RO water production

[LtPiper]

I was banging around the net looking for replacement filters for my RO/DI unit and stumbled over this . I decided to give it a go and see what happened.

Prior to it I was getting about a gallon for every 3 going through my 100 gallon per day filter. I've been using this little fellow on it for a few weeks now and I'm now getting nearly 2 gallons for every three going through and no change in TDS level. Effectively making my filter now a 200 gallon a day filter.

Worth every penny I paid especially when it comes to the water bill!

 

[carb850]

What does it do?

 

[Tazbader]

This pump can be use for any RO or RO+DI systems rated 10-110 GPD using standard ¼” tubing
Requires no electricity, powered by energy from drain water of a RO system
Improves recovery rates by as much as 400%
Increases production of water
Increases the efficiency of the RO system
Reduces waste water by as much as 80%
Enhances contaminant rejection (product water will be purer)
Ideal for membranes rated from 10-100GPD
Effective for inlet water pressure as low as 30 psi
Increases membrane life, lowers “TDS creep”
Fills product tank up to 4 times faster
NSF approved (Standard 58)
One year manufacturer’s warranty

 

[carb850]

I read the description in the Ebay ad All of that is just the benefits of this product, not exactly explaining how it works.

Is it trying to push the waste water back through the RO membrane?

 

[MattG]

For a permeate pump to work you need a pressurized tank (usually used for drinking water). Just wanted to add that for anyone looking into one.

A permeate pump just reduces the waste water as back pressure in the tank builds up.

Might also look into a booster pump if you have low pressure feeding your ro unit. They are expensive though.

Another way to increase your efficiency is to make sure you have a variable flow restrictor and a decent RO membrane. If your membrane is <75 gpd you typically have a 98% rejection rate. If you get one of the 100 gpd you typically have 90% (less efficient). The higher rejection rate will save you big time on DI.

 

[carb850]

If you have good line pressure to begin with, is their any advantage to the permeate pump? I'm still a bit confused about how it should be utilized.

 

[Buckeye Hydro]

A permeate pump uses the energy in the waste water line to help force water into a pressurized storage tank. It relieves the back pressure on the membrane usually exerted by the building pressure of the water in the tank. It therefore keeps the difference in the pressure on the feed water side and the purified water side high, which yields better treatment and better production by the membrane.

Russ

 

[MattG]

Thanks for chiming in Russ!

Anyone looking for an RO/unit or supplies buckeye field supply is the place to go! I am very happy with my unit from them and its where i order my replacement filters from.

 

[LtPiper]

Well I'm not using a pressurized tank I'm just running it into a bucket and it like I said increased my production quite a bit. Basically from the way it's hooked up it increases the pressure on the water coming across the RO membrane pulling through more water that what comes through under normal conditions. I've got a fairly good water pressure coming in to the unit this just helps pump it up so you get more "clean" water out of the filter.