Booster pump for RO/DI

[GIT RITE]

Can anybody tell me how am I supposed to properly regulate the pressure going to the ro membrane when I add a booster pump, my logic says add an adjustable flow restrictor in the place of the factory one and set it at 85psi or something close to that.

 

[LostInTheDark]

Mine came with this switch which is adjustable. It has a high and low pressure setting. I was told by AWI that there is little benefit going above 65psi unless you have a dual membrane.

 

[LostInTheDark]

AquaTech Booster Pump Auto Shut Off Pressure Switch - - Amazon.com

 

[-Logzor]

You need a small allen wrench to adjust the output PSI and you turn this fitting just a few degress. Depends what kind of pump you have but that's how mine works.

 

[hawkinsrgk]

I have an aquatic 8800 booster pump and it takes a 1/16 Allen wrench. What I do is turn it own and then adjust to 82 psi

 

[GIT RITE]

Thanks for the replies, I have it all ordered.

 

[Buckeye Hydro Verified Sponsor]

Mine came with this switch which is adjustable. It has a high and low pressure setting. I was told by AWI that there is little benefit going above 65psi unless you have a dual membrane.

This sort of switch is intended to go on the low pressure side (RO water side) of the system to shut the pump off when a valve at the end of the output tube closes. Not used to regulate the pump output pressure.

There is significant benefit to be gained by setting your pump above 65 psi.

Russ

 

[GIT RITE]

This sort of switch is intended to go on the low pressure side (RO water side) of the system to shut the pump off when a valve at the end of the output tube closes. Not used to regulate the pump output pressure.

There is significant benefit to be gained by setting your pump above 65 psi.

Russ

Russ, can you tell me how you would go about regulating the pressure and how it affects the membrane. I understand that you need enough waste water flow to keep the membrane clean, I use softened well water, TDS is around 200. I also know you need enough water pressure to allow the membrane to function correctly. But I fell like I am missing something about how the system works.

 

[Buckeye Hydro Verified Sponsor]

Sure. What brand and model of pump do you have?

One of the reasons Aquatec 8800's are so popular (we've carried them for over 15 years) is that the output pressure can be adjusted easily - with a 1/16" allen screw - as mentioned in a couple of the posts above.

Many lessor brands don't have this feature. But there are workarounds.

Higher pressure means faster pure water production. For example (these calculations made using the calculator - link on our homepage):
75 gpd membrane @ 65 psi and 55 F will produce 66 gpd
75 gpd membrane @ 80 psi and 55 F will produce 83 gpd


At the low end of the membrane's working pressure, higher pressure means purer RO water (=longer DI resin life). Here's some data from a test run on a 75 gpd Filmtec membrane - you'll see how the rejection rate improves with higher pressure.

Russ

 

[GIT RITE]

I bought the Aquatec 8800 and you already answered my question, I just didn't know it at the time, thanks for all the data and info, it makes a lot more sense to me now.