View Post
    Okay. I looked at the NEXTgen website but I didn't get a lot of detail besides what you posted.

    First - I don't think there's anything wrong with your membrane. 25-30% water removal is probably about all you can do with that membrane per pass at 180 psi when it's clean and the sap is not ice cold. Therefore your concentrate flow will be about three times the permeate flow...nothing you can do about that. You probably need 4 passes to get to 8%. You can never get to 8% on two passes if you only remove 25-30% of the water...the math doesn't work. That's probably just a misunderstanding.

    Second - Temperature has a big impact on permeation rate. For each degree colder in sap temperature you lose about 3% permeate flow that you can overcome by increasing the unit pressure to maintain the same permeate flow. Many times people see their permeation rate dropping and assume it's fouling of the membrane when it's either an increase in sugar content or lower sap temperature. Check with the manufacturer to see what's the maximum pressure you can operate. I'm pretty sure you can go up to 250 psi. This will increase your permeation rate.

    Third - The website said this unit has a pressure bypass..I assume that's on the pump? You probably need to find out what that's set for. That will determine the maximum operating pressure.

    You have the basic parts to install concentrate recirculation on the system and get 8% on a single pass. It will process about 65 gallons per hour of sap and produce about 16 gallons per hour of concentrate and about 49 gallons per hour of permeate with an operating pressure around 225 psi. The recovery will be down to about 15% on the membrane which should improve the life between cleaning. I don't like to store concentrate because it has a short shelf life so I match my RO to my evaporator rate and run them both at the same time. It can get a little stressful and many people prefer to RO and boil at different times. It's just personal preference.
    2022 4x40" RO, Welch 1397 Vac Pump, 3 Guzzler Pumps, Lapierre Releaser, 1100 taps
    2021 Twin Baby Boys, Close to 650 taps
    2020 Upgraded RO to 2 post and 7GBS Pump. 265 taps
    2019 Smoky Lake 2x6 raised flue, Autodraw system, Maple Jet Filter Press, a beautiful new bride to be my sugaring partner :-)
    2017 Expanded Sugar Shack, new 2x6 with float box, NEXTgen Maple RO, 250+ taps, still on sap sacks
    2016 Sugar Shack, 2x6 evaporator, 160 taps, all on Sap Sacks
    2014 110 taps
    2013 35 taps

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Marysville, Ohio
    Posts
    663

    Default

    You could set up the RO to run in and out of the same tank and let it run until you get to 8%. You could start boiling at maybe 6% and continue to run the RO until you get to 8%+ then shut the RO down while you finish boiling. I think it would probably take you 2-3 hours to get 200 gallons of sap down to 6-8% and then you could start the evaporator. You would only have about 3 - 3 1/2 hours of boiling. If you started with 400 gallons of sap and the same process it would take 10-11 hours total.
    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

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    Merrimack, NH
    Posts
    593

    Default

    Haha so true, with my evaporator setup now I’m boiling about 40gph so I really need to just be glad it’s going as fast as it is. :-)
    2022 4x40" RO, Welch 1397 Vac Pump, 3 Guzzler Pumps, Lapierre Releaser, 1100 taps
    2021 Twin Baby Boys, Close to 650 taps
    2020 Upgraded RO to 2 post and 7GBS Pump. 265 taps
    2019 Smoky Lake 2x6 raised flue, Autodraw system, Maple Jet Filter Press, a beautiful new bride to be my sugaring partner :-)
    2017 Expanded Sugar Shack, new 2x6 with float box, NEXTgen Maple RO, 250+ taps, still on sap sacks
    2016 Sugar Shack, 2x6 evaporator, 160 taps, all on Sap Sacks
    2014 110 taps
    2013 35 taps

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