ro recommendations?

[Andy VT]

These are good thoughts Ken! I think, overall, consistency is something I should consider more in my operation.
I also wonder if it would mess up a gradient to suddenly start adding concentrated sap to a gradient that's been established with raw sap...
I haven't messed around with gradients yet.
Apologies to the O.P. for this side conversation! Although I was hoping it would contribute something... I think the thread has helped you (and maybe more replies will continue to help you) figure out what RO would best match your operation, but wanted to throw out the idea that "some RO" would, I think, be an improvement over "no RO", if that's all the budget or other factors allow for.

[maple flats]

Just as a for instance I have and have used a 250 gph basic Deer Run RO since 2012. In that time I started with just over 600 taps all my own, then I grew to as many as 1320 taps of my own and after the first season, I started buying on shares from at first 2 other producers with as many as 400 taps combined, then at times sap from 2 others, but not every day. As such I was able to boil all of every day's sap either one day one or at times day 2. Fortunately at that time I was retired from my full time job but drove school but morning and afternoon. 2 or 3x I got so much sap, that I called my boss at the bus garage, to see if I could get a sub to cover my afternoon run. I was lucky, he always came thru so I could work hauling and processing sap and boiling sooner.
That being said, a bigger RO would have surely been better, but I managed OK. I was always home by 11:00 got enough sleep and drove bus the next morning.
The 250RO has 2 membranes each 4x40". Somehow I don't think you will be able to run the RO all day while you work, they seem to need more attention than that. They do (or at least mine has) have a high pressure shut off, which will turn the RO off at a designated pressure, mine's at 300 psi. During use I normally had to adjust the pressure as the membranes start to plug up, then every few hours run a short back wash before I can continue running. I set mine to run at 275 psi, I suppose maybe you could set it considerably lower and you might last a lot longer. A big consideration would be the concentrate, once RO'd it should be boiled now, not hours later, in addition to concentrating the sugar you also concentrate the microbes and warm the sap too.

[tcross]

thanks guys. all this info is very helpful! i've got a few quotes coming in for a 200 and a 250 gph r.o. Is there any one brand or brands that are "better" than others? i am pretty sure i want the high pressure shut off, but other than that is there anything (accessory wise) i should be looking for that would be useful? i'm only looking to get my sap to 5-8% and it'd be nice to be able to do that in one pass. i plan on r.o ing the sap and having it going back into the sap tank until i get the sugar content where i want it. i don't have room (yet) for a dedicated concentrate tank. perhaps once i'm comfortable with it, i may entertain running it at the same time as i boil, but that's not really a priority at this point. no worries on the minor hijack of the thread, its all good information and added good content to the thread.

[mainebackswoodssyrup]

A hobby RO should get you to 5-8% in 1 pass or recirculating in the concentrate tank like you plan to do. High temperature shutoff is nice for the wash cycle. Like the low pressure shutoff, some come with it and some don't.

[ecp]

As far as brands go I would go with cdl every time when it comes to an RO (yes I'm brand loyal to them for equipment that will need service at some point). Seeing that you are in northeast Vermont this might come as a shock but, you should price check the pick and shovel against the Morrisville CDL store.

[tcross]

will the cdl r.o heat up the water before the wash cycle? says it needs to be heated to 40 deg Celsius. i don't have a great way of doing that in my sugarhouse currently.

[mainebackswoodssyrup]

will the cdl r.o heat up the water before the wash cycle? says it needs to be heated to 40 deg Celsius. i don't have a great way of doing that in my sugarhouse currently.

The high pressure pumps will create enough heat to heat the water as it washes on the turbo RO's. I am not sure about the hobby RO's.

There are a couple nice CDL 250 RO's for sale on Marketplace right now. Couple in Maine and 1 in Vermont.

[ecp]

will the cdl r.o heat up the water before the wash cycle? says it needs to be heated to 40 deg Celsius. i don't have a great way of doing that in my sugarhouse currently.

the answer is both yes and no haha. It will heat the water during the wash cycle which just recirculates the water though the membranes unit it hits the correct temp. There is no heating element for heating. I do not have experience with the hobby units, but this is how all RO's I've had work. The sales people are more than happy to answer your questions when it comes to things like this.

[nymapleguy607]

Here's the deal on small ro's. Any hobby ro that uses a procon or other branded vane pump will not build heat on the wash cycle. It needs an external heating source. I believe the only 2-post 4" membrane ro that will do higher pressure is the Lapierre turbo 250. All other have a max PSI of about 275psi. If you operate a hobby ro to run 2 passes you can make 10+ brix concentrate, it just eats time doing it. Realistically you will have concentrate in the 8-10brix range after 2 passes processing the rated amount for the machine. I'm happy to talk more if you need clarification.

[tcross]

I spoke to a rep from CDL about their 250 gph 2 post, and he said that the pump will heat up the permeate after a few minutes of running it and will heat it up to the appropriate temp for washing. he said if i wanted the cleaning process to go a little quicker, i could heat up the permeate before it goes through but it's not necessary. hopefully he's not filling me full of b.s.. He was very helpful and seemed knowledgeable so i'm guessing he knows his stuff. they're a bit pricey, but it'll last me a very long time and the time savings is very appealing. i did reach out to LaPierre a few times as i've heard good things about their R.O's... but and can't seem to get a call back or email returned. not too impressed with that.