A pump is a special device that, by imparting potential or kinetic energy to a liquid, moves it under pressure (suction or pumping).
The main parameters that are important for evaluating a pump:
- Q is the volume of liquid that the pump is capable of moving in a certain unit of time (volume flow);
- N is power consumption;
- H - efficiency (efficiency factor);
- p is the pressure that develops during work;
- H is the pressure that corresponds to a specific pressure.
In other words, a pump is a device that converts the energy created by a motor or human power into the energy of the flow of the fluid itself. It can also be used to move gas flows or mixtures, suspensions, colloidal substances. The driving force is the resulting pressure difference.
Classification of positive displacement pumps
Displacement pumps are also divided into groups according to their characteristics.
Pumps are classified according to:
- putting the pump into action;
- depending on the official purpose;
- type of action;
- piston designs;
- type of drive;
- cylinder location;
- the type of liquid being pumped;
- piston speed.
In industry, as well as in private households, submersible, semi-submersible and surface pumps are most widely used.
Important little things
Quite often, it is the most important details regarding the operating conditions of the equipment that are usually written in the instructions in the smallest print. And it is these little things that you should pay attention to when purchasing equipment and installing it.
As for both submerged and surface models, a check valve must be included in the general well layout scheme, which prevents the outflow of water from the pipeline. However, for submerged models, the malfunction of such an element or its absence when used with a rubber or plastic hose is not critical; during operation, water is still pushed out of the pump and then follows the hose. But for surface models, the presence of such equipment is extremely important; in addition, when periodically using a surface pump without a check valve at the end of the PVC pipe, you will have to constantly have 5-10 liters of water on hand to pour into the neck of the pump before each new start of the engine.
And of course, safety - submerged models have a high class of insulation, both of the cable and of the electrical equipment itself, which cannot be said about surface models with an open electric motor.
Selecting a water pump
For private use, consumers prefer to purchase small pumps or pumping stations that can provide their home and property with water as efficiently as possible.
The choice of pump should be based on a number of parameters, each of which has its own meaning.
- The depth of the well that the pump will encounter. Depending on the depth of the mine, as well as the distance of the housing from the source of liquid, the type of pump is selected, as well as its power.
- Water level. Can be static and dynamic. Static - the water level that is constantly in the source at a time when there is no pumping of water. Dynamic - corresponds to the distance from the surface of the water surface to the ground during active pump operation
Equipment overview
The main problem that needs to be solved when designing and installing an autonomous water supply system is lifting water from the source. For this, two main types of pumping equipment are used:
The differences between them are quite significant, so you need to choose in advance which design scheme you will implement. To make a choice, it is worth familiarizing yourself in general terms with the design and operating principle of both types of devices.
Submersible pumps
A submersible pump is a fairly simple, yet effective device. The main feature of its operation is that the device itself is located in the pumped medium:
- Submersible pump casings are usually made cylindrical. Pumps for wells can be quite wide, but when producing borehole pumps, the diameter of the casing is selected so that the device fits freely into the well.
- Inside the housing there are impellers, which ensure pumping of liquid. Water is drawn through special openings (they are often covered with mesh filters to protect against sand).
- The cable is responsible for providing power, and water is transported upward either through a flexible hose or through a rigid pipe. The entire structure is completed in a well or borehole on a strong cable (metal or nylon).
Thus, the use of a submersible pump allows you to lift water from a well or borehole to the surface. For further distribution of water (adjustment of pressure and pressure, supply to water supply circuits, etc.) other equipment must be included in the system:
- hydraulic accumulators;
- automation for turning the pump on and off;
- pressure gauges for recording pressure, etc.
Pumping stations
The pumping station is a full-featured alternative to a submersible pump. When purchasing and installing it, there is no need to purchase additional pumping and control equipment. Different models of pumping stations have different equipment, but a typical list of equipment includes:
- surface pump;
- hydraulic accumulator (membrane tank);
- control device (pressure gauge);
- Control block.
This system works simply:
- The pumping station is located outside the well - in a house, outbuilding or special pit (caisson).
- A hose with a filter is lowered into the well, cutting off sand and other large particles.
- When the pump is turned on, water flows through the hose into the hydraulic accumulator, from where it is taken to the points of consumption (taps, mixers, toilet flush tanks, etc.).
The main advantage of pumping stations is their autonomy. The system works “out of the box”, without additional devices: it is enough to simply install the station correctly and configure the automatic response to a certain level of pressure in the water supply circuits.
Submersible pumps
The submersible pump lowers itself below the level of the liquid it is pumping. This principle of operation ensures active cooling of the unit components, allows lifting liquids from great depths, and also pumping liquid with dissolved gas.
Installation is carried out in technological tanks, wells, boreholes.
Types of pumps:
- Rod In this type of pump, the motor is located on the surface of the liquid, and the connection is made through a rod (mechanical method).
- Rodless. They are a single unit with a hydraulic or electric motor. Power is supplied via a submersible power cable. Rodless pumps include well, borehole, drainage and sewage pumps.
An indicator of the quality and efficiency of a submersible pump is the duration of the period of stable operation with a high level of energy efficiency.
This parameter is called Pump Life Cycle Length (Pump LCL) in a Water Well. The length of the life cycle of a pump in a well affects the costs of repair and operation of the unit. Application of submersible pumps:
- irrigation systems;
- pumping liquefied hydrocarbon gases;
- oil production;
- mining of uranium, rare earth elements, gold;
- utilization of low potential geothermal energy;
- water supply and sewerage for industrial and municipal buildings, private houses;
- Pumps for pumping liquids from basements or swimming pools, private water supply.
When to choose a pumping station
Pumping station connection diagram
Service centers for repair and replacement of pumping equipment parts may not be available in all cities. This is an important point if, in addition, you buy a Chinese unit, which is highly likely to break down more often. The parts are cheap, but it is difficult to find them quickly. It is not always possible to wait until an order comes from the Internet, so it is better to buy a unit from a well-known manufacturer whose service center is in the city.
Submersible equipment is more complex. If you have to install it yourself, but do not have the necessary skills, it is better to choose a pumping station with a simplified connection method.
The cost of a pumping machine will be approximately 2–3 times cheaper than a submersible pump of the same power. Among similar units, you need to choose a manufacturer. Russian products are not much different from their Western counterparts, so it’s worth taking a closer look at them so as not to overpay.
It is worth considering the conditions under which the equipment will operate and how insulated the room is. Another nuance regarding the operation of the pumping station: you cannot put a hose on the suction, because it sticks together during operation, and in winter it can burst at low temperatures. Surface pumping equipment requires a plastic pipe so that the units operate without interruption.
Surface pumps
These pumps are used to increase the pressure in the home water supply system.
These units are mounted on the surface, without immersion in a source of liquid. Capable of pumping water from wells no more than 8 m deep. Advantages:
- ease of installation;
- small dimensions;
- possibility of easy installation without the involvement of specialists;
- stable operation in the presence of air pockets;
- high pressure water supply;
- high efficiency.
Flaws:
- high sensitivity to water purity;
- maximum working depth - approximately 9 m;
- using an ejector reduces system performance and reliability;
- high noise level;
- the need to fill the main with water.
Principle of operation
Operating principle: water is sucked in due to the fact that a vacuum is created at the end of the hose lowered into the water. The pressure difference arising in this case is equal to the atmospheric pressure (760 mm Hg).
The density of water is less than the density of mercury, making calculations it turns out that the working height of the pump pumping water will be 10.3 m. However, by introducing the length of the horizontal pipe into the calculations, the actual working height will be about 8 - 9 m.
When calculating the parameters for purchasing a pump, you need to take into account the distance of the source from the pump. The formula for calculations looks like this: Y = 4(8 - X).
Where:
- Y is the length of the horizontal part;
- X is the height of the liquid rise.
Surface pump design
Surface pumps are divided into groups, each of which uses different operating principles.
- Vortex. Compact and inexpensive units. Efficiency - about 45% (low). Used for irrigation or pumping water from basements. Reliability is not high; they are not recommended as a device for ensuring uninterrupted water supply.
- Centrifugal. Efficiency 92%. The pressure is high, which allows them to be used to supply water in pumping stations.
- Ejector. They work by applying the Bernoulli principle on two circuits: in the first circuit, liquid is supplied to the ejector nozzle, and due to the pressure difference, liquid is sucked from the external circuit. This principle allows you to lower the ejector to a depth and solve the issue of limiting the suction height. However, submersible devices are more often used to pump water from depth.
Selection by technical characteristics
All pumps have only two main parameters: performance and pressure. They are accepted when the task of choice is faced.
Productivity depends on how many people live in the house. After all, one person consumes up to 200 liters of water per day. For example, if there are 4 residents, then 200x4 = 800 l. Accordingly, the pump performance should not be less.
But this value does not take into account watering plants in the garden and vegetable garden of a summer cottage. Here you will have to add 3-4 liters per 1 m2 of watered area. True, everything will depend on the watering season. Therefore, experienced summer residents recommend installing two pumps in the well: one for domestic needs, the second for irrigation.
Now, as for the pressure. This parameter means that the well pump must pump water with a certain constant pressure, raising the liquid to a certain height. The latter depends on the depth of the hydraulic structure. In this case, it is necessary to take into account that the pressure (pressure) loss is in the following ratio: at 10 m of depth, the pressure drops by 1 m.
But that's not all. Part of the water supply is a horizontally laid pipe. So there is also a drop in pressure, but only slightly. The ratio per 10 m length is 0.2 m pressure. If the well is a short distance from the building, this indicator will not greatly affect the performance of the device. But if the distance is significant, then the pressure will drop significantly.
Semi-submersible pumps
A semi-submersible pump is a unit that can be used both in industry and at home.
The location of the working shaft determines their vertical design. The set of working elements for pumps of this type is not much different from others. There is an electric motor, a downpipe and a working element. The working body and the engine are spaced on opposite sides of a cylindrical body, which is partially immersed in liquid. This position ensures that the working element is in the liquid, and the electric motor is on the surface. The shaft is located inside the housing and transmits rotational motion to the working element from the electric motor. The output shaft and the working element are connected by a flexible coupling.
The working body can be a vortex or centrifugal wheel, a piston or an eccentric screw. The principle of operation of the pump - volumetric or dynamic - depends on what the working part of the device is.
Fastening is carried out using bolts with which the unit is screwed to the tank cover.
If small pumps are used, the mounting may be missing. Advantages:
- ability to work with liquids of varying degrees of contamination;
- the capability of the pump itself depends on the type of liquid;
- ease of operation.
Why Borey?
We produce industrial pumps of various capacities, which makes them accessible to both large and small companies.
Our equipment is fully adapted to work in Russian conditions.
We not only produce pumping units, but are also ready to offer spare parts and components for similar models. In addition, you can rent a motor pump if we are talking about single contract work. Our specialists are ready to select the necessary pump for any task of draining a site or draining groundwater.
Comparative characteristics
The table shows the comparative characteristics of submersible, semi-submersible and surface pumps.
| Submersible pump | Semi-submersible pump | Surface pump | |
| Reliability | Not tall. The motor as well as the mechanical seals experience chemical wear. As a result, liquid may enter the motor. | High. The motor, as well as the mechanical seals, do not come into contact with the liquid. There is no danger of liquid getting into the motor. | Average. It is necessary to check the motor and all components before starting the engine. |
| Maintainability | Low. In case of breakdowns, you must wait for special spare parts, since the design of the motor and seals are specific. Repair requires removing the pump from the liquid or container, which increases time costs. | High. In case of breakdowns, dismantling the device is not required. Domestic parts and mechanical seals are suitable for repairs. | High. In case of breakdowns, dismantling the device is not required. Domestic parts and mechanical seals are suitable for repairs. |
| Mobility | Possibility of quick movement, self-assembly, installation on almost any surface. | Fastenings for installation are required, as well as special lifting mechanisms, without which installation becomes much more complicated. | Easily mounted on a movable frame or light trolley. |
| Price | As a result of using a submersible pump motor, the cost is 1.5 to 3 times higher than other units. | Relatively low cost. | Relatively low cost. |
| Temperature of the pumped liquid | The engine is cooled, which limits the temperature to + 90 degrees. | The pump is capable of pumping liquid with temperatures above + 450 degrees. This is due to the fact that the engine is located outside the liquid. | The motor is not immersed in liquid, but the temperature of the pumped material is no more than 260 degrees. |
| Easy to install | High simplicity. Does not require special devices, you can install it yourself. | Average. Special mounting brackets are required. Work is underway to secure the pump to the tank cover with special bolts. | High simplicity. Does not require special devices, you can install it yourself. |
| Suction/immersion depth | Not limited | Up to 6 m. Longer pumps are made to order. | Up to 8 meters. If the length of the pipe in the horizontal part is long or the pump is far from the source, the length is reduced. |
| Created pressure | Up to 100 m - with a single-stage pump, up to 3,000 m - with a multi-stage pump. | Up to 160 m - single-stage, up to 2,000 m - multi-stage. | Up to 77 m maximum. |
| Pump delivery | No more than 7000 m3/h. | No more than 90,000 m3/h. | No more than 1200 m3/h. |
The difference between semi-submersible and submersible, as can be concluded, is not too big. The difference in the installation principle is significant in the case when it is necessary to pump liquid from a greater depth, which a semi-submersible pump cannot handle. And when choosing whether to purchase a surface or submersible pump, you need to take into account all the parameters of the liquid and the well.
How do the devices differ?
The distinctive features of pumping stations for a dacha or country house are their unique compactness, quick installation, as well as simple maintenance and an acceptable cost for all segments of the population. A supply of water accumulates in the hydraulic tank, which allows the product to be turned on and off less frequently, resulting in an increase in its service life.
The pump is installed inside a hydraulic structure under water, and the pumping station for the well is mounted in the basement of the house or in a specially built caisson, which is insulated during cold weather.
Attention! If the water intake level does not fall below 8 meters, then it is better to choose a pumping station.
Popular models of pumps of different types
Submersible pump models
Well pump from Aquario, model “Aquario ASP1С-70-90”.
The pump diameter is 90 mm, the maximum vertical operating pressure is 74 m. The operating power is 900 W. Productivity is 55 l/min. Cord length - 45 m.
Pump type: centrifugal.
Device: multistage pump, floating impellers, electric motor, capacitor. The capacitor is built-in, the motor type is washed.
Purpose: supplying water from a well, a well, an open reservoir.
It is used for watering garden plots and supplying water to the house. Characteristics:
- rotational movements reproduced by the pump provide high efficiency;
- noise level is low;
- the working system of the unit is durable, since there is no fragile and wear-out valve-piston ligament;
- do not have a harmful effect on the water supply system and well.
Main advantage: noiselessness. The installation of this pump provides high-speed water supply from great depths with a low noise level that does not disturb the residents of the house.
Fecal pump, model Oasis FS-110R with cutting mechanism.
Pump type - fecal. The maximum number of starts per hour is 20. Liquid lifting height is 11 m, voltage is 220 V, frequency is 50 Hz.
The electric motor is single-phase, with a squirrel-cage rotor, single-phase.
Power 1.1 kW, flow 24 m3/h.
The pump is equipped with a blade for grinding particles. The maximum diameter of passing particles is 50 mm. The diameter of the inlet pipe is 2".
The unit is effective for pumping heavily contaminated water containing large particles. A special cutting blade crushes elements that fall into the water.
Design: electric motor, pump part, housing, float switch.
Automatic shutdown of the pump motor is carried out using a stator with a thermal projector. Shutdown occurs when the temperature of the windings exceeds the permissible norm.
The pump is recommended for country houses and summer cottages.
Surface Pump Models
Surface pump manufactured by Unipump, model AUTO JS 60-5.
Maximum vertical head - 33 m, power - 450 W.
Capacity - 50 l/min.
A 5 liter hydraulic accumulator is available.
Maximum suction depth - 8 m.
Water temperature - from 1°C to 35°C, pumped liquid - only clean.
Vertical installation of a pump with a centrifugal mechanism.
A Chinese-made pump consists of an electric motor, a hydraulic accumulator, a pressure switch (automation unit), a pressure gauge, a cable with a plug and a hose.
The hydraulic accumulator is equipped with a membrane made of food grade rubber.
Operating principle: the water supply network is under pressure. As a result of a drop in pressure in the system after opening the tap, the system will automatically start the pump based on a signal from the pressure switch. After closing the tap, the pump continues to operate until pressure reaches 3 atm, after which the device turns off.
Before installing the pump, you must ensure the quality of the water. If the liquid is heavily contaminated, this model is not recommended for installation. Installation is permissible only after the use of treatment or filtration stations. Installation of the unit is carried out according to the operating instructions.
Pumping station from the surface company Khozyain, model Khozyain NS-1000.
The pump comes with a 1 year warranty.
Maximum immersion depth is 8 m.
The maximum vertical working head is 45 m at a power of 1000 W.
Productivity - 70 l/min.
The permissible maximum liquid temperature is from 1°C to 35°C.
The pump, equipped with a built-in ejector, must be installed horizontally.
The diameter of the outlet is 1″.
The presence of solid particles no more than 1 mm is allowed. The type of pumped water is clean.
The pump is used to pump clean water with a minimum amount of impurities.
The unit is intended for home use in water supply and irrigation systems. The total amount of mechanical impurities should not exceed 100 g/m3.
Features of choosing submersible models
High-performance pumps for deep-well installation are quite easy to select based on the basic technical parameters of the equipment. The dimensions of the pump must correspond to the dimensions of the casing pipe, so that the pump itself passes freely into the well and at the same time, a water jacket of 1-2 cm is formed around the circumference of the pump. Depth, unlike surface pumps, does not play such a critical role here, but even here it must be taken into account that the height of water rise indicated in the passport must have a certain reserve. Thus, when selecting equipment for a well 30 meters deep, it is reasonable to pay attention to the line of pumps designed for installation at a depth of 40 meters, while a simple calculation shows that a reserve of 10 meters of lifting height ensures water removal from the point of exit to the surface for another 80-90 meters which is quite enough to use a hose to water your garden plot.
When choosing a centrifugal submersible pump, you need to pay attention to such an indicator as electronic motor protection. The electronic protection unit provides emergency shutdown of the pump during a “dry” run, when there is no water in the well.
