RO Restrictor - is it required in all cases?

[joe-ejs]

Hello. I was given a RO unit that is only a few months old and the tubing was removed from it and I don't see a Flow Restrictor anywhere. Is it required to have on all units or is it optional?

Also, it there a diagram that shows the tubing connections? I am mostly interested in the two outputs from the RO membrane on the output side of it.

Thanks

 

[chipmunkofdoom2]

Yes, it is required. RO membranes need pressure to force water through the membrane. The membrane also needs the highly concentrated brine that's left over to be carried away so that it doesn't deposit on the membrane's film and clog it. The restrictor both builds pressure so that water will be forced through the membrane and allows enough brine to flow so that the membrane won't clog.

 

[TriggerFinger]

Not sure if this is what you’re looking for but I happened to be sitting by mine so here’s some pics.

 

[Snoopy 67]

He will need an explanation on what each hose represents. I would but my unit does not correspond to yours.

 

[TriggerFinger]

So on my unit, the black coming out of the ro housing goes to the flow restricter and then the waste line. The blue connects to the DI resin canisters. The red is water from the source.