Spectra Watermaker Ventura 150 makes water with open pressure valve

[OleLagoon380]

Hi all,

I did a cleaning flush with SC 2 because the production (10-12 Liters) and quality (720 ppm) was poor.
I did one hour flush, let rest one hour and did a second one hour flush. During the second flush (all flush with open pressure valve) the watermaker starts to work an empty 3 of 4 Liters of the flushing liquid into the bilge. What I recognized and the end finally. Before the flushing everything was ok, I could flush the system normal with normal pressure and open pressure valve. Now the pressure speed up even with open pressure valve so high, that the wm starts to produce water.

Now is my question: Why the wm is producing water with an open pressure valve? I did not check the quality of the water now, to see if the membrane is maybe defect and this caused the stuck in flow, because I am ambivalent if I should dismount the wm first or not.

Thank you all in advance
Ole

[senormechanico]

Check the PPM. I suspect a blown membrane. You will have sky high PPM if that's the case.

[OleLagoon380]

Yes I checked the outflow of water and it was over 6000 ppm. So the membran is obviously damaged. But is this the reason because the watermaker runs with an open pressure valve?

[OleLagoon380]

And the second question is, will the watermaker run normal with a new membran?

[senormechanico]

Paging Tellie !


Imho, the membrane has a hole which is allowing seawater through to the product line.
A normal operation is to leave the pressure valve open for a minute or so on start up to eliminate any air in the system, then gradually close it. The pressure ramps up, you check the PPM until it drops to an acceptable number, then turn the discharge valve to "tank".

That's what I've been doing with my 200 for over 20 years.

[OleLagoon380]

Thank You!
Thats the normal procedure I know as well.
Today I found out that the pressure valve was broken snd a part stucks into what was responsible for the high pressure. I removed it abd changed the valve.
Afterwards I had output of still only 10 Lites an hour and 1.300 ppm. So no broken membran.
Now I took the SC3 cleaner and will see tomorrow what the outcome is. I do expect non but will try. Then a new membran is needed….

[senormechanico]

I re read your original post. I was under the misconception that you had low pressure and water output. Sorry about that.