Choosing a dual membrane RO system? Here are key factors!

Alright, let’s talk about my recent project: setting up a dual membrane reverse osmosis (RO) system. You know, I’ve always been a bit of a stickler for clean water, and after diving deep into the world of water purification, I decided it was time to take the plunge and enhance my existing RO setup.

I started by doing some digging around to figure out what kind of membranes I should be using. There’s a whole bunch of them out there, each with its own pros and cons. I was looking at things like how much salt they remove, how much pressure they need to work, how often they get clogged up, and all that stuff. I found that these membranes were mainly designed for stuff like well water, river water, or even industrial wastewater. Not exactly what I was dealing with, but it was a start.

Then I had to think about what exactly was in my water. You know, the amount of dissolved solids, the size of the particles, and whether there was any gunk floating around. All that jazz helps you figure out what type of membrane setup is best. I mean, I didn’t want to end up with a system that was overkill or, even worse, one that couldn’t handle the job.

I read up on how these membranes actually work and found that their performance depends on a bunch of things, like the size of the pores and whether they’re water-loving or water-fearing. Plus, the quality of the water you’re feeding into the system and how you operate it all play a big role too. It’s a lot to take in, but hey, I’m always up for a challenge.

Now, I had a simple, single membrane RO system before. But, I figured that if one membrane is good, two must be better, right? The idea was that by running two membranes in parallel, I could get double the amount of pure water and, of course, double the wastewater. And yeah, it would use twice the amount of water, but I was willing to make that trade-off for better quality water.

The Plan

The goal was to boost the water output and maybe even get better water quality by adding a second membrane. I sketched out a plan to connect the second membrane in parallel with the first one. This involved some new tubing, a few T-connectors, and a bit of DIY spirit. I made sure to get all the parts I needed, checking compatibility with my existing system and making sure everything was food-grade and safe to use for drinking water.

Getting My Hands Dirty

• First things first, I turned off the water supply to my existing RO system. Safety first, people! Then, I carefully disconnected the tubing, making sure to remember which tube went where. I’m not the best with this stuff, so I took some photos with my phone just in case.

• Next, I grabbed my new membrane housing and the shiny new membrane. I made sure to handle the membrane with care, only touching the edges to avoid any contamination. I slid the membrane into the housing, making sure it was snug and secure. I’ve heard some horror stories of people messing up their membranes by being too rough. It is better to be safe.

• Then came the fun part: connecting the new membrane housing to the existing one. I used the T-connectors to split the feed water line and the product water line. This way, the water would flow into both membranes at the same time. I had to cut some new tubing and make sure all the connections were tight and leak-proof. I used some Teflon tape to help seal the threads and prevent any pesky leaks.

• With everything hooked up, I slowly turned the water supply back on. I held my breath and watched for any leaks. To my relief, there were none! I let the system run for a few minutes, flushing out any air and making sure everything was working as it should. I checked the water output, and sure enough, it had doubled! I felt like a mad scientist who just successfully completed a crazy experiment.

The Results

After setting everything up, I tested the water quality. The total dissolved solids (TDS) had dropped significantly compared to my old single-membrane setup. It was like night and day! I was pretty stoked about the results. Not only was I getting more water, but it was also cleaner and tasted better. It felt like a major win.

But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. I noticed that my water pressure had dropped a bit. Turns out, adding a second membrane puts more strain on the system. I might need to look into getting a booster pump to keep the pressure up. Also, I had to keep an eye on the wastewater. With double the pure water comes double the waste, so I had to make sure my drain could handle it. These were minor issues, and I was prepared to tackle them.

All in all, I’m pretty happy with how the dual membrane setup turned out. It was a bit of work, but totally worth it. I’ve got plenty of clean water now, and I learned a ton along the way. Plus, I get to brag to my friends about my souped-up water filtration system. Who’s the water nerd now?

If you’re thinking about upgrading your RO system, I’d say go for it! Just make sure you do your homework and get ready to get your hands a little dirty. And hey, if you run into any snags, just remember that even a dummy like me managed to figure it out. You got this!