The essence of a reverse osmosis filter is the use of a special membrane layer, with which you can purify water from all known impurities. But in order for the device to work non-stop, it is required to maintain the pressure in the line. For this, the filter columns are equipped with booster pumps.
Purpose of the pump and the advantages of its installation in reverse osmosis systems
The models on the market are suitable for filtration devices with different types of membranes and are designed to stabilize insufficient pressure in the network. They respond to low rates - from 1 to 3.2 atmospheres.
The advantages of filters equipped with pressure units include:
- The presence of the pump provides the system with constant fluid pressure at the inlet.
- The pump guarantees a stable flow, a given flow rate for direct flow systems and a fast filling of the reservoir for devices with a storage tank.
- Filtering equipment with a pump does not depend on the number of consumers in the network.
It is recommended to install the systems in old buildings, apartments on the upper floors, urban-type settlements, summer cottages, - wherever a decrease in pressure in the main line is possible. Without a booster pump, you can confidently install reverse osmosis filters only on the lower floors or in urban private households with a central water supply.
Principle of operation and device
The pumping equipment is equipped with two sensors - low and high pressure. The principle of operation of a booster pump for a reverse osmosis filter is based on a change in the pressure in the pipeline.
The first sensor, marked LOW on the body, is connected to the device through a T-piece. It turns off the pressure equipment when the pressure drops to 0.5 atmospheres at the outlet of the pre-filtration unit. This is a kind of dry-running protection. Its risk may arise from a clogged pre-treatment of the filter element or from the interruption of the water supply to the mains.
The second sensor is marked HIGH. It stops the operation of the equipment when the hydraulic tank of the filtration device is completely filled and turns on the pressure equipment when the water is flowing. In addition, the device is equipped with a pump emergency stop sensor in the absence of water.
The principle of operation of a reverse osmosis filtering device with a pump is to increase the water pressure. The pumps allow fluid to flow to the filter element and membrane, which leads to an increase in station productivity. However, they consume little electricity and operate silently.
Installation features
To install pressure equipment, you will need a tee with connectors and quarter-inch tubing.
Scheme of further actions:
- Connect the tee just after the third flask of the filtration device.
- Feed one output to the low pressure sensor of the pumping device. To distinguish it, it is marked LOW, in addition, it is not pass-through.
- Connect the second output to the pump inlet. On the bottom of the black plastic case, there are arrows that indicate in which direction the water flow is moving. It is important to strictly observe it.
- Connect the outlet from the pressure equipment to the diaphragm element through a four-way valve. To do this, pass a tube from the outlet to the valve and insert it into the split hole marked IN.
- Connect the high pressure pass-through element marked HIGH at the outlet of the purified liquid from the reverse osmosis membrane. The outlet is located near the center of the diaphragm body. To make the connection, cut the tube located there. The direction of connection is not significant in this case.
Now you can install the filter device.
The pumping equipment is equipped with a mounting plate with anti-vibration cushions, allowing connection to almost any reverse osmosis system.
Operation and maintenance
Reverse osmosis columns are quite simple. The main element is a membrane that resembles a network of many steps. Each membrane cell is similar in size to a water molecule. Such a low permeability allows you to effectively filter the liquid from hazardous substances and impurities. Only water, as well as dissolved oxygen and hydrogen, can pass through the membrane layer.
The filtering device cleans the liquid from microelements, organic fragments, metal compounds.
To prevent the tiny cells of the membrane from clogging, which can cause the pump to work for wear, pre-treatment filters are installed in front of the diaphragm. They need to be cleaned regularly. Before entering the membrane, the liquid goes through several stages of filtration: from mechanical suspensions, pesticides, organic substances, chlorine.
The filter itself requires replacing the cartridges every 6 months, the membrane every 3 years, and periodic flushing inside and out. Rubber seals in the membrane housing and prefilter flasks, as well as cuffs on the membrane, are lubricated with a thin layer of silicone.
Pay attention to the condition of the storage tank. With the liquid completely drained from the tap, the tank should be light, without water. Otherwise, the pressure in the air cavity of the tank should be increased.
Possible breakdowns
Like any technique, a reverse osmosis pump can break. If the breakdown is small, there is a chance to fix it yourself.
Frequent problems in such pumps and their elimination:
| Breaking | Probable cause | Replaceable part |
| Extraneous noise during operation | Bearing wear | Bearings |
| Uneven manifold wear | Anchor or electrical part of the motor | |
| Strong development of eccentric on the motor shaft | Pump head | |
| Overheating of the motor | Installing a pump with excess capacity | The pressure equipment itself |
| Wear of brushes | Brushes | |
| Dirt in the collector | Anchor. Cleaning the manifold may help | |
| Turn-to-turn closures in the armature winding | Anchor or engine assembly | |
| Power drop | Burning out windings | Motor or power supply |
If the pump does not turn on or off, it is better to entrust the adjustment of the filtration equipment to professionals.
The reverse osmosis filter is the most efficient. It is able to purify liquid from 99 percent, make water tasty and healthy. The performance of reverse osmosis plants directly depends on the quality of the diaphragm and the pressure of the water flow supplied to the filtration device. If the pressure in the water mains is low, there is no need to talk about the normal functioning of the purification equipment. To regain performance, a boost pump must be installed.
