18
Membrane Cleaning
Membrane Cleaning
For normal cleaning, the SC
-
3 Acid Cleaning Compound is used first, then the SC
-
2 Alkaline
Cleaning Compound. If known bio
-
fouling is present, the SC
-
2 may be used first. Using hot
water if possible, up to 120° (45C) is recommended, as it greatly enhances the ability of the
cleaners to do their jobs.
If the history of the system is unknown or it has been left
“
unpickled
”
for an extended length
of time and biological growth is present, it is recommended that the system is cleaned with
SC
-
2, using unchlorinated fresh water before the system is run under pressure. If the housing
is full of smelly discolored water, the system was not properly stored. Install a clean filter.
Check the membrane by running the system for a few minutes in a bucket (see pg.8) and
then examine the brine water: if it
’
s discolored and smells bad, perform an SC
-
2 cleaning. If
the brine is fairly clean, the system can be purged, run normally, and checked for perfor-
mance. Clean the membranes only if indicated.
Heating the water is preferable. One way to do this is to find a camp stove and use a large
stainless steel pot to heat the solution in. The cleaning solution throughout the system will
heat as it circulates in and out of the pot. An alternative is to heat the one or two gallons of
initial water to 120° on a stove before mixing in the cleaner and circulating it into the system.
Periodically stop and reheat the solution.
Spectra cleaning compound (SC
-
2 or SC
-
3) must be mixed with fresh water at a ratio of 1
container of compound to 3 gallons (12L) of unchlorinated water. When this concentrate is
circulated through the system the chemicals will mix with the water in the system and get
to the correct ratio of 8 oz. (250g packet) to 5 gallons (20 liters) of water.
The cleaning procedures are the same for the SC
-
2 and SC
-
3 cleaners;
1.
Flush the system as shown in the Normal Operation Section and make cleaning solution
as above.
2.
Place the inlet service hose, brine discharge service hose, and product hose in the bucket.
3.
Make sure that the pressure relief valve is OPEN
(un
-
pressurized).
4.
Mix the cleaning chemical in the bucket.
5.
Start the system and circulate the chemical through the system for 20 minutes.
6.
Allow the system to soak for an hour; or overnight if the chemicals are cold.
7.
Run the pump for another 20 minutes.
8.
Stop the pump, move the brine discharge hose to a drain and start the pump until the
bucket is empty.
9.
Flush the system using the instructions for
“
New System Startup.
”
