Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 08-24-2014, 10:41 AM   #1
Grand Vizier
 
Delfin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 3,816
Recycling water filters

This may be more of a problem in the PNW, but all watermakers require a 5 micron filter in front of the membranes, and these clog up really quickly. Even bought online, if you make a lot of water the cost gets annoying. The problem is that these filters trap algae and krill on the inside of the filter where you really can't easily get to it for cleaning.

To fix this, I bought a telescoping irrigation riser and a 90 degree irrigation nozzle from Ace. Extended, the riser will just fit inside the filter and the 90 degree nozzle directs the water to one section of the pleats at a time. You can really flush the filter out using this, let it dry and it seems to be clean enough to work as well as a brand new filter. I inspect the filter each time I clean it to make sure there are no holes, but this season instead of going through 15 filters, I have used the same 2.
__________________
"Dad always thought laughter was the best medicine, which I guess is why several of us died of tuberculosis." - Jack Handey
Delfin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-24-2014, 05:22 PM   #2
Guru
 
City: Hotel, CA
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 8,323
Have you considered a Y strainer prior to the filter to deal with the Krill and algae?

Click image for larger version

Name:	ImageUploadedByTrawler Forum1408918798.217529.jpg
Views:	265
Size:	157.2 KB
ID:	32346

Item 5 in that diagram is an IPS plug. It can easily be removed and fitted with an appropriate sized ball valve to facilitate rapid cleaning of the strainer without disassembly.
__________________
Craig

It's easier to fool people than to convince them that they've been fooled - Mark Twain
CPseudonym is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-24-2014, 05:45 PM   #3
Grand Vizier
 
Delfin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 3,816
Quote:
Originally Posted by CPseudonym View Post
Have you considered a Y strainer prior to the filter to deal with the Krill and algae?

Attachment 32346

Item 5 in that diagram is an IPS plug. It can easily be removed and fitted with an appropriate sized ball valve to facilitate rapid cleaning of the strainer without disassembly.
Craig, I have a 50 micron krill filter, then a 20 micron filter, then the 5 micron. The first two are fine for a season, but the 5 micron clog up in around 8 hours due to the tiny critter load we have up here. I gather it is different in parts south, but here, there is a whole lot of life in the water smaller than 20 microns.
__________________
"Dad always thought laughter was the best medicine, which I guess is why several of us died of tuberculosis." - Jack Handey
Delfin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-24-2014, 05:49 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
Lollygag's Avatar
 
City: Valley Springs
Vessel Name: Lollygag
Vessel Model: 1979 42' CHB Europa
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 259
We had a 20 micron in front of a 5 micron for our watermaker on Apophyge and just hosed off the filters with the washdown pump. In the sea of cortez that worked fine, Sounds like a lot more krill and small stuff in your water.
Lollygag is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-24-2014, 06:11 PM   #5
Guru
 
City: Hotel, CA
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 8,323
Quote:
Originally Posted by Delfin View Post
Craig, I have a 50 micron krill filter, then a 20 micron filter, then the 5 micron. The first two are fine for a season, but the 5 micron clog up in around 8 hours due to the tiny critter load we have up here. I gather it is different in parts south, but here, there is a whole lot of life in the water smaller than 20 microns.
Ahh, I see. Sorry I read micron in your first post and between my few fleeting brain cells thought mesh

My bad
__________________
Craig

It's easier to fool people than to convince them that they've been fooled - Mark Twain
CPseudonym is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-24-2014, 10:24 PM   #6
Grand Vizier
 
Delfin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 3,816
Quote:
Originally Posted by Apophyge View Post
We had a 20 micron in front of a 5 micron for our watermaker on Apophyge and just hosed off the filters with the washdown pump. In the sea of cortez that worked fine, Sounds like a lot more krill and small stuff in your water.
I think so. I tried washing down from the outside, and did get a fair amount of stuff out, but then the filter only seemed to last a couple of hours before clogging again. To get it all, I found I needed something to spray from inside out, hence my hillbilly invention.
__________________
"Dad always thought laughter was the best medicine, which I guess is why several of us died of tuberculosis." - Jack Handey
Delfin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-24-2014, 10:58 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
Lollygag's Avatar
 
City: Valley Springs
Vessel Name: Lollygag
Vessel Model: 1979 42' CHB Europa
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 259
You got a picture of that thing? Before cruising we'll install a watermaker. So we'll be cleaning filters.
Lollygag is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-24-2014, 11:20 PM   #8
Grand Vizier
 
Delfin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 3,816
Quote:
Originally Posted by Apophyge View Post
You got a picture of that thing? Before cruising we'll install a watermaker. So we'll be cleaning filters.
Well, sort of. I think this may qualify as the worst picture ever taken, but here it is.

The brass fitting on the bottom is a 3/4" male hose to 1/2" female adapter. The riser is, as I said, adjustable. The part that extends is small enough to fit inside a standard filter, and the unidentifiable black thingy at the end is the 90 degree cheap-o irrigation nozzle.

If the phone doesn't ring, it will be Ansel Adams not wanting me as his apprentice.
Attached Thumbnails
Aug, 2014 050.jpg  
__________________
"Dad always thought laughter was the best medicine, which I guess is why several of us died of tuberculosis." - Jack Handey
Delfin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-24-2014, 11:50 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
Lollygag's Avatar
 
City: Valley Springs
Vessel Name: Lollygag
Vessel Model: 1979 42' CHB Europa
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 259
I like it! Simple and effective. I can proably McGyver something like that. Thanks for the idea.
Lollygag is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-25-2014, 02:39 PM   #10
Guru
 
refugio's Avatar
 
City: Meydenbauer Bay Yacht Club
Vessel Name: Lulu (Refugio sold)
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,284
Why not a polyproplene disc filter?
http://www.arkal-filters.com/tech_disc.html
__________________
Keith
refugio is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-25-2014, 04:01 PM   #11
Grand Vizier
 
Delfin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 3,816
Quote:
Originally Posted by refugio View Post
Not fine enough filtration, and I'm not sure you clean these. If not the problem remains.
__________________
"Dad always thought laughter was the best medicine, which I guess is why several of us died of tuberculosis." - Jack Handey
Delfin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-25-2014, 04:31 PM   #12
Guru
 
refugio's Avatar
 
City: Meydenbauer Bay Yacht Club
Vessel Name: Lulu (Refugio sold)
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,284
Quote:
Originally Posted by Delfin View Post
Not fine enough filtration, and I'm not sure you clean these. If not the problem remains.
I have a similar one - the plates just spread out and you hose it off.

But it looks like you're right - the smallest filtration size I can find in this style of filter is 20 microns.
refugio is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
watermaker filters

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Trawler Port Captains
Port Captains are TF volunteers who can serve as local guides or assist with local arrangements and information. Search below to locate Port Captains near your destination. To learn more about this program read here: TF Port Captain Program





All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:04 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2006 - 2012