Aquatec Watermaker AC 55 User manual

Technical Manual
for installation, operation and maintenance
Modular AC 55 - AC 240
Version 83 - 06.2023
Download latest manual at:
www.aquatec-watermaker.de/downloads_E.html
In case of doubt, the German ori
g
inal manual applies.
AQUATEC- Water maker,
Manufacture and distribution b
y
North-Marine Handels GmbH
Papenre
y
e 61, D 22453 Hambur
g
.
Contac
t
sup
@
aquatec-watermaker.de, Tel: +49
(
0
)
40-36850306
Web www.aquatec-watermaker.de
All contents of this manual, in particular texts, photographs and graphics are subject to German copyright law.
Copyright held by North Marine Handels GmbH. Duplication, editing, distribution and any kind of use outside
the limits of copyright law require the written approval of the author.

2
Thank you to choose an AQUATEC Watermaker for the provisioning of fresh water on your boat.
AQUATEC equipment is made from high-quality components exclusively and has proven its reliability on
long cruising-yachts. We are convinced that our product will serve you for many years without interferences.
Recommendation for using your Aquatec reverse osmosis system.
Daily use is preferable to a one-time weekly use.
The system produces water with a neutral taste and very good quality.
Important: The drinking water must be bottled from the test outlet of the system during operation, ideally
after filling the on-board water tank. Only fill the required amount until the next operation of the plant. Clean
the drinking water bottle regularly.
If the product water from the on-board water tank is used as drinking water, follow-up-treatment is
recommended. No further treatment is usually necessary as service water.
Scope of delivery Seawater R.O. AQUATEC
Connection cable, through-hull fittings and sea cock must be provided on-board.
See last page for complete partlist.
Cruising kit, Option
4 filter-cartridges 5 Micron, 4 filter-cartridges 20 Micron, 2 filter- cartridges charcoal.
Detergents Acid and Alkaline as well as Biocide for preservation.
1 set low- and high-pressure gasket for hp pump,
1 set of hp pump valves (6 pc.). O-ring spare part kit for hp pump and membrane.
This option eliminates the smaller amount of biocides included in the standard delivery
1 to 4 Pressure-vessel
depending on the plant
AC 55 AC 65 to AC 135
AC 150 to AC 240
115 / 230 V
230 / 400 / 440 V

3
This instruction includes important safety information and instructions for commissioning,
operation and maintenance of the Aquatec Watermaker components. It is essential therefore, that the
responsible specialist refers to it before starting any work on the machinery as well as prior to commissioning.
Furthermore, this instruction must always be available on site.
To ensure total satisfaction, please read this user manual carefully. Warranty will be void if the installation does not
meet this requirement. Disregarding the warnings / instructions in the User Guide and incorrect installation can lead to
serious health damage or possibly the loss of the vessel.
The following symbols and their meaning must be observed throughout the manual. Please follow the instructions and
take appropriate measures.
EXPLANATION OF SYMBOLS
Warning!
Immediate danger that
can lead to serious injury
to persons or damage to
the machine or the loss of
the vessel.
Warning!
Warnings regarding electric
power equipment. Non-
observance of safety
instructions could lead to
danger of life or limb:
Attention!
Indicates an
instruction that
requires special
attention.
Please note the following information.
Wa
r
nin
g
!
Damage to pumps and system parts due to dry running or insufficient water supply are
not covered by warranty.
Wa
r
nin
g
!
Aquatec Watermaker are designed for permanent installation on ships. Operation of
the system is only permitted with clean seawater.
Warning!
Never operate your Aquatec Watermaker unsupervised and leave the operation only
to trained persons.
Please note: If there are any leaks, the boat can fill up with water and sink, thereby
endan
g
erin
g
the life of the people on board.
Warning!
Install the high-pressure pump on a stable substrate . Install the high-pressure pump in
a dry area which allows an exchange of air necessary for cooling the motor-pump unit.
The pumps may not be operated if explosive or flammable Materials are present.
Please note: The motors and pumps develop high temperatures during operation.
Touchin
g
it can cause burns.
Wa
r
nin
g
!
The installation of the hoses to the components of the system must be carried out in
compliance with the bending radii without stress and vibration (risk of breakage).
Attention!
Like any piece of mechanical equipment, the system will require inspection and service
from time to time. For easy access to enable a simple regular monitoring and proper
maintenance do not place the components in inaccessible areas.
It should be easily accessible roundly to make service and inspection work as
comfortable as possible.
Attention!
The already assembled membranes can be stored for approx. 5 months in the sealed
pressure tube, preferably cool, but preferably not above 20 ° ambient temperature.
However, we recommend installin
g
and usin
g
the Watermaker as soon as possible.

4
Table of contents
Notes / Info
2 Scope of deliver
y
3 Safet
y
warnin
g
s
5 Introduction reverse osmosis
Operating
6 - 7 Start plant
8 - 9 Shutdown, fresh water flush.
10 - 11 Lon
g
term preservation
(
mothballin
g)
, antifreeze
12 - 13 Membrane cleanin
g
Installation
14
–
15 Installation / Flow dia
g
ram
16 - 20 Installation / plan
t
21
–
23 Installation / Electrical connection
Important
24 Inspection
–
maintenance
–
oil chan
g
e
Technic
25 Chan
g
e of membranes
26
–
27 Troubleshootin
g
28
–
31 Explorin
g
dia
g
ram hi
g
h-pressure-pumps
32 Feed-pumps overview
33 Pressure re
g
ulation valve
33
–
37 Hose dimensions / Specification
38 - 40 Part Lis
t

5
Introduction
The principle of reverse osmosis (RO)
In natural sciences and technology, osmosis is perceived as the directed migration of molecules through a
semi permeable membrane. The chemical and physical structure of the membrane determines which
molecules are able to pass and which are not. For this reason, it is called semi-permeable, which means as
much as halfway or partial permeability.
RO Membrane
If one mixes different liquids, like in this case water with different salinities, they aim to equalize their
concentration. That way, the seawater would be thinned out and the drinking water would be enriched with
salts. The effect would be a less concentrated, homogeneous dissolution. Pouring sea- and fresh water in
equal amounts into a container where both liquids are separated by an adequate semi-permeable membrane,
there would be one side with seawater that is highly loaded with salts, on the other side more or less “clean”
water without or with little dissolved components.
The natural tendency of both liquids to equalize their salinity leads to the migration of water molecules from
the fresh water side towards the seawater side. As a result, the volume of water on the fresh water side
decreases while it increases on the seawater side. This process of osmosis takes place until the pressure on
the seawater side is in accordance with the osmotic pressure. Then it stops. In this case, the osmotic pressure
is around 30 bar.
The described process however is reversible by exposing the liquid on the seawater side to mechanical
pressure. At a pressure of 30 bar, the osmotic process cannot take place or would rather be reversed. When
pressure is increased beyond 30 bar, for instance 60 bar, water molecules from the seawater side migrate to
the fresh water side. All other components of the seawater dissolution are not able to pass the membrane. As
a result, the dissolution on the seawater side remains highly-concentrated while there is a gain of fresh water
on the other side of the membrane. This process is referred to as reverse osmosis (R.O.)
The seawater is delivered to the pressure pipe’s entry side of a RO-system by a high-pressure pump. The
osmotic membrane is located in the pressure pipe and is merely permeable for the vehicle “water “(solvent)
and detain the solute substances. When the pressure difference is more than leveling out the osmotic head,
the water molecules are able to pass the membrane that works like a filter, while the “unpurified” molecules
are detained. In opposite to a classic membrane-filter, osmosis membranes do not have continuous pores. In
fact, the ions and molecules are migrating through the membrane by diffusing through the membrane material.
Inside of the membrane, the permeate-tube is located which transports the fresh water through one of the two
end caps of the pressure pipe towards the fresh water tank. The excess seawater, now referred to as
concentrate (brine), is drained off overboard through the outlet of the pressure pipe by a pressure control valve.