Upgrading my 45gph Next Generation RO unit to 100gph
I have a 45gph RO from Next Generation Maple Products and it works great. Like everyone else I have added more taps and would like an RO that will process more sap. The unit I have has a 2.5" x 40 membrane. Could I swap it out for a 4" x 40" membrane and housing?
Clay Stroup
Stroup's Sugar Bush
Almont, MI
2016: 20 taps, 2 gallons
2017: 80 taps, 12 gallons
2018: 92 taps, 16 gallons
2019: 110 taps, 34 gallons
2020: 140 taps, 31-1/2 gallons
2021: 155 taps, 32 gallons
2022: 190 taps, 29-1/2 gallons
2023: 200 taps, 42 gallons
Leader WSE 2x6 drop flue
Mason Steam Pan finishing set up
D & G 7" Filter Press
Next Gen 180 HPRO RO
John Deere Gator 4 x 2
12 x 18 Sugar Shack built in 2019
What size pump does it have ?
600 taps on vacuum
Lapierre mechanical Releaser
CDL electric releaser
2.5 x 10 CDL Venturi ( new for the 2024 season )
Home made modulating auto draw off
Homemade RO 2 x 4" membranes
CDL 16 x 16 bottler
Wesfab 7" filter press
Delaval 73 vacuum pumps
12 hives of bees
As bricklayer said size of pump and motor are the key items in determining if you can add a larger membrane. I too am looking to add another membrane to my deer run ro. I needed to increase the pump size to accomplish this. Fortunately the motor on the unit can handle the larger pump so that can stay the same.
Camp Wokanda
Peoria Park District
2023 - 210 on 3/16 shurflo, sap storage shack w/ 1100 gallon tank - 123 gallons
2022 - 210 on 3/16 shurflo, homemade vac filter & water jacket canner - 104 gallons
2021 - 215 on 3/16 shurflo, added 2nd membrane to RO - 78 gallons
2020 - 210 on 3/16 shurflo, upgraded hp pump on RO - 66 gallons
2019 - 150 on 3/16 shurflo, Deer Run 125 dolly RO - 73 gallons
2018 - 120 on 3/16 shurflo, 2x6 raised flue w/hood, homemade arch w/ AUF & AOF - 34.5 gallons
pump size is the most critical thing here. also keep in mind when you re-engineer a piece of equipment it usually goes down in value.
Fred Ahrens
330-206-1606
Richards Ohio Maple Equipment
Ohio CDL sales rep
LaPierre Dealer
H&M maple fabricator Dealer
Service Tech/repair for all brands and electronics
don't take life too serious, nobody gets out alive anyways!
Best thing to do would be to call Next Generation and ask them that question.Originally Posted by claystroup
Sugaring for 45+ years
New Sugarhouse 14'x32'
New to Me Algier 2'x8' wood fired evaporator
2022 added a used RB25 RO Bucket
250 mostly Sugar Maples, 15% Soft Maples. Currently,(110on 3/16" and 125 on Shurflo 4008 vacuum, 15 gravity), (16,000 before being disabled)
1947 Farmall H and Wagon with gathering tank
2012 Kubota with forks to move wood around
I just checked my RO and here are the specs for the pump and motor:
1) motor is 3/4 hp
2) pump is Procon 112A125F11BA 144413-1-1 225psi
If someone can decode if this pump/motor combination would adequately work with a 4 x 40 membrane it would be appreciated.
Thanks
Clay
Clay Stroup
Stroup's Sugar Bush
Almont, MI
2016: 20 taps, 2 gallons
2017: 80 taps, 12 gallons
2018: 92 taps, 16 gallons
2019: 110 taps, 34 gallons
2020: 140 taps, 31-1/2 gallons
2021: 155 taps, 32 gallons
2022: 190 taps, 29-1/2 gallons
2023: 200 taps, 42 gallons
Leader WSE 2x6 drop flue
Mason Steam Pan finishing set up
D & G 7" Filter Press
Next Gen 180 HPRO RO
John Deere Gator 4 x 2
12 x 18 Sugar Shack built in 2019
Procon product number translater.
http://www.edcodistributing.com/pdf/2011matrix.pdf
600 taps on vacuum
Lapierre mechanical Releaser
CDL electric releaser
2.5 x 10 CDL Venturi ( new for the 2024 season )
Home made modulating auto draw off
Homemade RO 2 x 4" membranes
CDL 16 x 16 bottler
Wesfab 7" filter press
Delaval 73 vacuum pumps
12 hives of bees
So yours Has a 125 gph flow rate at 225 psi
Without looking up all the specs for membranes I would say that you could upgrade to a 4"
You would have 2.08 gpm of flow across the membrane. Obviously more is better. But I think you'll be ok.
Not ideal. Worst case scenario you will be washing and flushing your membrane more often.
The 1 thing that you have to make sure of Is that you have enough permeate to do a proper flush at the end of the day. And if you foul your membrane what are you gonna flush and clean it with.
With a smaller membrane it takes less permeate to clean.
A 4" will take about 150-200 gallons to flush properly.
100gallons in a real pinch.
Last edited by Bricklayer; 10-27-2019 at 05:32 PM.
600 taps on vacuum
Lapierre mechanical Releaser
CDL electric releaser
2.5 x 10 CDL Venturi ( new for the 2024 season )
Home made modulating auto draw off
Homemade RO 2 x 4" membranes
CDL 16 x 16 bottler
Wesfab 7" filter press
Delaval 73 vacuum pumps
12 hives of bees
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