Leader Evaporator Springtech MicRO Reverse Osmosis System Manual YEAR: 2017
Page: 4
INTRODUCTION
A Leader Evaporator Springtech Reverse Osmosis system is designed to significantly improve the producer’s
productivity by generating higher sugar percentage sap. Through use of high pressure, the system removes water
from the sap resulting in a more concentrated sugar solution entering the evaporator. This in turn shortens the boil
time required and resulting in fuel and time savings. The Leader Evaporator MicRO is ideally suited for the small
producer seeking to gain the advantage of a large reverse osmosis system at an economical cost.
Some of the features of the Springtech MicRO are:
Easy accessibility to pumps and membranes
Stainless steel frame, membrane housings, pumps and pump housings
Flow meter for the permeate of the membrane and for the system concentrate
THEORY OF OPERATION
In reverse osmosis, through the use of special semi-permeable membranes and high pressure, water is forced, in a
pure form, through the membrane while the concentrated solution remains outside the membrane and is
concentrated. For the sugar maker this means water (permeate) is removed from the sap and a sap with a higher
sugar level (concentrate) is produced for the evaporation process.
Terms
Semi-permeable Membrane – Unit consisting of multi layers of spacers and membranes
Pre-Filter Unit – Designed to remove suspended solids from the sap incoming to the reverse osmosis
system
Feed Pump – The initial pump designed to supply the reverse osmosis unit with sap and maintain pressure
in the system
Pressure Pump – The pump designed to provide the pressure needed to force the sap through the reverse
osmosis membrane
Pressure Vessel – The containment unit for the semi-permeable membrane
Permeate – the water removed from the maple sap during the concentrate cycle
Concentrate – the maple sap having a higher percentage of sugar because water (permeate) has
been removed
Permeate Holding Tank – A tank designed to hold a minimum twice the hourly output of the system
Concentrate Cycle – Process during which water is removed from maple sap resulting in
Concentrate and Permeate
De-Sugaring Cycle - Process to reclaim sugars from the membrane during which Permeate is run
through the reverse osmosis unit using Concentrate cycle valve settings
Rinse Cycle – Cleaning process of passing stored Permeate through the Reverse Osmosis system and
out to drain
Chemical Wash Cycle – Process of chemical washing the membranes by recirculating a solution
through the reverse osmosis system. Dependent on requirement, chemical
maybe be alkali or acid.
Permeability Test – Test to determine the performance of the membranes against a benchmark
Sap Recirculation Loop – Process of recirculating output from the concentrate cycle to the raw sap
tank, increasing the concentration of the sap in the tank. NOTE: This loop
is not recommended for this system.
