Extreme Typhoon III 150gpd

[reeferRob]

Last month I bought the above RO/DI from AWI. Within 2 weeks (350-400 gallons) the membrane and DI resin were exhausted and TDS was up to 17. I called AWI and explained that with nearly 600 gallons of SW a new membrane and resin refill every 2 weeeks was out of the question. I gave them the numbers they asked for (300 TDS tap water, and TDS before and after DI) and they sent me a new membrane and resin refill. Another 300-350 gallons (8 x 40gallon Brute cans) and my TDS was already 2-3. I emailed them again and this is what they responded with:

The 150 GPD Membrane will remove 90% of the incoming TDS .... You appear to
have high incoming TDS ... You can convert the system to a 75 GPD system by
buying a 75GPD Membrane .... We will provide you with a flow restictor for
no charge .... Just mention this in the notes to your order when you order
the new membrane .... Cliff

Although I can't find it now, I read on their site that this 150gpd membrane lasts 3-5 years. I doubted that but NEVER did I imagine having to be changed every 2 weeks, nor did I pay for a 75gpd system! IMO the Typhoon IS worth the HYPE, as long as you don't require LARGE quantities of 0 TDS water over long periods of time. It really is a nice setup, I just wish I would have known, I would have bought the 75gpd.


Rob

[mikedelgado]

I think the tds will be lower out of a 75 gpd membrane thus lowering the tds level that the di resin must remove making the di last longer. my di resin doesnt last very long either with my 75 gpd unit. still looking for a better solution.

[BIGBIRD123]

I had a Barracuda 100gph and reduced it to the 75g restrictor and got double the usage. JMO

S

[BuckeyeHydro]

Those 150 gpd membranes are sold as high rejection - 98% - just like the 75's.

My guess if you've got another issue going on. Are you up for some troubleshooting?

Russ

[DrMark]

Russ is great sponsor willing to help solve the problem, even when its not his product.
Can you do it here, so we can all learn.
mark

[BuckeyeHydro]

OK by me if Rob is ok with it.

Russ

[captexas]

Sounds strange. I've used Air, Water, & Ice before for my RO/DI unit and supplies and had nothing but good experiences with them.

[reeferRob]

Those 150 gpd membranes are sold as high rejection - 98% - just like the 75's.

My guess if you've got another issue going on. Are you up for some troubleshooting?

Russ

At this point I am wiling to try anything! What do you need from me?

Thanks for any help!

Rob

[DrMark]

List some of the basics for starters:
pressure
TDS from source water
TDS after membrane
TDS after DI
age of filters, membrane
how much water your make per week, etc.

[BuckeyeHydro]

IMO the Typhoon isn't worth the HYPE, just a whirlwind of HOT air. And a flow restrictor is like buying a Corvette with a VW engine in it!

Rob - all RO systems have flow restrictors. Did you end up installing the 75 gpd membrane and a new flow restrictor?

If yes, did you save the original 150 gpd membrane?

Russ

[reeferRob]

No, the 150gpd membrabe is still in the system. I have not yet ordered the 75gpd mem and flow restrictor.

Also thought I would add that I bought the booster pump kit from AWI and ran the system at about 70 psi

[BuckeyeHydro]

Rob - can you provide the following info?

-TDS of tap water
-TDS after membrane
-TDS after DI
-age of filters, membrane
-how much water your make per week,
-pressure from the gauge on the system while the system is running
-waste water to purified water ratio

Russ

[reeferRob]

Tap water TDS is about 325ppm
and I've had it running for about 20 mins so far today and right now the:

membrane output is bouncing between 1 and 2
DI output is 2

So maybe the membrane is still ok, just Di is spent I am guessing.

The filters in there now are about 2 or 3 weeks old and I have made about 350 gallons on this set of filters, I usually make about 80-120 gallons per week.

Gauge on the output of the booster is set at about 70 (sometimes I lower it to about 67 as the psi on the system runs above 75)

I will have to check the ratio, I've never checked that. I'll go do that now.

[reeferRob]

Ok I just checked it again, now the membrane out is 3 and DI out is still 2.

I have started running waste water into 1 5gal bucket, and RO/DI out into another. So far there seems to be a significant difference. Once the waste is full, I will measure how much RO/DI was produced.

[reeferRob]

Hope this is as accurate as you need, if not LMK. The waste water 5gal bucket full to the 5 gal mark, and RO/DI bucket 1.5gals, so 5:1.5.

[Texreefer]

Hmm. I will let the expert weigh in but that sounds way off and completely backwards.. I have about a 4:1 ratio of waste water to product water. Tds of 3 from your RO is GOOD but with that reading you should have a DI reading of 0.. could the waste and prduct lines from RO be hooked up backwards?


Hope this is as accurate as you need, if not LMK. The waste water 5gal bucket full to the 5 gal mark, and RO/DI bucket 1.5gals, so 5:1.5.

[JimD]

If your DI is the refillable cartridge type, make sure its in properly and not installed upside down, I did that once and it about drove me crazy!

[reeferRob]

Hmm. I will let the expert weigh in but that sounds way off and completely backwards.. I have about a 4:1 ratio of waste water to product water. Tds of 3 from your RO is GOOD but with that reading you should have a DI reading of 0.. could the waste and prduct lines from RO be hooked up backwards?

I don't think so, the line coming out of the DI canister goes straight into my container, and as far as the re-fillable DI canister being upside down, it is in according to the way it was sent and also per instruction booklet.

5:1.5 is pretty close to 4:1, I guess it would equate to about 4:1.2. I think??

[reeferRob]

I have another question. I have a Kent Marine Hi-S 35gpd 4 stage RO/DI with new still in the package set of filters. Is it possible to connect it in series (either before or aft) with the Typhoon? Filters in that setup usually give me 0 TDS for about 1-1.5 years.

Just a thought.

[Texreefer]

ahh read it wrong sorry.. yes that is about right i guess. I had very high clorine and had to add an extra clorine cartidge

[reeferRob]

Yeah we also have high clorine, to the point you can smell it

[BuckeyeHydro]

OK - so it looks like your membrane is showing a 99% rejection - that's unusually high so I wouldn't be surprised if there is somthing a little off on your meter.

Your DI should be 0 or 1.

Try using the DI cartridge from your Kent system and see if it lowers the DI to 0 or 1 ppm.

I'd jack up your pressure to 85 psi.

Your waste to permeate ratio is 5:1.5 or 3.3:1 - which is ok.

Other than your DI, system looks like it is running OK.

Russ

[alton]

My experience with DI, when I used a Kent R/O/DI I got an average of 100 gallons before my DI cartridge was spent. I then switched to another company with chloramines blasters and my DI lasted me for a grand total of 200 gallons. I had spoke with others using the same RO/DI filters and theres where lasting 750 to 1000 gallons between changing. So what is in my water because my TDS runs around 200? Because of the expense I quit using DI years ago and have changed to where I use a 1 micron, then 2 chloramine filters, and then another 1 micron filter before it goes into the membrane and the TDS comes out at 2 with my 100 gpd system.

[Bill S]

Chloramine is hard on a RO/DI system. Here in SA, they don't use it - yet.

[BuckeyeHydro]

My experience with DI, when I used a Kent R/O/DI I got an average of 100 gallons before my DI cartridge was spent. I then switched to another company with chloramines blasters and my DI lasted me for a grand total of 200 gallons. I had spoke with others using the same RO/DI filters and theres where lasting 750 to 1000 gallons between changing. So what is in my water because my TDS runs around 200? Because of the expense I quit using DI years ago and have changed to where I use a 1 micron, then 2 chloramine filters, and then another 1 micron filter before it goes into the membrane and the TDS comes out at 2 with my 100 gpd system.

Could be a number of things we can check for pretty easily if you'd like (e.g., bad membrane, bad membrane housing, high CO2, chloramines). So we don't hijack Rob's thread, do you want to email us?

Russ

[reeferRob]

You are welcome to continue in this this thread, it can only benefit all of us in figuring out the in's and out's of RO/DI.


OK - so it looks like your membrane is showing a 99% rejection - that's unusually high so I wouldn't be surprised if there is somthing a little off on your meter.

Maybe I'm not really understanding the 99% rejection. I assume that means that my membrane is doing unusually good and is rejecting 99% of the TDS?


Your DI should be 0 or 1.

Try using the DI cartridge from your Kent system and see if it lowers the DI to 0 or 1 ppm.

My DI does read 0 for the first 300-350 gallons, right now it is spent and has changed from blue to yellow and needs replaced, that much i know.


I'd jack up your pressure to 85 psi.

Intructions say 75psi max, is 85 ok?


Man I have to say, you have been a tremendous help in helping me to understand this RO/DI thing, and I guess as much as I don't want to hear it, it seems it's a give and take thing. More gpd=less filter life. I will retract my statement of the Typhoon being a rip-off and just say, I wish I had known before I put out the money for a 150gpd system.


Thanks Russ!


Rob

[BuckeyeHydro]

right - your membrane is rejecting a very high percentagfe of the tds in the water.

Let's say your tap water read 100 ppm TDS
If your RO water read 5 ppm, then you have a 95% rejection rate.

Are you on well water?

Can you get me measure of your pH and alkalinity of your RO water? With that info we can see if you have high co2.

Does you water contain chloramines?

Russ

[reeferRob]

No well water, but I do live in the country, not sure if it has clorimines. Would a pool clorine test kit measure that?

I can get you the ALk and PH of RO water tomorrow evening. I assume by RO water you mean before the DI?


Rob

[BuckeyeHydro]

Right.

You can give your water utility a call and ask them if they use chlorine or chloramine as a disinfectant.

Russ