Product Output/Quality Troubleshooting

TROUBLESHOOTING/FLOW TEST: A flow test is the most useful diagnostic test for system performance and should be done before replacing or cleaning your membrane. Changes in production or water quality are normally caused by something other than the membrane unless the system has been left unused for a long time. These tests may seem daunting at first but if you approach them in a logical manner it is rather straightforward. Voltage, total flow rate, feed pressure, recovery percentage, product...

Poor Product Quality: Due to its fixed recovery method, Spectra systems are much easier on membranes than conventional RO systems. As such, membranes are usually one of the last things replaced as a diagnostic for poor quality. Be sure to check the calibration of the salinity tester that you are using before proceeding. Membranes are not an exact science, and two identical systems will have different product quality. World health standards deem water of up to 1000 PPM of total dissolved solid...

Why is the Ventura 200T better suited for a "tropical" climate? How is this different from a Ventura 150? The Shurflo feed pump we use on all Ventura systems has a pressure cut off setpoint of 125 psi. The Ventura 200T has a nominal operation pressure of 80-90 psi. With ~14VDC charging voltage, it is not uncommon to see operating pressure at 95 psi. If cruising in an area with higher salinity, we might even see pressures at 100 psi (higher salinity = higher pressure). The tropical aspect of ...

The below chart illustrates nominal parameters for each system model. The most useful parameters for system diagnostics are Total Flow Rate, Feed Pressure, & Recovery Rate. The following statements are breakdowns referencing the above chart that designate numbers in which each system must reach to be able to achieve spec production levels. QUICK REFERENCE SYSTEM PARAMETERS: Ventura 150 Metric The feed pump pushes water into the Clark Pump at a rate of 6.4 L/M (384 L/H), this is the t...

Sample calculations for Product Flow, Total Flow, & Recovery Rate Percentage: Compare your calculation with your expected values. Recovery Rate below minimum percentage is indicative of an internal leak within the Clark Pump. MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE RECOVERY RATE VALUES: 7% Clark Pump (Ventura 150) 6.5% Actual Recovery ---> 5.5% Minimum Acceptable 10% Clark Pump (Ventura 200, Cape Horn, Catalina, Newport 400) 9.0% Actual Recovery ---> 8.0% Minimum Acceptable 20% Clark Pump (...

Low Feed Pressure: If you see lower than normal feed pressure but you are making the correct amount of water for your system, there is no problem. If contaminates have made their way into the Clark Pump it can get an internal leak. When an internal leak occurs the Clark Pump’s recovery percentage drops, feed pressure drops and product water production drop. So, a drop in pressure and drop in product can be a Clark Pump problem. To be sure that the drop in product flow is not from low feed flow...