Believe me, a private house can be equipped with such a high level of comfort that living in it will become much more convenient than in a city apartment. In any case, the water supply can be used with no less convenience. In the same way, to get water, you just need to open the tap, which is not yet very compatible with the suburban infrastructure, agree?
But this is not a "rainbow" dream. To implement the idea, it is enough to include a pumping station in the water supply scheme. She will redo the enormous amount of hard physical work for the owners. True, for its proper connection and operation it is necessary to know the equipment device well.
We offer you valuable information on the specifics of using the aforementioned equipment. Our article will help to understand the principle of the pumping station and introduce the installation rules. The information we presented is supplemented by extremely clear diagrams, photo selections and video guides.
Water supply station device
To organize water supply in a private house, shops offer pumping stations in the form of a compact unit from a hydraulic tank, an automation unit and an electric pump. It is also possible to assemble a similar water supply unit from individual parts and equipment.
Both options are acceptable, but it is better to choose a ready-made kit with a manufacturer's warranty. This will cost less and more practical with further maintenance.
The main working components
According to the device, the water supply pump station assembled at the factory differs from the surface pump by the presence of a pressure control system.
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Standard pump station
Production of pumping water from the Abyssinian well
Operation of a pumping station in a well circuit
Pump station in the scheme of water intake from a reservoir
Pumping station in transportation
Standard Accessories
Submersible pump system
Hydraulic tank and automation systems in the caisson
The composition includes the following functional components:
- Surface electric pump.
- Hydraulic accumulator with a nipple and an internal rubber “bulb”.
- Pressure gauge.
- Pressure switch.
- Connecting fittings.
For water intake, a suction pipe with a check valve and a strainer is connected to it. And the main line is transported to the outlet of the installation, transporting the pumped liquid to the points of consumption. Moreover, if the station has a built-in filter and valve, then the suction hose can not be supplemented with them.
The pump station is a complex of equipment, including a hydraulic tank, pressure switch, pressure gauge and directly surface electric pump. If there is a possibility of the unit operating in a “dry running” state, it is recommended to buy automatic pumps equipped with a flow controller and an automation unit (+)
A hydraulic membrane tank, coupled with a centrifugal pump, is able to maintain a pressure of 1.5 atmospheres in the cottage's water supply. This is quite enough for the stable operation of all household appliances, which are installed in private homes. Moreover, most of the models of hydraulic accumulators are designed for 4.5 atmospheres of the maximum possible pressure, which is more than enough even for a cottage of two or three floors.
The automatic station is compact and does not require heavy concreting of the site under the equipment. Its largest element is a water storage tank. However, its installation requires a separate room due to the hum created during operation. Most often, the entire installation is mounted on the ground floor or in the basement, where it is most convenient to operate and maintain it.
The larger the capacity of the accumulator tank, the less often the pump engine will have to turn on and less wear (+)
A somewhat expensive, but quite reasonable solution for placing equipment may be a caisson, in which both the entire complex of units and a pump with automatic equipment without a hydraulic tank installed in the house can be located. The budget option for the location of the station in the country involves the construction of a separate pavilion that protects the unit from atmospheric negative.
Work and features of the control unit
The task of the control pumping station of automation includes monitoring the pressure in the system and turning on / off the hydraulic pump engine as necessary. For this, the control unit includes a pressure gauge and a relay. The first controls the current pressure, and the second controls the pump.
The main elements of the relay are two springs. The large one is configured to close the circuit at the lowest pressure in the membrane tank when there is little water in it. A smaller one controls the maximum pressure, breaking the circuit when the latter is reached.
The pressure switch automatically starts the station pump when the pressure drops to 1.4 bar, for example, and turns off when the maximum value specified by the manufacturer is reached. It is undesirable to change the factory settings of the relay, as they are designed for shutoff valves
When buying a pumping station to work in circuits with the probability of short-term operation without water, you must pay attention to the presence of a flow controller device.
It is designed to protect the engine from overheating in the absence of water in the intake. In such units, the control unit is not oriented to pressure limits, but to lower flow.
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Pressure switch in the pump station
Appearance of the control device
The specifics of using control units
Features of the automation unit
The article proposed by us will help you figure out how to correctly choose a pump station for arranging a summer cottage. In addition to valuable recommendations to equipment buyers, it provides a rating of the best deals in the domestic market.
The interaction of the pump with a hydraulic accumulator
The capacity of the membrane tank is selected taking into account the volume of water consumption. A couple of 25–40 liters is quite enough for a married couple, and for a family of several people you will have to select a device from 100 liters.
Tanks less than 15 liters are recommended to be bought only for seasonal use in the country. Due to the constant pumping of water, the membrane in them wears out quickly.
In the initial state, air is pumped into the hydraulic tank through a nipple (air valve), which creates a pressure of 1.5 atm. During operation, water is squeezed into the membrane under pressure, compressing the air “reserve”. When the tap is open, compressed air pushes water
It is believed that the larger the capacity, the longer the pumping equipment will last, because the number of on / off cycles will decrease. However, a large capacity tank costs a lot.
According to the rules, the hydraulic tank is selected on the basis of calculations based on the on and off pressure values indicated by the manufacturer, the actual water flow when the water intake points are turned on at the same time.
The fluid reserve in the hydraulic tank is usually about one third of the total capacity. All the remaining space is given under compressed air, which is needed to maintain a constant pressure of water in the pipes.
If a hydraulic accumulator is built into the water supply system to minimize the risks associated with hydraulic reservoirs, then the tank can be selected in a small size. In this case, it is not the volume of the container that matters, but the presence of the membrane and the air behind it. It is they, in which case they will take the brunt, smoothing out its consequences.
The pump capacity should correspond to the volume of the membrane tank (for a capacity of 20–25 l it is recommended to take a hydraulic pump of 1.5 m3 / h, for 50 liters - 2.5 m3 / h, and for a tank of 100 l - at least 5 m3 / h)
The automatic pump station operates in two cycles:
- First, water is pumped into the hydraulic accumulator by a pump from the water intake, creating excessive air pressure in it.
- When the tap is opened in the house, the membrane tank is empty, after which the automation starts up the pumping equipment again.
The accumulator device for a water supply pumping station is extremely simple. It consists of a metal case and a sealed membrane that divides the entire space inside into two parts. In the first of them is air, and in the second, water is pumped.
The pump pumps liquid into the diaphragm tank only when the pressure in the system drops to around 1.5 atm, and when the specified maximum pressure is reached, the station shuts down (+)
After filling the accumulator, the relay switches off the pump. Opening the faucet in the washbasin leads to the fact that water squeezed out by pressing air on the membrane begins to flow gradually into the water supply system. At some point, the tank is emptied to such an extent that the pressure weakens. After that, the pump turns on again, starting the cycle of the pumping station for a new one.
With an empty tank, the membrane membrane is crushed and pressed against the inlet flange. After turning on the hydraulic pump, the membrane is expanded with water pressure, compressing the air part and increasing the pressure in it already of air. It is this gas-liquid interaction through a changing barrier that lies in the principle of operation of the membrane tank of the pumping station.
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Accumulator dimensions for an autonomous system
A hydraulic tank in the supply of a small house or cottage
Horizontal accumulators
Hydraulic tank for a water pump with a deep pump
Equipment Selection Criteria
Factory-assembled pumping stations come with a surface hydraulic pump, often with an internal or external ejector. However, hydraulic accumulators can also be used with submersible pumping equipment, but they are assigned a slightly different technical term “pumping system”.
When working in tandem with a station, diaphragm tanks may be smaller than hydraulic tanks for systems with submersible pumps. This is due to the fact that for submersible pumping units, the number of on / off permissible per hour is less than for surface pumping machines.
Pumping stations fully prepared for work at the manufacturer need only be connected to the corresponding pipelines and power supply (+)
Surface pumps having an internal ejector have severe limitations on the depth of intake. They are able to raise water only from 7-8 meters. However, they give out powerful water pressure at the outlet with a column of water of 40-60 meters (4-6 bar).
The internal ejector is not afraid of air jams. They first pump air without any negative consequences for themselves, and then they begin to pump water from the well into the system.
The main disadvantage of stations with an internal ejector is the high noise level during operation. If these models of pumping equipment for autonomous water supply are planned for installation in an honest house, then it is recommended to do this only in the utility rooms with good sound insulation.
Using a remote ejector allows you to take water from depths up to 50 meters. These pumps are more economical, but have low efficiency (no more than 40%). But they emit much less noise than analogues with a built-in ejector.
The choice of the type of pumping unit for the station depends on the quality characteristics of the medium planned for pumping:
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Vortex Pump Station
Station self-priming pump
Centrifugal unit in pumping water
Station multi-stage pump
Locating a Water Station
Choosing a location for the pumping station, it is necessary to focus on the characteristics of the hydraulic pump. Every ten meters of a horizontal pipe between the water source and the pump reduces its suction capacity by 1 m.
If they are supposed to be spaced at a distance of more than ten meters, then the model of the pumping unit must be selected with an increased suction depth.
The automatic station of the autonomous water supply system can be located:
- on the street in a caisson near the well;
- in an insulated pavilion built specifically for pumping equipment;
- in the basement of the house.
The stationary outdoor option provides for equipping the caisson and laying a pressure pipe from it to the cottage below the level of freezing of the soil. When installing a year-round operated pipeline, laying it below the depth of seasonal freezing is required.
When installing temporary summer highways for the period of residence in the country, the pipeline does not bury below 40-60 cm or is laid on the surface.
A warm, ventilated basement with sound insulation is an ideal place for the installation of a pumping station, where it and water pipes will not freeze in winter (+)
If you install the station in a basement or basement, you do not have to fear the pump freezing in winter. It is only necessary to lay the suction pipe below the freezing boundary of the soil so that it does not freeze into severe cold.
Often a well is drilled directly in the house, then the length of the pipeline is significantly reduced. But not in every cottage such drilling is possible.
Installation of water supply pumping stations in a separate building is possible only if the equipment is operated in a period of positive temperatures. However, for areas with very low winter temperatures, such an option, designed to function year-round, it is necessary to insulate or arrange a heating system. It is better to immediately install a pump station directly in a heated house.
When choosing a location for the location of the water supply station, it is necessary to take into account the temperature limits indicated in its passport by the manufacturer:
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In open areas, pumping stations can only be operated with positive thermometer readings not exceeding + 40 - 45º С
To pump water from shallow wells, wells, open reservoirs, compact pumping stations are installed temporarily, and after work are transferred to an enclosed space
To place the station outside the house during the working season, you can use the indoor unheated pavilion, a change house, a barn, a well house and similar structures
The stationary installation of the pumping station within the house is preferably carried out in the boiler room, as during operation, the equipment is noisy
It is forbidden to install the pump station in rooms that can be flooded with flood waters in spring or autumn
With a low occurrence of groundwater and the lack of probability of floods, the pumping station can be installed in a well-equipped caisson
It is not permissible to use pits not buried below the freezing level of rocks all year round. This option is equivalent to a street location.
At the end of the working season, water from a station located in a shallow pit should be completely drained. It is also necessary to drain it from the suction and water supply pipes
Period for the operation of the pumping station
Summer pumping from shallow water sources
Installation of a pumping station in a well house
Stationary installation of equipment in a boiler house
Unsuitable locations for station installation
Using a caisson to operate a pumping station
Using pits for pumping units
Temporary station placement in a buried box
Accumulator Pressure Parameters
For proper operation of household plumbing devices in the cottage water supply, it is necessary to maintain a pressure of 1.4–2.6 atmospheres. To prevent the accumulator membrane from wearing out too quickly, manufacturers recommend setting a pressure 0.2-0.3 atm higher than the water supply.
The pressure in the water supply of a one-story house is usually 1.5 atm. This figure should be based on when adjusting the hydraulic tank. But for larger residential buildings, the pressure must be increased so that the water is in all the taps farthest from the riser. Here we need more complex hydraulic calculations, taking into account the length and configuration of the pipelines, as well as the number and type of plumbing devices.
It is possible to simplify the calculation of the required pressure for a house water supply using the formula:
(H + 6) / 10,
where "H" is the height from the pump to the highest point of water supply to the plumbing on the top floor of the house.
However, if the calculated pressure indicator in the autonomous water supply system exceeds the permissible characteristics of the existing plumbing and household devices, then when this pressure is set, these will fail. In this case, it is necessary to select another scheme for the layout of water pipes.
The pressure in the air part of the accumulator is regulated through the spool by bleeding off excess air or pumping it with an automobile pump
Possible problems with the installation
If the pump switches on too often and immediately turns off, you must immediately check the air pressure in the accumulator. With low indicators, it will be necessary to pump it up. But to fix the problem in this way will only work if the membrane and the tank body are not damaged. Only an appeal to a service center to repairmen will help here.
The nipple for pumping air is most often located on the back of the tank from the water inlet, but side options are also possible
If water droplets appear on the nipple of the air valve, the accumulator must be immediately disconnected from the water supply system. This is a direct sign of membrane damage. One cannot do without its replacement in a similar situation. Air should not enter the water supply system of a private house through a membrane tank.
If the pump does not want to turn on at all, then it is worth looking at the pressure switch adjustment. There are times when it is set to too high a pressure. But it is also possible with air entering the suction hose, which leads to the protection against dry running.
Advantages of the pumping unit with a hydraulic tank
The pump unit is an integral part of an autonomous water supply system. It provides water from a well or a well, the water distribution of which is further down the cottage due to the operation of the pump itself, the use of a water tank or the use of a hydraulic accumulator.
Hydropneumatic water-lifting installation and water-pressure tank are designed to maintain constant pressure in the intra-house water supply system
Using only one pump when distributing water to a cottage is fraught with many problems. With this arrangement of autonomous water supply, pumping equipment is forced to constantly turn on / off, because of which its service life is drastically reduced. And in a situation with a power outage, the house is completely left without water.
To reduce pump wear and protect the house in case of accidents on electrical networks, an additional drive is included in the water supply system of the house. This can be a water tank in the attic, from which water flows to plumbing fixtures by gravity, or a pressure accumulator that supports the pressure in the network artificially (it is also a membrane tank or a hydraulic tank).
In both cases, the pump is turned on to form a supply of water in the tank. Only in the second case, the reserve is created automatically by the pressure control system. At the same time, the storage tank allows you to create a reserve of water in case of a power outage, and a system with a hydraulic tank without electricity will not work at all.
However, the drive in the filled state is notable for its considerable weight, and when installed within the attic, it requires strengthening of the ceiling and thermal insulation.
The option with a membrane tank is more convenient and practical. The principle of operation of a water supply system with such a pumping station is based on the artificial maintenance of water pressure in pipes. The pump itself, pumping water from the intake, is turned on only to fill the tank. Further, its supply to the system is carried out using compressed air.
The hydraulic pump installed in the basement of the pumping station works for suction, which allows it to be used only with shallow aquifers or with wells with natural water back pressure
Unlike the expansion tank version, the hydropneumatic installation is more compact. Plus, the use of a membrane-type hydraulic accumulator guarantees the absence of water hammers in the network and a constant pressure in the water pipes, and also simplifies the maintenance of the water supply system of consumers in a private house.
The only drawback of pumping stations with a hydraulic accumulator is their volatility. The water storage tank often has a small size of 25–50 liters. The pump has to be turned on often to fill it, and when the light is turned off, the reserve of water is not enough for too long. In order to exclude such situations, it is advisable to stock up on an autonomous generator.
Clip # 1. From what depths can pumping equipment lift water:
Clip # 2. How to assemble a pump station yourself from a household centrifugal pump:
Clip # 3. All about the principle of operation of the accumulator, which is part of the pumping station:
Automatic autonomous water supply systems make it possible, when living in a country house, not to bother carrying water in buckets. Thanks to their simple design, pumping stations are easy to install and maintain.
Almost anyone can handle their installation. Fortunately, there are many configurations of pumping equipment of various types with hydraulic accumulators; for each cottage you can choose the best solution.
Do you want to share your own experience in using a pumping station, have questions or find flaws in the article? Please write comments in the block below.