Clark Pump 0.8T

Common issues

• Clark Pump piston seal wear from sand or grit ingress, causing pressure loss and reduced output
• Prefilter/strainer clogging causing cavitation or reduced flow to the high-pressure pump
• RO membrane fouling or scaling from insufficient flushing after use
• Loss of pickling before layup leading to bacterial growth or membrane damage
• Boost/feed pump wear or air lock reducing feed pressure
• Pressure gauge or flow meter drift making output hard to verify against spec

Inspection checklist

• Check product water salinity/TDS against the rated output spec at every start-up
• Inspect prefilter cartridges and replace according to fouling condition
• Check the Clark Pump for unusual noise or vibration indicating seal or valve wear
• Verify system pressure at rated flow against commissioning baseline
• Inspect hose and fitting connections for weeping or salt crust as an early leak sign
• Confirm the fresh-water flush is completed after every use per maker's procedure
• Check pickling solution condition if the system is in layup

Service intervals

Critical spares

• Clark Pump seal/piston kit
• Prefilter cartridges (sediment/carbon as fitted)
• High-pressure hose set
• RO membrane element

Safety

• High-pressure water circuit - depressurise before disconnecting fittings
• Chemical cleaning/pickling solutions require ventilation and appropriate PPE
• Boost pump and controller electrical connections are typically located near bilge/wet areas - inspect for water ingress before energising

Class survey

Small-capacity RO watermakers of this type are not normally subject to classification society survey unless installed on a classed vessel as an essential fresh-water source; where classed, verify against the vessel's approved potable water system requirements.

Estimated lifetime: With regular flushing and correct pickling during layup, the Clark Pump energy-recovery unit and membrane on a small watermaker of this class commonly remain serviceable for several thousand hours between major seal kit renewals; membrane life depends heavily on feed water quality and flushing discipline rather than a fixed hour figure