Random Water Reticulation Question

[drew3]

Hi there,

Looking for some input on a water pipeline I have on the reserve I am working on. Very simply, the line runs from the pump to a header tank, but along that line there are one or two taps that pumps to small pans. Actually, I have several setups like this on the reserve. Currently, I have to wait for the header tanks to overflow (float switch not an option) before I use the taps to switch over to the pans, which need to be pumped daily.

I want to install a float valve on the header tank to stop water flowing in once it is full, but then what I would like is that the water continue pumping to the pans automatically once the float valve has closed off.

There is no option of installing an electronic pressure switch.

I considered replacing each of the taps that run to the pans with a non-return valve, but very little pressure is require to push these open, meaning I am basically creating expensive holes in my pipeline.

Is there some form of non-electronic pressure switch/valve that anyone knows of, or does anybody have any other ideas that would work.

Thanks in advance.

[Dowe Koos]

Hello Drew, hope this help.

What is the other guys said on this one.

[Rigger]

As drew said, the non return only needs a little amount of pressure to open. The restriction through a ball valve might be more than that to open a non return causing all the water running to the pan.

I would personally as in the drawing above install ball valves in the pans as well as the tank

[Dowe Koos]

By the why, Drew if the pump is still running after the tank and the pan is full, somewhere pressure is started to build up which mean you must switch of the pump. If you don't want this, see the attached picture of what you can do. By this method you don't need to switched of the pump every time when the tank and the pan is full.

forum2.png (11.06 KiB) Viewed 3091 times

[Dowe Koos]

Well Martiens, I have done this many time and had never had a problem with a little pressure on the non-return valve. You can get non-return valves with different pressure setting.

[Rigger]

Ok Hennie did not know about the different pressures. What you said then should work

[drew3]

Hello Drew, hope this help.

forum.png

What is the other guys said on this one.

Hi Dowe thanks for this. This is exactly what I had in mind but did not know you could get NR valves with greater pressure ratings. I will have to look around for them.

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[drew3]

Hello Drew, hope this help.

forum.png

What is the other guys said on this one.

Hi Dowe thanks for this. This is exactly what I had in mind but did not know you could get NR valves with greater pressure ratings. I will have to look around for them.

Sent from my SM-A300FU using Tapatalk

[drew3]

Hello Drew, hope this help.

forum.png

What is the other guys said on this one.

Hi Dowe thanks for this. This is exactly what I had in mind but did not know you could get NR valves with greater pressure ratings. I will have to look around for them.

Sent from my SM-A300FU using Tapatalk

[drew3]

By the why, Drew if the pump is still running after the tank and the pan is full, somewhere pressure is started to build up which mean you must switch of the pump. If you don't want this, see the attached picture of what you can do. By this method you don't need to switched of the pump every time when the tank and the pan is full.

forum2.png

Thanks again Dowe. The pans can't really over flow and the header tank is drained regularly enough that water will divert back there as soon as the float valve drops. If I can find a non return valve with a higher setting I will try that method first.

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[Dowe Koos]

Hi Drew, will check for you tomorrow what is there in the market and try to get for you some spec.

[Mud Dog]

I had posted earlier, but I see the post is not there .... maybe I didn't hit the 'submit' button.


Anyway, What might help is a larger, low-pressure ball valve at the header tank, but again a lot will depend on the head between the header tank and the pans.

What rate of flow and what kind of pressures are we talking about here?

Instead of N-R valves at the pans, you could use gate valves to create a restriction and shut these down so that you have a light flow at the header, but some flow at the pans as well. That way the header will fill slowly and once the ball valve shuts off the pans will still be getting water. This is what I would try first.

Another option, although perhaps pricey and impractical but that would work, is to eliminate the ball valve and run an overflow pipe from the header back to the pans. This would mean that you would always have to fill the header first before the pans got any water, so perhaps not ideal.

[FIRSTGEER]

I have installed the controls to a few of these systems for farmers over the years.The system is actually very simple.
The pump feeds a header tank or resevoir with tee pieces feeding water to the various water troughs along its route.
Each trough and the resevoir or header tank has a decent high pressure ball valve installed to the inlet.

I then install a current monitor relay to the pump control.When the pump is switched on,the water is pumped up the pipe,filling each of the troughs along the way,to eventually fill the header tank after each of the troughs has been filled and all the ball valves have shut off.

When the header tank eventually fills up , the ball valve shuts,this causes a change in the amperage draw on the pump.The current monitor relay senses this amperage change and switches off the pump.The setting up of the monitor is very simple but may take a few times of filling and draining some of the water to fine tune the system.

A pump motor protector relay,which basically does the same thing as the current monitor relay can also be used.
PM me and I will give the relevant info on the relays.

[FIRSTGEER]

I have failed to mention that this can only be utilised if an eletrical pump is used.I am not certain if you are using a engine powered pump.

[Dowe Koos]

Hallo Drew.
I want to make some corrections, there are different type of non-return valve whereby some will call it check valve. The NRV I refer to is spring loaded non-return valve, this the one I had used for what you want.

The adjustable NRV or check valve I'm talking about, see the links;
1
http://valve.co.za/brands/gate-globe-ch ... -pn160-640" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://valve.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2 ... 40-Ass.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
2
http://valve.co.za/brands/gate-globe-ch ... -pn160-640" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://valve.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2 ... 60-640.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://valve.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2 ... 40-Ass.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
3
http://valve.co.za/brands/gate-globe-ch ... -pn160-640" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://valve.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2 ... 60-640.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Hope this help.

By the way I had go to three place (normal pipe and valve suppliers for the public) and none of these had this in stock. Only people that can help you is those who specialized for industries.

[Mountain Man]

Hi there,

Looking for some input on a water pipeline I have on the reserve I am working on. Very simply, the line runs from the pump to a header tank, but along that line there are one or two taps that pumps to small pans. Actually, I have several setups like this on the reserve. Currently, I have to wait for the header tanks to overflow (float switch not an option) before I use the taps to switch over to the pans, which need to be pumped daily.

I want to install a float valve on the header tank to stop water flowing in once it is full, but then what I would like is that the water continue pumping to the pans automatically once the float valve has closed off.

There is no option of installing an electronic pressure switch.

I considered replacing each of the taps that run to the pans with a non-return valve, but very little pressure is require to push these open, meaning I am basically creating expensive holes in my pipeline.

Is there some form of non-electronic pressure switch/valve that anyone knows of, or does anybody have any other ideas that would work.

Thanks in advance.

Hi Drew,

What is the size of the mainline to the header tank?
What is the head from the pump to:
1. Pan No 1?
2. Pan No 2?
3. The header tank?
What pressure is the pump able to deliver?

You may be able to use a pressure relief valve at each pan but it depends on the head (height difference) between the pans and the header tank etc, hence the questions above. If this works you will need the following:

1 x Float Valve (Ball Valve, like in a toilet cistern, although you get bigger ones for this application)
2 x Pressure Relief Valves (plus the fittings to connect to the mainline)

The way this will work is that once the header tank is full, the pressure relief valves will open and dump water into the pans. Should the header tank level drop the pressure relief valves will close and the water will divert to the header tank until it is full. The pressure relief valves are adjustable which you will have to set up once installed. This is a simple procedure requiring a spanner and a bit of time. This is not an electronic system. Once setup, you will only have to control the pump operation, all the rest will happen automatically. This all depends on the Pressure/head variants.

[drew3]

Hi there,

Looking for some input on a water pipeline I have on the reserve I am working on. Very simply, the line runs from the pump to a header tank, but along that line there are one or two taps that pumps to small pans. Actually, I have several setups like this on the reserve. Currently, I have to wait for the header tanks to overflow (float switch not an option) before I use the taps to switch over to the pans, which need to be pumped daily.

I want to install a float valve on the header tank to stop water flowing in once it is full, but then what I would like is that the water continue pumping to the pans automatically once the float valve has closed off.

There is no option of installing an electronic pressure switch.

I considered replacing each of the taps that run to the pans with a non-return valve, but very little pressure is require to push these open, meaning I am basically creating expensive holes in my pipeline.

Is there some form of non-electronic pressure switch/valve that anyone knows of, or does anybody have any other ideas that would work.

Thanks in advance.

Hi Drew,

What is the size of the mainline to the header tank?
What is the head from the pump to:
1. Pan No 1?
2. Pan No 2?
3. The header tank?
What pressure is the pump able to deliver?

You may be able to use a pressure relief valve at each pan but it depends on the head (height difference) between the pans and the header tank etc, hence the questions above. If this works you will need the following:

1 x Float Valve (Ball Valve, like in a toilet cistern, although you get bigger ones for this application)
2 x Pressure Relief Valves (plus the fittings to connect to the mainline)

The way this will work is that once the header tank is full, the pressure relief valves will open and dump water into the pans. Should the header tank level drop the pressure relief valves will close and the water will divert to the header tank until it is full. The pressure relief valves are adjustable which you will have to set up once installed. This is a simple procedure requiring a spanner and a bit of time. This is not an electronic system. Once setup, you will only have to control the pump operation, all the rest will happen automatically. This all depends on the Pressure/head variants.

Hi Mountain Man.

Thanks for that. This does seem like the way I should go, but unfortunately I have no clue how to determine the head at the pan and at the header tank. Bit of a novice apparently. Any advice?

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[Tonto]

I think you need pressure sustaining valves and a level control valve. the success will depend on the volume pumped, pump character and topography.
you can plot the pipe line on Google earth and send to me.
Try to get details on the pump as well.

Regards

Andre