Watermaker question

[x-ray]

If you are getting 45lit/h from one membrane your yield is 15% (at 300lit/h) and 18% (at 250lit/h) which would make Dow Chemicals very happy indeed.

Cheers,
Per

Sorry again, i don-t want to be Mr. Knowitall,
but that is not true. Dow/Filmtec specifies a product flow of 45 L/h
at 5,7 L/min feed flow, and that is what the smallest karcher does.
Are you sure you have the SW30, maybe they sent you the SW30HR.
Cheers,
X-ray

 

[vas]

Hi Vassilis,

Yes looking at my message now it does actually sound very complicated, but it really isn't. I like to keep it manual because that way I know what is going on and I can fix things if they go wrong.

....

Cheers,
Per

Yes, the process is not that complicated. Bit confused still on the type of valve/vane you use for releasing the pressure on startup and how you can slowly pump up the pressure. Surely it's not a quarter turn ball valve thing, is it? TBH, wouldn't mind a photo of the installed system components as everyone discusses issues but noone seems to have detailed photos to clarify small details that make the difference from a good to a bad system.

OK, slowly coming to grips with this topic (me thinks at least!)
Good to know that direct coupling is okay, yes I'm running a 5KW or there abouts gen, so not an issue, and no need for masive sine inverters.

Regarding the pump material, being reading tech papers on the topic, didn't manage to find any comparing in normal speak and not chemeng and mecheng terminology the differences between ss and various alloys.
However, the CAT277 that pyrojames bought is also nickel alluminium bronze and not ss and it is suggested as suitable for desalination systems from CAT literature, so I guess they know their stuff.

I'll check tomorrow with the local supplier and see if the ones cheaply available are made of this alloy. If so, I'll probably get one locally and only source the RO membrane from abroad. Thanks X-ray for the info, I'll come back to you soon.

cheers

V.

 

[Sybaris]

the CAT277 that pyrojames bought is also nickel alluminium bronze and not ss and it is suggested as suitable for desalination systems from CAT literature, so I guess they know their stuff.

Hi Vassilis,

Yes, a CAT dealer I was in contact with when I bought my pump confirmed to me that you can go for either stainless steel or NAB (Nickel/Aluminum/Bronze).

I will take some photos of my installation to give you some ideas.

We are based in Rhodes this winter and if you send me a PM I can give you my telephone number if you want to discuss your plan in more detail.

Cheers,
Per

 

[Sybaris]

Here are some photos of my water maker

 

[vas]

Hi Vassilis,

Yes, a CAT dealer I was in contact with when I bought my pump confirmed to me that you can go for either stainless steel or NAB (Nickel/Aluminum/Bronze).

I will take some photos of my installation to give you some ideas.

We are based in Rhodes this winter and if you send me a PM I can give you my telephone number if you want to discuss your plan in more detail.

Cheers,
Per

Per, sorry for the late reply but struggling with work for another 10days...

Yep, will take up the offer and ask for your phone# after the 15th.
Thanks for the photos, they do clarify a few things I was confused.
Main Q remaining is do I also order the proper enclosure for the RO membrane, or can I built it here with my machine shop out of SS (IF I can get SS in this size!) I guess size ID (mainly) can have some variation, correct? What approx size is it?

cheers

Vassilis

 

[x-ray]

Here....

...you can find a good site about how to built, run, upgrade a Karcher-System.

http://www.albin25.eu/our-a25ak-dido/34-dido-stories/60-didos-watermaker

Cheers,
Rainer

 

[x-ray]

After quite a lot of testing and now running the system in our boat for weeks, i would like to tell you that our Karcher-Systems worked much better than expected.
The watermaker gave us exactly 1 Liter per minute, when the kärcher was running on full revs. The boat is in Turkey, so temperature of the water is quite high, what is good, but salinity is higher as well, what is bad.
Reducing the revs of the karcher (with a power-control-modul) will reduce the noise and power consumption, what is good, but the output of the watermaker as well, what is bad.
I gave the whole system a freshwater-flush after each use, so the first 15 Liters,
or 15 minutes will go down the drain after each run.
So far, i am happy.
Cheers
Rainer