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III. Importance of Membrane Rinsing and Washing
The membrane is a key system component that enables the removal of water from sap
and is an expensive item to replace. Its spiral-type structure and its surface made of very
fine pores make cleaning difficult but most important. Neglecting adequate maintenance
will allow the accumulation of bacteria that will obstruct the membrane and may cause
permanent damage.
Meticulous maintenance will protect the investment and insure
quality production for many years. The Concentrator is a very reliable and efficient
system that will provide quality and low-cost production provided it is regularly and
adequately maintained.
The membrane performance and life expectancy can be
compromised by exposure to impurities such as iron and other minerals, so any rinsing
or flushing must be done with known mineral-free water or sap permeate to insure
longevity. Proper maintenance and daily rinsing will improve the life of the membrane;
however, performance will slowly degrade over time with normal use.
The membrane performance can be monitored by measuring and recording the flow
rates periodically (on a daily or weekly basis).
It is important to account for a
temperature correction factor when measuring the flow rate performance as described in
the appendix. When appropriate, the membrane can be returned to the manufacturer for
an industrial cleaning. This will help extend the life of the membrane. The rinse and
wash cycles included in the operational process described in the following sections (A
through D) as well as storage in section E are very important to a long life and must be
performed along with flow rate performance measurements with documented records for
proof of adherence to validate any warranty.
Reference: A training presentation on the subject of membrane technology is posted in
the H
O Innovation web site at
http://maple.h2oinnovation.com/en/training
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Note:
The Concentrator warranty will not be valid unless proof of maintenance
according to specifications is done and documented. The maintenance and operation
logbook accurately and regularly filled out will be that requested proof. The logbook
format is shown in the index.
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