summoner12
Avid Member
Today I spent my afternoon after work updating my RO/Misting system. I built the original about 18 months ago. At the time I sourced a lot of the parts and fittings from other places. This 'remake' of the system only uses AquaZamp parts and fittings. I especially like the Y fittings.
The most notable changes are:
Dual RO membranes and housings
Membrane flush valve configuration
Dual membranes allows for faster RO production and tank refill.
The new flush valve configuration should work better for the system. Before i used to flush water over the membrane by bypassing the restrictor orifice. This time I set it up so that I bypass the permeat check valve.
In the previous version of the flush there was a valve in parallel with the restrictor. When the valve opened the restrictor no longer was restricting water flow. This would allow a larger volume of water to pass over the membrane "cleaning it". Through some research I found that this is not an effective way to 'clean/flush' the membrane. The best way is to flush is to push water back through the membrane shedding any debris off the membrane from the inside out. Normally there is a check valve after the permeat port on the membrane housing that does not allow water to flow back into the housing. What I did was install the old valve in parallel with the check valve. When the valve opens RO water (permeate) is allowed back into the housing and 'shedding' debris off of the membrane. I had to do some reprogramming to the computer that controls the whole system.... but I seems to be working great. I can see some pressure loss in the tank wich tells me water is flowing back through the membrane. I think this should keep my membranes operating a lot longer than before
Here are some photos of the work I got done today.
Test fitting some components.... and moved the filter housing down a couple of inches from where it was before.
How I had the misting pump and valves configured before I started.
And how they ended up.
The membrane flushing valve I talked about.
The water input for the two membranes... I like how I was able to fit that Y fitting into position to feed the two housing...
The RO side of the system.
How it all ended up looking.
The next stage will be installing the computer and misc. parts onto the open area of the wood panel. That shouldn't be too hard...
The most notable changes are:
Dual RO membranes and housings
Membrane flush valve configuration
Dual membranes allows for faster RO production and tank refill.
The new flush valve configuration should work better for the system. Before i used to flush water over the membrane by bypassing the restrictor orifice. This time I set it up so that I bypass the permeat check valve.
In the previous version of the flush there was a valve in parallel with the restrictor. When the valve opened the restrictor no longer was restricting water flow. This would allow a larger volume of water to pass over the membrane "cleaning it". Through some research I found that this is not an effective way to 'clean/flush' the membrane. The best way is to flush is to push water back through the membrane shedding any debris off the membrane from the inside out. Normally there is a check valve after the permeat port on the membrane housing that does not allow water to flow back into the housing. What I did was install the old valve in parallel with the check valve. When the valve opens RO water (permeate) is allowed back into the housing and 'shedding' debris off of the membrane. I had to do some reprogramming to the computer that controls the whole system.... but I seems to be working great. I can see some pressure loss in the tank wich tells me water is flowing back through the membrane. I think this should keep my membranes operating a lot longer than before
Here are some photos of the work I got done today.
Test fitting some components.... and moved the filter housing down a couple of inches from where it was before.
How I had the misting pump and valves configured before I started.
And how they ended up.
The membrane flushing valve I talked about.
The water input for the two membranes... I like how I was able to fit that Y fitting into position to feed the two housing...
The RO side of the system.
How it all ended up looking.
The next stage will be installing the computer and misc. parts onto the open area of the wood panel. That shouldn't be too hard...
