Watts R48-20-3131100 User Manual
REVERSE OSMOSIS
INSTALLATION AND OPERATION MANUAL
Model # R48
IMPORTANT
Information specific to this system is printed in Italics.
Please read the entire manual before proceeding with the installation and startup:
Do not use where the water is microbiologically unsafe.
Always turn off the unit, shut off the feed water, and disconnect the electrical power when
working on the unit.
Never allow the pump to run dry.
Never start the pump with the reject valve closed.
Never allow the unit to freeze or operate with a feed water temperature above 100°F.
NOTES
Changes in operating variables are beyond the control Alamo Water Refiners, Inc. The end user
is responsible for the safe operation of this equipment. The suitability of the product water for
any specific application is the responsibility of the end user.
Successful long-term performance of a RO system depends on proper operation and maintenance
of the system. This includes the initial plant startup and operational startups and shutdowns.
Preventing fouling or scaling of the membranes is not only a matter of system design, but also a
matter of proper operation. Record keeping and data normalization is required in order to know
the actual plant performance and to enable corrective measures when necessary. Complete and
accurate records are also required in case of a system performance warranty claim.
Changes in the operating parameters of a RO system can be caused by changes in the feed water,
or can be a sign of more serious problems. The best insurance against problems leading to
membrane failures is to maintain a log on the operation of the RO system, water quality, and
temperature. For your reference, a typical log sheet is included in this manual.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. Introduction
A. Specifications
B. Overview
C. Pre-treatment
II. Controls Indicators and Components
A. Figure # 1
B. Figure # 2
C. Figure # 3
III. Operation
A. Installation
B. Plumbing Connections
C. Electrical Connections
D. Startup
E. Controller
F. Operation and Maintenance Log
G. Trouble Shooting
IV. Replacement Parts List
V. Membrane Replacement
VI. Appendix
Temperature Correction Factors
Filmtec Technical Information - Cleaning and Disinfection of Filmtec RO Membranes
I. INTRODUCTION
The separation of dissolved solids and water using RO membranes is a pressure driven
Maximum Productivity (gallons per minute) 40 60 80 100
Quality (typical membrane percent rejection) 98%
Recovery (adjustable) 65% - 75%
Membrane Size
Membrane Array (four elements per vessel) 1:1 2:1 2:2 3:2
Prefilter (system ships with five micron cartridges) 7 round x 30” 7 round x 40”
Feed Water Connection
Product Water Connection
R48-08
2” Flange 2.5” Flange 3” Flange
2” Flange 2.5” Flange
Reject Water Connection
Feed Water Required (GPM at 65% recovery) 62 93 123 154
Minimum Feed Water Pressure
Drain Required (maximum) 62 93 123 154
460 VAC, 3-phase, 60Hz (other voltages available)
Motor Horse Power (TEFC Motor)
Dimensions L x W x H (approximate) 196” x 41” x 72”
Shipping Weight (estimated pounds) 2500 2800 3200 3500
20 PSIG 20 PSIG 20 PSIG 20 PSIG
25 amps 30 amps 35 amps 40 amps
15 20 25 30
R48-12 R48-16 R48-20
8” x 40”
1.5” Flange
temperature dependent process. The membrane material is designed to be as permeable to water
as possible while maintaining the ability to reject dissolved solids.
The main system design parameters require the following:
Internal flows across the membrane surface must be high enough to prevent settling of fine
suspended solids on the membrane surface.
The concentration of each dissolved ionic species must not exceed the limits of solubility
anywhere in the system.
Pre-treatment must be sufficient to eliminate chemicals that would attack the membrane
materials.
A. SPECIFICATIONS
Notes:
Maximum production based on a feed water of 77° F, SDI < 3, 1000 ppm TDS, and pH 7.6.
Percent Rejection is based on membrane manufactures specifications; overall system percent rejection may be less.
Individual membrane productivity may vary (± 15%). May be operated on other feed waters with reduced capacity.
B. RO OVERVIEW
Reverse osmosis systems utilize semipermeable membrane elements to separate the feed
water into two streams. The pressurized feed water is separated into purified (product) water
and concentrate (reject) water. The impurities contained in the feed water are carried to drain
by the reject water.
RO Membrane
Feed Water Product Water
Reject Water
C. PRETREATMENT
The RO feed water must be pretreated in order to prevent membrane damage and/or fouling.
Proper pretreatment is essential for reliable operation of any RO system.
Pretreatment requirements vary depending on the nature of the feed water. Pretreatment
equipment is sold seperatly. The most common forms of pretreatment are described below.
Media Filter - Used to remove large suspended solids (sediment) from the feed water.
Backwashing the media removes the trapped particles. Backwash can be initiated by time or
differential pressure.
Water Softener - Used to remove calcium and magnesium from the feed water in order to prevent
hardness scaling. The potential for hardness scaling is predicted by the Langelier Saturation
Index (LSI). The LSI should be zero or negative throughout the unit unless approved antiscalents are used. Softening is the preferred method of controlling hardness scale.
Carbon Filter
- Used to remove chlorine and organics from the feed water. Free chlorine will
cause rapid irreversible damage to the membranes.
The residual free chlorine present in most municipal water supplies will damage the thin film
composite structure of the membranes used in this unit. Carbon filtration or sodium bisulfite
injection should be used to completely remove the free chlorine residual.
Chemical Injection - Typically used to feed antiscalant, coagulant, or bisulfite into the feed water
or to adjust the feed water pH.
Prefilter Cartridge
- Used to remove smaller suspended solids and trap any particles that may be
generated by the other pretreatment. The cartridge(s) should be replaced when the pressure drop
across the housing increases 5 - 10 psig over the clean cartridge pressure drop.
The effect of suspended solids is measured by the silt density index (SDI) test. An SDI of five or
less is specified by most membrane manufacturers and three or less is recommended.
Iron & Manganese - These foulants should be completely removed (less than 0.1 ppm). Special
media filters and/or chemical treatment is commonly used.
pH - pH is often lowered to reduce the LSI. The membranes have a pH operating range of 2-11.
Silica: Reported on the analysis as SiO2. Silica forms a coating on membrane surfaces when the
concentration exceeds its solubility. Additionally, the solubility is highly pH and temperature
dependent. Silica fouling can be prevented with chemical injection and/or reducing the recovery.
II. CONTROLS, INDICATORS, and COMPONENTS (see figure 1)
A. Controller - Controls the operation of the system and displays the product water
quality.
B. Reject Control Valve - Controls the amount of reject flow.
C. Reject Recycle Control Valve – Controls the amount of reject recycle flow.
D. Pump Discharge Valve - Used to throttle the pump.
E. Prefilter Inlet Pressure Gauge - Indicates the inlet pressure of the prefilter.
F. Pump Suction Pressure Gauge – Indicates the prefilter outlet and pump suction
pressure. The difference between this gauge and the prefilter inlet gauge is the
prefilter differential pressure of the prefilter.
G. Pump Discharge Pressure Gauge - Indicates the pump discharge pressure.
H. Membrane Feed Pressure Gauge – Indicates the membrane feed pressure.
I. Reject Pressure Gauge - Indicates the reject pressure.
J. Reject Flow Meter - Indicates the reject flow rate in gallons per minute (gpm).
K. Reject Recycle Flow Meter – Indicates the reject recycle flow in gpm.
L. Product Flow Meter - Indicates the product flow rate in (gpm).
M. Prefilter Housing - Contains the RO prefilters.
N. Automatic Inlet Valve - Opens when pump is on and closes when the pump is off.
O. RO Feed Pump - Pressurizes the RO feed water.
P. RO Membrane Vessels - Contains the RO membranes.
Q. Motor starter / transformer enclosure.
Figure # 1
F. Operation and Maintenance Log
Figure # 2 – Electrical Connection
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