Page 17

Pickling a Waterlog:-Cleaning the membrane element using dedicated Waterlog powders.

If you wish to obtain the best possible performance and the longest life from your membrane element, it will be necessary to soak the element in two separate chemical compounds in two separate operations.

During use, raw seawater is ingested into the unit and fed under high pressure to the pressure containment vessel. In fact, this is the rear portion of the stainless steel body itself. Inside this resides the membrane element. Over time, a film of material introduced by the seawater will build up reducing the performance, output and quality of the water. These deposits comprise of two broad groups: A/ Scale and metals, B/ Insoluble foulants. The accumulation rate of deposits will depend on the cleanliness of the seawater, hours in use, boat speeds, water temperature and other factors over weeks or perhaps years of use. 

A/ The first group can contain Calcium Barium and Strontium  Sulphates, Salts, Iron and metal Oxides. These can be removed with specially formulated Acids, AcidLog  (Low Ph) which do not damage the membrane itself. (Jars with RED spot)

B/ The second group contains Silt, Colloids, Organics, Microbiological residues, acid insoluble particles and mucilaginous material. These can be removed with special Alkalis, AlkiLog (High Ph)(Jars with BLACK spot). Again, these must be specially formulated to ensure membrane compatibility. 

To Pickle the watermaker.

Wait 24 hours since last use. Remove the 3 screws around the nose block and withdraw it. Empty the water from the watermaker body. Find a location where the unit can be hung vertically with the newly opened end facing up. Some hang it outboard (using one of the three holes) from the boom after rigging a preventer to stop the boom from swinging. This keeps everything at a safe distance from the crew.

DO NOT OPEN THE PACKS UNTIL EVERYTHING IS READY 

Pickling - Continued

Empty the contents of a container with a RED spot (Acid) into 2 pints (1 Liter) of warm clean water. Ensure the powder is well dispersed and then pour into the watermaker until the level of the solution covers the membrane. Also fill the center tube of the membrane element. (You will have some solution left over in whatever vessel was used for mixing). Leave for about 1 hour, then empty the solution back into the mixing vessel. Pour back again into the unit, again making sure that the membrane is fully covered. The purpose of this is to agitate the solution. Leave for a further hour (if very fouled, 4-5 hours agitating every hour). Empty the solution from the unit and thoroughly flush it out with water.

Repeat the procedure using the contents of a container with a BLACK spot (Alkali). 

NOTE- It is not possible to carry out both procedures in one step. The solutions must not be mixed as they would neutralize each other. Pickling solutions must not be left in your unit. Always flush and replace with Biocide (GREEN spot) before storage. For disposal, mix the solutions together to protect the environment.

If the unit is not going to be used for some time, many days or months, make up a solution of Biocide, BioLog preservative using the contents of a container with a GREEN spot and pour about half the solution into the unit before replacing the nose block. (If doing a quick Biocide treatment by towing the unit for 30 seconds (Page 14) make up a concentrated solution as much Bio powder as you can get into suspension with about 25cc of hot water)

When finished, replace the nose block (See page 15 of the Manual) and its 3 retaining screws. Next time in use run the output water to waste for at least 30 minutes before tasting or decanting into the ships tank.

Warning:-  It hardly needs to be said that these solutions are aggressive chemicals so please take every precaution to ensure that they do not come into contact with the body, clothing, furnishings or any part of the boat. Also, it is essential that the solutions must be disposed of safely and in accordance with local regulations. (The formulations meet all requirements of the FDA for food processing machinery and present no difficulty for vegetarians or Kosher observance).