Water filters without storage tank. How to choose a good water filter and save money. Direct flow reverse osmosis systems
Dirty water has become a problem for many people. It spoils equipment and health, brings discomfort when used. Filtration systems do an excellent job of removing salts, rust and other particles that spoil the liquid. In this article, you are invited to buy a tank for a reverse osmosis filter, which is an integral part of a water purification complex.
Tank in reverse osmosis filters: purpose and device
Since a filter using a membrane that retains unwanted substances cannot quickly pass a large amount of water, a reverse osmosis tank is used to ensure a stable flow of 1-2 l/m. His task is to collect the purified liquid and give it to the owner.
Briefly about the device: the design is divided into two parts - this is a container for water and air compressed in 0.5-0.9 atmospheres. Between them is a rubber diaphragm. When the faucet is opened, it pushes the contents out of the tank. At the same time, the pressure also drops, after which the recruitment procedure is restarted.
Types of structures
On the site you can buy a reverse osmosis tank made of plastic or metal. Today, the product is made only from these two materials. Take a look at the benefits of each individually:
PVC: this type of product stands out at an adequate price. It is resistant to corrosion and mechanical damage. It is unlikely that with normal use it will be possible to break the product. For this you need to try hard.
Metal: A steel reverse osmosis tank is more durable. It is often placed in country houses for long-term use. The only disadvantage of such structures is the higher cost. The weight of the containers is quite light, and therefore their transportation and installation will not cause problems.
Also on the virtual shelves will be able to purchase a transparent tank for reverse osmosis. It will allow you to personally control all ongoing processes - to see how water is collected, etc.
How to choose a reverse osmosis filtration system?
If you need not only a storage tank for a reverse osmosis system, but also the complex itself, you should think about its type. Take a closer look at the important nuances:
With or without a pump: when the pressure in the pipes is below the bar of 3 atmospheres, you should immediately take a structure equipped with a pump for pumping water. Otherwise, you may be left without one or get too little pressure. In this case, even deciding to buy a large storage tank for a reverse osmosis filter, you should not hope for a positive result. It is better to immediately provide for the presence of a pump.
Taps: in designs with mineralizers, there are dual supply systems that allow you to receive a product purified by a membrane and a carbon filter from one tap, while a liquid filled with useful substances flows from another. The storage tank for the reverse osmosis filter in this case receives water that has passed all stages of processing.
Type of cartridges: IR blocks are designed to destroy bacteria and viruses, as well as coal and shungite modules. Mineralizers make the liquid useful by saturating it with various components. The latter is worth choosing if you want to get the maximum amount of benefit from drinking water.
In the end, it remains only to decide which osmosis tank will be most relevant in this situation. The next section will help you do this.
Choosing the right container
Purification complexes are on sale together with a tank. The element can also be ordered as a separate unit. This may be necessary in the following cases:
- You are building a reverse osmosis filter;
- Your system is missing a component and needs to be added;
- The part is broken and needs to be replaced.
The standard capacity, which provides maximum comfort for a family of 4-6 people, is an osmosis storage tank with a capacity of 12 liters (useful volume 8-10 liters). Enough for cooking and drinking. However, the same AquaPro A3 for 8 liters is capable of delivering 250 liters per day, which is more than enough for 3-4 people. If the need for clean water is low, then a 2 liter product is suitable, for example, from the brand Kaplya, Geyser or Crystal.
Dimensions: It is important to pay attention to dimensions. Many people forget that they may not have enough space in their kitchen for a tank for a reverse osmosis filter. If there is no such problem, it is recommended to opt for the 12-liter format. It can be purchased in Moscow from 3000 rubles.
Please note, you can also buy a 40L osmosis tank - it is considered large. This is when it comes to household options.
How do you know the technique is working?
The water entering the tank will be clean and will no longer give off an unpleasant aftertaste. It will become similar to the contents of a spring source or store bottles. Usually, a person can easily notice the difference, since it is quite noticeable. But, if you doubt the effectiveness of the water filter, it is better to make an examination in the laboratory, taking a sample before and after cleaning.
Advantages of our clients
Here you can not only learn more about filters, but also buy a storage tank for reverse osmosis and spare parts for treatment complexes, having received adequate conditions. Clients are served in Moscow and in the region. Choose a reverse osmosis storage tank and place your order with guaranteed results.
Direct-flow reverse osmosis without a tank!
Provides universal purification of tap water from common contaminants: mechanical impurities (rust, silt, sand, etc.), dissolved impurities such as free chlorine, organochlorine compounds, pesticides, herbicides, agricultural fertilizers and their decay products, phenols, petroleum products, aluminum, heavy metals, radioactive elements, dissolved iron, hardness salts and other organic and inorganic substances, bacteria and viruses. Softens water and completely solves the problem of scale. Eliminates unpleasant odors, improves the taste of water.
- Genuine latest generation Japanese membrane
- Works even at low water pressure
- Other things being equal, at least three times more economical than any system with a tank in terms of the amount of water discharged into the sewer
- Standard 10" Prefilter Cartridges
- Quick-release membrane and post-filter, easy maintenance
- Easy addition of any additional post-filter, including with shungite
It is recommended for regions with water characterized by normal and high content of hardness salts (including regions with superhard water), normal and high content of dissolved iron, heavy metals. In particular, the system is effective when used in regions with unfavorable environmental conditions (large cities, industrial centers).
The kit already includes cartridges and a membrane, a separate faucet for purified water, an electronic pump unit and everything you need to quickly install the filter on site.
Automatic pump control unit Prio® Jet - included
No space under the sink for a storage tank? Do you often need more water than can fit in the tank? Tired of waiting for the tank to fill up with another portion of water? Do you want to always have fresh water, and not stagnant in the tank? Tired of replacing the tank every 2 years? Can't add an additional post-filter to your reverse osmosis system due to insufficient water pressure? Are you losing too much water to drainage, at the same time wasting the resource of pre-filters? Do you want to change the membrane and pre-filters less often? So, you need a direct-flow reverse osmosis system with a pump!
External universal control units with a pump and autowash Prio® Jet are revolutionary devices in the field of water treatment.
The Jet X855 pump block included in this system is specially designed for direct-flow reverse osmosis systems (without a storage tank).
Patented intelligent pump units with a digital controller Prio® Jet, developed in Germany, control the reverse osmosis system (contain a system of automatic valves and a pump), operate in a fully automatic mode, improve key performance characteristics of the membrane, extend its life, increase the degree and speed of cleaning, help conserve water.
Direct flow reverse osmosis system Stream OUD600 filters water at a sufficient rate in real time when opening a clean water faucet, and does not require a storage tank. Thanks to a powerful pump as part of the Jet X855 pump unit and a productive K858 membrane, the system is operable at a water pressure of only 0.5 atm.
In no way inferior to traditional reverse osmosis systems with a tank, either in terms of cleaning quality or ease of use, once-through systems have a number of advantages:
- Compactness due to the lack of a tank - they fit even in small kitchens.
- Always fresh water obtained by real-time filtration, without stagnation in the storage tank. There is no risk of "blooming" and musty water.
- Constant and high rate of clean water delivery on demand and virtually unlimited daily capacity, sufficient for any household. In once-through systems, the flow rate does not depend on how long you keep the faucet open, and you are never limited by the amount of water in the tank.
- An even better quality of water purification - all other things being equal, the selectivity of the membrane is higher in a once-through circuit than in a system with a tank.
- Low cost of maintenance and operation - less mandatory cartridges for regular replacement, a huge resource of a high-performance membrane.
- Enormous water savings - several times less discharge of water into the sewer per unit of treated water compared to traditional systems. Savings on losses can be up to several tons of water per year!
- Longer service life of pre-filters due to the fact that the system passes less water through itself to produce a unit of treated water.
- Absolute reliability - thanks to the simplicity of the design and the small number of components.
Prio® reverse osmosis systems equipped with Prio® Jet pump units are market leaders in terms of water quality, efficiency in daily operation and customer satisfaction.
Distinctive features of Practitioner Osmosis Stream OUD600
- Full automatic
- Powerful pressure increasing pump (pump)
- Membrane auto flush
- LED indicators
Prio® Jet pump units are easily connected by the consumer with three flexible hoses to the main reverse osmosis treatment unit without the use of tools. They are very compact and do not require any regular maintenance. In this case, all electrical components are completely separated from the serviced parts of the system and do not interfere, for example, when replacing cartridges.
Membrane auto flush
One of the key and unique features of the Prio® Jet pump units is the automatic flushing of the membrane in the reverse osmosis system. At the end of each cycle of turning on the pump unit, a 20-second powerful flushing of the outer layer of the membrane from accumulated contaminants is automatically performed. As a result, the membrane resource increases significantly and a high level of all its characteristics, such as selectivity and permeate recovery factor, is constantly maintained. The consumer can be sure that his reverse osmosis system will function like new for many years.
Result: maintaining ideal water quality throughout the entire service life, increasing the filtration rate, reducing the frequency of replacing the most expensive component of the system - the membrane, reducing water discharge into the sewer.
LED indicators
For ease of use, Prio® Jet pump units are equipped with LED indicators that show the current status of the reverse osmosis system.
The world's first reverse osmosis split systemUnlike other reverse osmosis filters on the market, Prio® systems equipped with Prio® Jet control units can, if necessary, function as split systems: the pump unit and the reverse osmosis system connected to it can be separated by up to 15 meters! For example, a pump unit that requires connection to an electrical outlet and sewerage can be installed inside a plumbing cabinet at a water riser, and a reverse osmosis system can be installed in the kitchen under the sink with a tap for clean water upstairs. In this connection method, it is possible to achieve complete noiselessness of the filter at the point of water consumption, and install such a system even in cases where the consumer does not have an electrical outlet under the sink. |
Innovative latest generation membrane from Japan
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This system is equipped with a high-capacity high-pressure membrane, up to 1800 liters of permeate per day (capacity rating - 500 GPD). |
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Withstands pressure up to 28 atm., at least 100 thousand water hammer cycles, tested at the Research Institute of Sanitary Engineering. |
Two years warranty. |
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Developed in Germany: impeccable industrial design and advanced German engineering, one-piece molded “head” (Unibody technology) that eliminates leakage. |
Fiber-filled ("reinforced") "head" and body. Matte silky plastic surface looks great. |
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Built-in hydraulic shock absorbers at the inlet and outlet protect the system from destruction during sudden pressure surges in the water supply. |
Easy replacement of filter cartridges. |
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Automatic pump unit with auto-flush included: high filtration rate even at low pressure in the water supply, reduced water discharge into the drain, extended life of the membrane and pre-filters, improved cleaning quality. |
Convenient and reliable plastic eyeliner. |
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Cartridges of a new cone form factor RPZ with reduced hydraulic resistance. Improved filling of cartridges from leading filter media suppliers. |
Standardized cartridges (also compatible with most standard 10" cases from other manufacturers). |
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Plastic eyeliner made of non-toxic plastic (PVC-free). |
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Simplified installation and connection on site. |
Fast connection at the input and output. |
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Quick connect fittings simplify operation and increase reliability. |
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The heart of the system is the latest highly selective latest generation polymer composite film membrane manufactured by Toray Industries Inc., Japan. Thanks to it, an unsurpassed quality of purification is achieved: typical residual salinity of purified water (permeate) at the outlet of the membrane in steady state ≤9 ppm (67% confidence level), ≤18 ppm (95%) (data at an initial salinity of 300 ppm, inlet pressure of 0 .6 MPa, water temperature 18°C). Until recently, such impermeability of the membrane to contaminants was simply unattainable in domestic reverse osmosis systems.
How it works
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The system, using a tee and a ball valve, is permanently connected to the cold water pipeline at the point of water consumption (usually under the kitchen sink) with a separate tap for treated water being led upstairs. In this case, tap water first passes through mechanical and sorption pre-filters, then it is fed through the pump unit to the membrane, where it is separated into purified water (permeate) and water drained into the sewer (concentrate). Purified water is supplied through a tap for purified water when it is opened in the "on demand" mode (filtration occurs in direct-flow mode, i.e. in real time). To remove residual odors, the source of which can be deposits on the outer side of the membrane, the water after the membrane passes through the final filter (post-filter conditioner). Thus, the steps for connecting a reverse osmosis system include: 1. Installing a tee in the cold water line. The pump unit can be installed both next to the main unit of the reverse osmosis system, and at a distance of up to 15 meters from it, for example, in a sanitary cabinet near the riser. |
Connection kit, which is equipped with a reverse osmosis system Stream OUD600
, will make its installation easy for any plumber in any locality.- Reverse osmosis system without tank with combined pre-filter and high-performance membrane (Japan)
- Universal cleaning, softening, iron removal, bacteriological cleaning
- Installed filter elements: K870 , K859
- Faucet for clean water ceramic ball
- The most compact reverse osmosis system on the market with full filtration speed
- No storage tank required
- Genuine Japanese membrane of the latest generation, with a long service life (36 months *) and high performance (up to 0.8 l / min. * Purified water at maximum operating pressure, performance is lower at lower pressure in the water supply)
- Operates at low pressure in the water supply (from 2 atm. *)
- Completely silent
- Small discharge of water into the sewer, efficiency
- Quick-release pre-filter, easy maintenance
- Possibility of installing a post-mineralizer (K879 or K880)
The kit already includes a pre-filter and a membrane, a separate faucet for purified water and everything you need for a quick installation of the filter on site.
Modern technologies provide the answer to all "why"
Why no tank, because you don't need it: The use of a high-performance membrane and a new innovative flow control scheme makes traditional bulky reverse osmosis tanks a thing of the past: the once-through membrane filters water at up to 0.8 l/min*, guaranteeing perfect purity and freshness of the received water. Of course, the performance of the membrane (as in any reverse osmosis system) depends on the temperature of the water and the pressure in the water supply. Flow 0.8 l/min. achieved at a maximum operating pressure of 7-8 atm., at a pressure of 5 atm. the output is about 0.5 l/min. This is 4-6 times more than in traditional tank systems with low-performance membranes, which allowed us to abandon the storage tank in this case.
Compare: in conventional reverse osmosis systems, the performance of the membrane is so small that if you remove the tank, the system becomes practically inoperable: the water flow is too small and far from comfortable. In the OD200 system, a productive membrane at the same pressure ensures a cleaning speed several times higher: the flow rate of always fresh and unstagnant water is quite sufficient even without a tank.
Why without a post-filter - because it is not needed: the membrane performs the main water purification, but in traditional reverse osmosis systems (with a slowly filtering membrane), water first accumulates in the tank and stays there at room temperature for a long time, and the tank itself lasts for several years. As a result of bacteriological contamination of the tank at room temperature, purified water can acquire a musty smell and taste, which is the purpose of the post-filter to get rid of. No tank - no problem, for which a post-filter is installed. But let's reveal the secret - if you really want a post-filter, then you can put it! And not only coal. You can also use a post-filter with shungite, or a mineralizer, or a mineralizer combined with sorption - any filter element that can be connected with quick connection fittings to the purified water line will do.
Why only one pre-filter - because a separate mechanical pre-filter is not needed when the OD200 system has a combined mechanical-sorption pre-filter made of pressed carbon with a fineness of filtering mechanical particles of 1 micron (which is better than most types of mechanical polypropylene cartridges can provide). Well, if the source water is very contaminated with mechanical impurities, then it is always recommended to install an inexpensive main mechanical filter for all the water entering the apartment (and not be limited to a PP cartridge only in the system under the sink). For this purpose it is recommended to use main filters A010 or A020. In those rare cases when a separate mechanical pre-filter is still indispensable, and it is not possible to install main pre-filters, it is always possible to use an optional additional mechanical pre-filter directly on the OD200 system itself: PP-pre-filter K871.
And what is the result?
Uniquely compact: the system fits under any sink, even in the smallest kitchen.
Unique freshness of water: once-through circuit gives out water always fresh, freshly filtered, and not stored in the tank.
Unique purification: this is water after reverse osmosis, which means there are no compromises in the quality of purification.
Unique economy and convenience: replace only one pre-filter every 6 months. and a membrane every 3 years*, and that's it. No need to change 3-4-5-6 cartridges every 6 months or every year, no need to replace the tank every 2 years and so on. At the same time, do not forget that the pre-filter is quick-detachable, which means that it is very easy to replace it.
Unique price: an innovative membrane, low weight and dimensions, no tank and post-filter make the system not only more compact, but also cheaper. Everyone can afford it, without making any compromises, neither in the quality of cleaning, nor in the speed of filtration.
Why others don't have this - because our company uses the latest innovative Toray high performance membrane. It would be possible to assemble a reverse osmosis system without a tank on a conventional membrane, but only purified water will drip from the tap drop by drop. A complete once-through circuit requires a high performance diaphragm (as well as a precision control valve). Only the special low-pressure, productive and highly selective Toray membrane we use in this system allows you to simultaneously obtain a purified water flow of up to 0.8 l / min * and provide deep cleaning (residual content of foreign ions in purified water up to 10 ppm and below *) . In Russia, no other manufacturer offers anything like this.
For whom such a system is not suitable - those who expect a flow from a purified water tap at a level of 1.5-2 l / min. Such a rate of dispensing purified water is possible only in reverse osmosis filters with a tank (with all its side effects in the form of bulkiness, stagnation of water in the tank and the high cost of regular maintenance). By the way, the Osmos Stream Compact OD200 system allows adding a tank - the procedure for the corresponding upgrade is described in the instruction manual. However, we believe that, given all the benefits, the typical purified water flow from the Osmos Stream Compact OD200 system is sufficient for everyday use by almost all consumers.
Innovative latest generation membrane from Japan
The heart of the system is the latest high performance polymer composite film membrane manufactured by Toray Industries Inc., Japan. The peak performance of this membrane in the operating pressure range reaches 1000 liters of permeate per day. The once-through membrane is capable of filtering water at up to 0.8 l/min*.
Thanks to it, an unsurpassed quality of purification is achieved: typical residual salinity of purified water (permeate) at the outlet of the membrane in steady state ≤12 ppm (67% confidence level), ≤20 ppm (95%) (data at an initial salinity of 300 ppm, inlet pressure of 0 .6 MPa, water temperature 18°C). Until recently, such impermeability of the membrane to contaminants was simply unattainable in domestic reverse osmosis systems.
In addition, this membrane belongs to the class of low-pressure membranes, which allows it to be successfully used even in conditions of low pressure in the water supply system. The system is operable at an inlet pressure of 2 atm. The once-through filtration system also provides a high permeate recovery rate (typically above 50%), which means relatively little discharge to the sewer and significant water savings.
Distinctive features
 | Key components, such as a pre-filter, tubes, fittings, withstand pressures up to 45-52 atm., at least 100 thousand water hammer cycles of 0-16 atm., tested at the Plumbing Research Institute. | Three years warranty. | |
 | The quick-release design of the pre-filter mount simplifies its regular replacement. |  | It takes up minimal space under the sink and fits even in the smallest kitchens. |
| Ease of replacement of replaceable elements, including membranes. |  | The sealing of the joints in the pre-filter was carried out by ultrasound. | |
 | Plastic eyeliner made of non-toxic plastic. | ||
| Easy assembly and connection without tools on site. |  | ||
 | Quick connect fittings simplify operation and increase reliability. |
How it works
The connection kit, which is equipped with the Prio® Novaya Voda® Osmos Stream Compact OD200 reverse osmosis system, will make its installation easy for any plumber in any locality.
The system, using a tee and a ball valve, is permanently connected to the cold water pipeline at the point of water consumption (usually under the kitchen sink) with a separate tap for treated water being led upstairs.
In this case, tap water first passes through a mechanical sorption pre-filter, then it is fed to the membrane, where it is separated into purified water (permeate) and water drained into the sewer (concentrate).
Purified water is supplied through the purified water tap when it is opened in the “on demand” mode (at a rate of up to 0.8 l / min *.).
Thus, the steps for connecting a reverse osmosis system include:
1. Installing a tee in the cold water line.
2. Installation of a faucet for purified water at the sink.
3. Connecting the drain socket to the drain siphon pipe of the sink.
For a more detailed installation procedure, please refer to the user manual.
To extend the service life of the pre-filter, it is recommended to install the Osmos Stream Compact OD200 system along the cold water main after the main mechanical filter with a filtration fineness of at least 5 microns (for example, A010 or A020).
The system is equipped with a separate ball valve for treated water. The metal elements of the faucet are made of lead-free alloys.
Ⓐ - pressed (sintered) activated carbon from coconut shell (mechanical sorption pre-filter)
Ⓑ - highly selective high-performance reverse osmosis polymer film membrane manufactured by Toray Industries Inc., Japan
Only certified and approved for contact with food filtering and other components that come into contact with water are used.
Cartridge and membrane - the heart of the filter
This system includes the following replaceable elements (cartridge and membrane):
- K870– pressed (sintered) activated carbon from coconut shell (mechanical-sorption pre-filter)
- K859— highly selective high-performance reverse osmosis polymer film membrane manufactured by Toray Industries Inc., Japan
For more detailed information about the properties and characteristics of the filter elements included in this water purifier, see the description of the corresponding replacement elements.
 The K870 cartridge contains environmentally friendly coconut shell activated carbon. |  Due to the high performance of the membrane, no storage tank is required. |
 A special technology for post-activation of activated carbon using phosphoric acids ensures that previously adsorbed pollutants are not released back into drinking water (K870 cartridge). |  Contains highly selective reverse osmosis polymer film membrane Toray Industries Inc., Japan. |
The pre-filter K870 uses high-quality fine fraction coconut activated carbon produced by the industry leader - Norit (USA-Holland).
The manufacturing technology of the cartridge on modern equipment makes it possible to obtain a uniform sintering density of coal granules throughout the entire volume of the cartridge without the formation of slots and channels.
The filtering fineness of the K870 cartridge is 1-2 microns, which is ideal for its use as a mechanical sorption pre-filter in the Osmos Stream Compact reverse osmosis system.
The use of a fine fraction of coal significantly increases the area of the sorbing surface. Such a carbon block significantly increases the degree of sorption and contributes to the long life of the K870 cartridge. In these parameters, the K870 carbon block is significantly superior to typical carbon blocks from other manufacturers on the market.
Advantages of reverse osmosis systems
Reverse osmosis water purification systems are the most advanced, sophisticated and efficient water purification filters for domestic purposes. Initially, water purification systems based on this principle were developed to treat water in the closed water supply system of submarines and spacecraft. In industry, such systems are used for desalination of sea water, as well as for water purification in the food industry (including the production of alcoholic beverages, juices and bottled water), in the chemical industry, etc.
A key element of a reverse osmosis system is a semi-permeable membrane. The pore diameter of a reverse osmosis membrane is about 1 angstrom (0.1 nanometer), which is comparable to the size of one water molecule. In fact, the membrane performs filtration at the atomic level, passing through itself only water molecules and molecules of atmospheric gases (oxygen, nitrogen). The molecular size of most substances is greater than 1 Angstrom. The physical dimensions of the molecules of organic impurities are tens and hundreds of angstroms. The average size of a bacterium is 4000 times larger than the pore diameter of the membrane, and the average size of viruses is 200 times larger. Due to the presence of such a barrier, dissolved inorganic and organic compounds, as well as heavy metals, hardness salts, all bacteria and viruses are removed from the water. At the same time, the water that has passed through the reverse osmosis system has excellent taste qualities, since dissolved gases are stored in it.
Of course, having similar characteristics, water purification systems based on reverse osmosis are superior in quality to all other types of water filters. Reverse osmosis filters are the only technology currently available to definitively solve the problem of scale in a city apartment. Only reverse osmosis filters completely remove hardness salts from water.
Specifications and operating conditions
- Permissible water temperature: +5 - +35 °С
- Operating water temperature: +5 - +18 °С
- Permissible ambient temperature: +5 - +40 °С
- Ambient operating temperature: +14 - +24 ° С
- Supply water pressure: 0.2 to 0.80 MPa (2.0 to 8.0 kgf/cm²)
- Maximum instantaneous inlet pressure (water hammer): 1.6 MPa (16 kgf/cm²)
- System performance, maximum*: 0.8 l/min. at a pressure in the water supply system of 0.80 MPa, 0.5 l / min. - at 0.50 MPa. The values refer to the maximum operating water temperature, for the system in the initial phase of operation. With lower plumbing pressure, lower water temperature, and for a system in the middle or end of prefilter and/or membrane life, performance is lower.
- Total salinity of inlet water*: no more than 1000 mg/l (recommended - up to 500 mg/l)
- Desalination in steady state*: up to 99%
- Permeate recovery factor*: 25—75%
- Installed Cartridges (Replacement Items): K870 , K859
- Shelf life(before use): 3 years from date of manufacture
- dimensions(excluding faucet, piping and protruding parts): 345x115x180 mm
- The weight(net, without water): 2.1 kg
* Operational characteristics depend on the temperature, composition and degree of contamination of the source water, pressure in the water supply and other conditions and mode of use of the water purifier. The specified values are achieved on model solutions at the maximum operating water temperature and maximum operating pressure, in the system at the initial stage of operation. The degree of purification decreases during operation. The filtration rate of the membrane and pre-filter decrease during operation.
Options and extensions
Mechanical pre-filter: K871
Carbon sorption post-filter: K875 or K870
Sorption post-filter with shungite: K873
Post-filter mineralizer: K879
Post-filter mineralizer combined with sorption: K880
Optional cartridge installation kit: X870
Post-filter and tank installation kit:
Sorption cleaning
There are several ways to purify water used in modern filters. The cheapest and most common filters are sorption. Their work is based on the principle of adsorption - the absorption of substances from a solution by a solid body or a layer of liquid. Activated carbon is most often used as an adsorbent in such filters.
Sorption filters are cheap, purify water well from chlorine, large pollutants like sand and rust, and do not require installation. However, they do not purify water very well, not protecting against bacteria, viruses and hardness salts. Water still needs to be boiled, and when boiled, scale will form on the kettle.
Membrane cleaning
This is a more modern and high-quality cleaning method. The key element here is a semi-permeable membrane with tiny pores that traps contaminants. Water passes through the membrane under pressure, purified water enters the storage tank, and dirty water with impurities goes into the sewer.
There are several types of membrane cleaning:
- Microfiltration. Membrane with holes ranging in size from 0.015 to 5 microns, rolled into rolls or tubes, is used. Water is supplied under pressure of 2-3 bar.
- Ultrafiltration. Membranes with a smaller pore size of 0.015–0.02 µm are used. Operates at higher pressure - up to 6 bar.
- Reverse osmosis. Membranes with the smallest pores of 1 angstrom (0.0001 µm) are used. They pass only water molecules and nothing else. At the same time, modern systems do not require high pressure, 1.5–2 atmospheres is quite enough.
The reverse osmosis system is one of the most popular and high-quality membrane purification systems today.
In addition to the semi-permeable membrane, modern reverse osmosis water purification systems have pre-filters and post-filters. For clarity, let's consider how filtration occurs in the reverse osmosis system with mineralization Expert Osmos MO520 from Prio.
Reverse osmosis system with mineralization Expert Osmos MO520
First, tap water enters mechanical pre-filters (A and B), which remove particles larger than 0.5 microns, rust, grains of sand and other large impurities from it. After that, water under pressure enters the membrane (C). Passing through it, the liquid is cleared of everything else: organic and inorganic compounds, heavy metals, bacteria and viruses. Reading water goes into the storage tank, and untreated - into the sewer.
Before reaching the user, water from the tank passes through an additional post-filter mineralizer (D), where it is cleaned of foreign odors and saturated with minerals.
However, not all reverse osmosis systems clean equally well. First of all, the quality of water purification depends on the main element of the system - the membrane.
How to determine the quality of the membrane
Reverse osmosis membranes differ in the degree and selectivity of purification, resistance to chlorine and bacterial contamination, filtration rate, pressure required for operation and the degree of pH correction of water.
One of the best options on the market today is the Japanese Toray polymer composite film membrane. It scores high in all of the above.
Toray membranes are quite expensive, but they provide the highest quality cleaning. In this case, you can not rely on the assurances of manufacturers, but check the quality of the membrane yourself using a TDS meter, or saline meter.
A TDS meter is a device that measures the concentration of impurities in a liquid and indicates how many solid particles per million (ppm) are in the water being tested.
For example, drinking water is between 50 and 170 ppm, while perfectly readable water is between 0 and 50 ppm.
At tap water rates of 260 ppm, Toray membranes provide an output product of 8 ppm, and if the water from the water supply system is especially dirty - about 480 ppm, then the membrane will provide water with indicators of 13 ppm at the outlet.
Cheaper membranes, such as Chinese ones, allow you to get water no cleaner than 60–80 ppm - drinkable, but still quite hard.
In addition to the quality of water treatment, Toray membranes have several other advantages over cheaper options. They operate at an inlet pressure of only 2 atmospheres, and their high performance allows you to create reverse osmosis systems without a storage tank - modern direct-flow systems.
Direct flow reverse osmosis systems
What it is
These are the latest water purification systems that require less space and filter water much faster. Here is an example of such a system - Econic Osmos Stream OD320.
Direct-flow reverse osmosis system Econic Osmos Stream OD320 Unlike a system with a tank, after cleaning with a pre-filter (K870) and a membrane (K857), water does not enter the storage tank, but through the post-filter-mineralizer immediately to the user.
Let's see how this system is beneficial, using the Osmos Stream series filters from Prio Novaya Voda as an example.
System advantages
compactness
The ability to get rid of a bulky tank can be considered a real revolution in reverse osmosis filtration. Now the dimensions of the kitchen and the place under the sink do not matter: the filter takes up very little space.
This is how, for example, the installed direct-flow split system Expert Osmos Stream MOD600 looks like - everything is neat, compact and beautiful.
Expert Osmos Stream MOD600 No restrictions on the amount of water
When the tank of the reverse osmosis system runs out of water, you have no choice but to wait until it is filled again. With direct-flow systems, this problem does not arise. Osmos Stream systems filter water the moment you turn on the faucet, they don't store or do anything ahead of time. At the same time, water consumption is not limited. No need to focus on the fullness of the tank, you can turn on the tap at any time and get up to 1,500 liters per day.
Long service life of consumables
Some Prio in-line filters include an automatic membrane cleaning system, which greatly extends the life of this expensive consumable.
Prio Osmos Stream cleaning systems of the MOD, OUD or OD360 series are equipped with an automatic Prio® Jet control unit that flushes the membrane after each cycle of switching on the pump unit. Due to this, the membrane lasts longer.
Prio® Jet block Water saving
One of the significant disadvantages of conventional reverse osmosis filters with a tank is the high water consumption. Purified water makes up only about 20% of the total mass of incoming water, the rest is discharged into the sewer.
In-line filters managed to solve this problem. The high selectivity of the membrane and better filtration can significantly reduce the flow of water discharged into the sewer. Typically, with such a filter, no more than ⅓ of the total volume is sent to the drainage system, and ⅔ is purified water. Saving several tons a year!
In addition, once-through systems are easier to maintain and require fewer mandatory cartridges, which also helps save significant amounts of money. For example, in the Prio Econic Osmos Stream OD310 once-through system, only three elements need to be changed: a pressed activated carbon pre-filter, a granular activated carbon post-filter and a Toray membrane. Unlike 5-6 conventional filter cartridges, this minimalism saves a lot of money.
Compared to conventional reverse osmosis filters, once-through models save significant amounts of money. But are they really that economical compared to having no filters at all? Let's consider what will be more profitable: to buy water or use a high-quality direct-flow filter.
How in-line filters help save money
We will not compare direct-flow reverse osmosis filters with conventional sorption ones, since the latter do not provide such a quality of cleaning. Even filters with ionic resin do not purify water from hardness salts and bacteria, as a result of which it still needs to be boiled, constantly removing scale from the kettle.
Clean and tasty water from reverse osmosis filters can only be compared with purchased water, so we will compare the cost of buying and maintaining a filter with the cost of bottles of purified water.
Five-liter bottles of purified water cost about 80 rubles. On average, one family consumes about 4 liters of water per day: tea and coffee, cooking, just drinking water. It turns out that a family needs 1,460 liters of drinking water per year, which is about 290 bottles, which will cost 23,200 rubles.
Now let's calculate how much money it will take to purchase and maintain the filter. For example, let's take the Prio Econic Osmos Stream OD310 for 11,950 rubles. We add the cost of replacing two cartridges: 870 + 790 = 1,660 rubles.
In total, it turns out 13,610 rubles a year - almost two times cheaper than purchased water.
Even the premium model Prio - a split system with mineralization Expert Osmos Stream MOD600 for 25,880 rubles - will fully pay off in a year and a half, after which you will save about 25,000 rubles a year.
At the same time, reverse osmosis filters with a Toray membrane, which only let water molecules through, can provide even better quality than plants that purify water for sale. After all, often purchased drinking water is taken from the central water supply system, so it may well contain by-products of chlorination.
You can check the quality of purchased water with a TDS meter and decide if it's worth the money. But even if it is perfect, Prio New Water direct-flow filters will help you get the same much cheaper and faster without having to constantly carry heavy bottles.