RO for Dummies - Step by Step RO design help please.

[wmick]

Thanks for all the explanation, Bowhunter... I appreciate you taking the time.
I've always been a "need to understand it before I build it" kind of guy... and not so much into copying or buying someone else work...
In some ways it might seem like a redundant waste of time... because lots of system designs have been tried and tested...
I have always been able to get my "rush" from the study/imagine/design/build/troubleshoot/perfect process. I love to tinker.
Had the opportunity to develop and built lots of different machines and processes for manufacturing at work... At home, built boilers, oil burners, Geothermal, etc...
Millwright and Electrician by trade, but I have a desk job now, for the most part... and don't get as much chance to scratch my itch.
This RO thing is proving to be a little challenging at first... Little too much "Chemistry" for my comfort level.... but I will get there. Good thing I have several months to think about it....
I found an exercise to work through, at this link... Not though it yet... but I am learning some of the basics of osmotic pressure and its calculations....
https://www.thoughtco.com/calculate-...example-609518

Thanks again.

[Mark B]

Thanks for all the explanation, Bowhunter... I appreciate you taking the time.
I've always been a "need to understand it before I build it" kind of guy... and not so much into copying or buying someone else work...
In some ways it might seem like a redundant waste of time... because lots of system designs have been tried and tested...
I have always been able to get my "rush" from the study/imagine/design/build/troubleshoot/perfect process. I love to tinker.
Had the opportunity to develop and built lots of different machines and processes for manufacturing at work... At home, built boilers, oil burners, Geothermal, etc...
Millwright and Electrician by trade, but I have a desk job now, for the most part... and don't get as much chance to scratch my itch.
This RO thing is proving to be a little challenging at first... Little too much "Chemistry" for my comfort level.... but I will get there. Good thing I have several months to think about it....
I found an exercise to work through, at this link... Not though it yet... but I am learning some of the basics of osmotic pressure and its calculations....
https://www.thoughtco.com/calculate-...example-609518

Thanks again.

Don't let it throw you. Ive been two and a half years wrapping my head around the concepts behind the RO. Ive had Chem in school. Ive got a degree in Bio. Ive worked as a FF/Paramedic and have a good understanding of basic hydraulics from the fire service. I tried to build one with too much membrane and too little pump at first. Still consulting with the guys that know more here then myself. Ive got a few more mods for my home built for next year, but mine worked great for what I needed this year.

Hats off to the gang here that understand ROs, pioneer the homemade and freely offer help like bowhunter.

[Mead Maple]

I agree. I've been checking up on these recent "RO" threads and following them steadily myself all while messaging folks to learn more as well. I love building my own tools to help complete the job; wood splitter, arch, and now hopefully an RO. All with the ultimate goal of saving me precious time with a family of three kids and a very demanding job during sugaring season. I don't mind the hard work in the least like most, it's the time that is very hard to come by for me. I appreciate everyone's info on the subject!

[Urban Sugarmaker]

For all the home-builders of RO, I say just go for it. There's enough info on here for free to build one and be successful right out of the gate. I have 4 seasons on mine and I did not fully understand it when I started. But it worked and now I understand it much better. You

[Mead Maple]

Good call!

Now the next new thread should be "how to fund your hobby RO build"


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[bowhunter]

Using RO to remove water from sap is pretty fool proof and about any combination will work after a fashion. There are some things to avoid because you can damage the membrane or destroy the membrane. First make sure you have the plumbing correct. If you plumb the permeate connections into the pressure side you can destroy the membrane...several people of this forum have experienced this as soon as they tried to operate it for the first time. If the flow through the membrane is too low it will foul quickly and it can get to a point that soap washing will not recover the performance. After using the membrane on sap it must be flushed thoroughly before letting it sit. If it's going to sit a couple of weeks it should be soap washed. Biological growth can also damage the membrane. You must never rinse the membrane with water containing chlorine such as city water because chlorine will damage the membrane. When soap washing it is imperative that the pH is kept at or below 12.0 and it is equally imperative that the temperature be managed. I believe most membranes have a maximum temperature limit of 114 F. High pH and temperature can damage the membrane. If you protect the membrane the system will do what it's designed to do and it beats splitting wood.

[Mead Maple]

[QUOTE=bowhunter If you protect the membrane the system will do what it's designed to do and it beats splitting wood.[/QUOTE]

Absolutely, and not having to tend 12 hour boils is my ultimate goal as well. I'm not necessarily needing barrels of syrup but not making this a full time non-paying hobby would be my goal.