dgadee
Well-Known Member
Thinking about a project to build a watermaker. Any suggestions as to good membrane, pressure housing, etc. suppliers?
Watermaker bits suppliers?
- Thread starter dgadee
- Start date
rogerthebodger
Well-Known Member
This document may help you.
https://sublimesustenance.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/how-to-build-your-own-watermaker.pdf
dgadee
Well-Known Member
Yes, I have got loads of useful stuf, including that document. Now I need to look into costing and suppliers.
Monique
Well-Known Member
For the membranes, they are FILMTEC. There is another manufacturer but distribution is sketchy.
I have a Cat pump on mine and its good.
I have a Cat pump on mine and its good.
dgadee
Well-Known Member
The project continues. I have most of the bits and pieces (vessels from Phoenix, membranes, pump, gauges etc.) now or they are on their way. However, I am not sure about the high pressure regulator. I have seen a CAT 7070 proposed but that is around £400. Other systems appear to use simpler needle valves with stainless insides. Can anyone let me know the id of the regulator on their system?
vas
Well-Known Member
hello,
I'm about to buy a second pressure vessel and membrane for my watermaker (SW2540) care to point us to this Phoenix (if they are in the EU, not buying from the US a long expensive tube...)
cheers
V.
crisjones
Well-Known Member
Best place I found for membranes and pressure vessels is Desal Supplies, Rochdale, UK. They supply Filmtec membranes and GRP pressure vessels to suit. Good service and good prices since they are an industrial supplier rather than a marine supplier.
A 40" membrane was around £230 incl VAT and UK dedlivery at the end of last year.
A 40" membrane was around £230 incl VAT and UK dedlivery at the end of last year.
dgadee
Well-Known Member
I got the vessels from http://www.phoenixvessel.co.uk/ - £190 each + delivery. Very helpful. They let me organise my own pickup (1/3rd the cost of their courier due to me being in NI.)
The membranes came from Desal - £214 each + delivery. I wasn't actually aware that they did grp vessels - just assumed that it was only the membranes I could get from them.
Now, tell me what regulator you have ...
Last edited:
vas
Well-Known Member
thanks for the info!
I'm afraid cannot really help with the regulator as it's a needle thing that is integrated on the manifold of my HRO system
since you're building the lot now, and assuming you go for a 220V system and not pulley off an engine, it would be nice to get a soft start and forget about messing with the needle thing...
I replaced my 1.5hp (i think) motor for a 3phase one and an inverter to softstart it, and now I leave the needle valve untouched, pressure goes up to the same point each time and I can effectively remote start and stop the system - handy if the system is at the lazarette as it is in mine.
cheers
V.
dgadee
Well-Known Member
thanks for the info!
I'm afraid cannot really help with the regulator as it's a needle thing that is integrated on the manifold of my HRO system
since you're building the lot now, and assuming you go for a 220V system and not pulley off an engine, it would be nice to get a soft start and forget about messing with the needle thing...
I replaced my 1.5hp (i think) motor for a 3phase one and an inverter to softstart it, and now I leave the needle valve untouched, pressure goes up to the same point each time and I can effectively remote start and stop the system - handy if the system is at the lazarette as it is in mine.
V.
I was hoping it would have a code somewhere on it, but perhaps someone else is able to help.
I wondered about the approach of using an inverter and 3 phase motor but couldn't see anyone who had done it before so didn't go that route. I had quite a difficult time finding a 1hp 50hz motor which had a suficiently low startup current and eventually had to get one from the US (and may have to turn a coupling face for the pump). I could probably have got the 3 phase motor and inverter for the same price. There's not really a lot of detailed information on these parts of system design. But I think I would have kept the pressure regulator in the system even if I had gone that way.
vas
Well-Known Member
for sure you do need the pressure regulator, simply the soft start inverter and the 3phase motor means that you start with 0revs and organise yourself (by programming the inverter) how long you want it to take to spin up to the right revs. I've set it up for 45secs. Now what it does is it slowly builts up revs and respectively pressure, so you don't shock the membranes, any air is pushed away, some jerking you can feel disappears after the first 30secs and then it reaches operating revs with clean health, constant pressure and no issues. Hence no need to touch the needle valve once it's setup (other than to accommodate membrane fouling I guess...)
The 220V Baldor that came with my HRO system costs 900USD, the 3phase motor (Italian) costs 150euro, 40-50euro for the new face plate and motor shaft reduction to fit the pump and you're done!
cheers
V.
dgadee
Well-Known Member
I meant a needle valve is what seems to be usually used. The document (link above from Rogershaw) suggests a much more expensive option with the CAT 7070 regulator (now replaced by a newer version). I think that document needs a bit or revision with this kind of information added.
Your system was basically what I was thinking about using, but have now gone down the single phase route. The pump has not yet arrived but hopefully it'll all go together. If not, then plan B.
