Types of hydraulic tanks for water separation by location and other parameters
We present this section in tabular form for ease of understanding:
| Separation | Designation | Peculiarities |
|---|---|---|
| Location type | Horizontal | The volume of such tanks is larger. The vertical arrangement allows the installation of an air bleed valve from above. This makes maintenance easier. The limitation in the installation is only the volume of the room. |
| vertical | Compact options, for air discharge in which a valve is installed. The disadvantage is that some models have to drain the water completely to release the air, which is not economical. | |
| Energy storage | Pneumoaccumulation | Membrane, balloon or piston. The problem arises when the partition is worn out - an expensive and labor-intensive repair is required. |
| balloon or pear | The most popular. When worn, the pear changes to a new one on its own, without the involvement of professionals. | |
| Mechanical storage | Cargo or spring. Work is based on kinetic energy. Quite voluminous, work autonomously. |
How to choose tank volume
You can choose the volume of the tank arbitrarily. There are no requirements or restrictions. The larger the tank, the more water you will have in case of a shutdown and the less often the pump will turn on.
When choosing a volume, it is worth remembering that the volume that is in the passport is the size of the entire container. Water in it will be almost half less. The second thing to keep in mind is the overall dimensions of the container. A 100 liter tank is a decent barrel - about 850 mm high and 450 mm in diameter. For her and the strapping, it will be necessary to find a place somewhere. Somewhere - this is in the room where the pipe comes from the pump. This is where most of the equipment is installed.
If you need at least some guidelines to choose the volume of the accumulator, calculate the average flow rate from each draw-off point (there are special tables or you can see it in the passport for household appliances). Sum all these data. Get the possible flow rate if all consumers work at the same time. Then estimate how many and which devices can work at the same time, calculate how much water will go in this case per minute. Most likely by this time you will already come to some kind of decision.
Selection of a hydraulic accumulator
The volume of the selected accumulator tank must be greater than or equal to the volume obtained as a result of the calculation. There are no negative consequences from overestimating the volume of the accumulator, in excess of the calculated value, no matter how much it is exceeded.
When choosing a hydraulic accumulator, one should take into account its temperature and strength characteristics. The maximum tank pressure must be greater than or equal to the maximum pressure at the connection point.
If the installation of hydraulic accumulators is provided for indoors, then it should be taken into account that tanks with a diameter of more than 750 mm and a height of more than 1.5 m may not pass through the doorway, and mechanization will be required to move them. In this case, it is better to give preference to not one, but several tanks of hydraulic accumulators of a smaller capacity.
When choosing a hydraulic accumulator, it should be remembered that the volume of water stored in it is on average 40-50% of the volume of the tank.
Tank volume is the main selection criterion
The most important question is how to choose the volume of the accumulator for water supply systems. To answer it, you need to bring together a lot of data. These are the performance of the pump, and the equipment of the house with water-consuming equipment, and the number of people permanently living in the house, and much more.
But first of all, you need to decide whether you need this reservoir only to stabilize the operation of the system as a whole, or whether there is a need for a supply of water in case of a power outage.
Internal cylinders of different volumes
If the house is small and equipped only with a washbasin, toilet, shower and watering tap, and you do not live in it permanently, you can not make complex calculations. It is enough to buy a tank with a volume of 24-50 liters, it will be enough for the system to work normally and be protected from water hammer.
In the case of a country house for permanent residence of a family, equipped with everything necessary for a comfortable life, it is advisable to approach the issue more responsibly. Here are a few ways to help you determine the size of your accumulator.
According to the characteristics of the pump
The parameters that affect the choice of tank volume are the performance and power of the pump, as well as the recommended number of on / off cycles.
- The higher the power of the unit, the larger the volume of the hydraulic tank should be.
- The powerful pump pumps water quickly and turns off quickly if the tank volume is small.
- Sufficient volume will reduce the number of intermittent starts, thereby extending the life of the motor.
To calculate, you will need to determine the approximate water consumption per hour. To do this, a table is compiled that lists all the devices that consume water, their number and consumption rates. For instance:
Table for determining the maximum water flow
Since it is almost impossible to use all devices at the same time, a correction factor of 0.5 is used to determine the real flow rate. As a result, we get that you spend an average of 75 liters of water per minute.
How to calculate the volume of a hydraulic accumulator for water supply, knowing this figure, pump performance and considering that it should turn on no more than 30 times per hour?
- Let's say the productivity is 80 l / min or 4800 l / h.
- And during peak hours you need 4500 l/h.
- With non-stop operation of the pump, its power is enough, but it is unlikely that it will work for a long time in such extreme conditions. And if it turns on more often than 20-30 times per hour, then its resource will run out even faster.
- Therefore, a hydraulic tank is needed, the volume of which will allow you to turn off the equipment and give it a break. At the indicated frequency of cycles, the water supply should be at least 70-80 liters. This will allow the pump to run for one minute out of every two, having pre-filled the reservoir.
According to the minimum recommended volume formula
To use this formula, you need to know the settings of the pressure switch that turns the pump on and off. The following picture will help you understand:
Changes in pressure in the accumulator when the pump is turned on and off
- 1 – initial pressure Pair (when the pump is off);
- 2 - water flow into the tank when the pump is turned on;
- 3 - reaching the maximum pressure Pmax and turning off the pump;
- 4 - water flow with the pump turned off. When the pressure reaches the minimum Pmin, the pump is switched on.
The formula looks like this:
- V = K x A x ((Pmax+1) x (Pmin +1)) / (Pmax - Pmin) x (Pair + 1), where
- A is the estimated water flow (l / min);
- K - correction factor from the table, determined depending on the pump power.
Table for determining the correction factor
The values of the minimum (starting) and maximum (switching off) pressure on the relay, you must set yourself, depending on what pressure you need in the system. It is determined by the farthest from the accumulator, and the highly located draw-off point.
Approximate ratios of pressure switch settings
To adjust the pressure switch, you need to know how to pump up the accumulator for water supply systems with air, or bleed the excess. This will require a car pump that connects to the tank through a spool.
Now we can calculate the volume. For example, let's take:
- A = 75 l/min;
- Pump power 1.5 kW, respectively K = 0.25;
- Pmax = 4.0 bar;
- Pmin = 2.5 bar;
- Pair = 2.3 bar.
We get V = 66.3 liters. The closest standard accumulators in terms of volume have a volume of 60 and 80 liters. We choose the one that is more.
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Principle of operation
The storage tank begins to accumulate excess heat in the upper part of the tank after the room is fully heated.As the accumulator cools, it gradually releases heat into the heating systems.
It depends on the capacity of the accumulator how many times a solid fuel boiler will be loaded during the day.
The operation of the storage tank is based on the use of high heat capacity of water, which, when cooled by 1 ° C, releases several times more heat to heat 1 m 2 of the room.
To calculate the volume of the storage tank, the ratio is used - 25 - 30 liters of capacity per 1 kW of solid fuel boiler power.
For example, for a 20 kW boiler, the volume of the tank will be from 500 to 600 liters.
Why do you need a hydraulic accumulator in the heating system, how to choose and configure
The hydraulic accumulator is an integral component for autonomous plumbing and heating systems.
Without this device, it is difficult to ensure an uninterrupted supply of fluid from wells and wells.
Therefore, these mechanisms are very popular among summer residents and owners of private houses, this unit often comes with a pump, but it can be bought and installed separately.
articles:
The installation is most often used for water supply needs.
But no less relevant is the use of a hydraulic accumulator for heating systems (how to expel an air lock).
This mechanism serves to take on an excess volume of liquid substance and, thereby, reduce excess pressure in the line, and, if necessary, return water back to the system to maintain the optimal pressure of the working medium.
In fact, there are three goals, and they are all interconnected:
- The ability to accumulate the volume of liquid necessary for the normal operation of the heating system.
- By accumulating water, requisition excess pressure.
- Suppression of water hammer in the heating system (how to bleed air through the Mayevsky tap is written here). It is for this reason that even the smallest fixtures have a rather large thread.
Thanks to the design capabilities of the accumulator (expansion tank), it is possible, in automatic mode, to normalize the pressure of the coolant in case of a change in temperature indicators.
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Role in the heating system
The main tasks of the accumulator:
- accumulation of “surpluses” of the coolant during its expansion;
- air removal;
- replenishment of the volume in case of possible leaks or a drop in the water level (antifreeze).
There are two types of tanks - open and closed. The second option is used in most modern heating systems. This is a fully sealed hydraulic accumulator with a membrane or pear (it is used in large tanks).
Hydraulic accumulators are installed only for heating with a circulation pump, since this system is characterized by a high working pressure.
Scheme of mounting a hydraulic accumulator to a submersible pump
The hydraulic tank connection diagram is similar to the previous one, the difference lies in the way the pump is installed.
The water supply system from the submersible pump uses a check valve that prevents water from escaping the membrane back into the hydraulic structure. The valve is mounted in front of the supply pipe on the pumping equipment; in some cases, an internal thread is made on the cover for this.
For connection, a fitting of the required diameter with an external thread is used. After installing the valve, a supply water pipe of the required length is supplied to it.
The length is determined quite simply: the end of the rope with the sinker is lowered into the hydraulic structure and the top point of the structure is marked.Next, the rope rises and the length is measured from the sinker to the top point. The height from the point to the place where the pipe from the hydraulic structure is laid into the ground is subtracted from the finished value, as well as the length of the pumping equipment with the valve. The optimal pipe length is when the equipment rises above the bottom of the well or well to a height of up to 35 cm.
Further, the installation and adjustment of the accumulator are carried out according to the standard scheme.
The device of hydraulic accumulators for water supply of private houses
This unit consists of two parts - the hydraulic tank itself and a membrane that divides its internal volume into 2 sections, one of which is filled with water and the other with air. Hydraulic tanks of 100 liters or more are equipped with a valve through which air accumulating in the water is vented. Smaller devices are equipped with a special valve or tap for this purpose.
The membrane for the accumulator is made of butyl - a special rubberized material that is resistant to bacterial attack and meets all the requirements of sanitary and epidemiological standards.
Sometimes the pear inside the tank bursts - in this case, replacement is required
What should be the pressure in the accumulator
Compressed air is in one part of the accumulator, water is pumped into the second. The air in the tank is under pressure - factory settings - 1.5 atm. This pressure does not depend on volume - and on a tank with a capacity of 24 liters and 150 liters it is the same. More or less may be the maximum allowable maximum pressure, but it does not depend on the volume, but on the membrane and is indicated in the technical specifications.
Pre-check and pressure correction
Before connecting the accumulator to the system, it is advisable to check the pressure in it. The settings of the pressure switch depend on this indicator, and during transportation and storage the pressure could drop, so control is very desirable. You can control the pressure in the gyro tank using a pressure gauge connected to a special inlet in the upper part of the tank (capacity of 100 liters or more) or installed in its lower part as one of the piping parts. Temporarily, for control, you can connect a car pressure gauge. His error is usually small and it is convenient for him to work. If this is not the case, you can use the regular one for water pipes, but they usually do not differ in accuracy.
If necessary, the pressure in the accumulator can be increased or decreased. To do this, there is a nipple at the top of the tank. A car or bicycle pump is connected through the nipple and, if necessary, the pressure is increased. If it needs to be bled off, the nipple valve is bent with some thin object, releasing air.
What air pressure should be
So the pressure in the accumulator should be the same? For the normal operation of household appliances, a pressure of 1.4-2.8 atm is required. To prevent the tank membrane from tearing, the pressure in the system should be slightly higher than the tank pressure - by 0.1-0.2 atm. If the pressure in the tank is 1.5 atm, then the pressure in the system should not be lower than 1.6 atm. This value is set on the water pressure switch, which is paired with a hydraulic accumulator. These are the optimal settings for a small one-story house.
If the house is two-story, you will have to increase the pressure. There is a formula for calculating the pressure in a hydraulic tank:
Vatm.=(Hmax+6)/10
Where Hmax is the height of the highest draw point. Most often it is a shower. You measure (calculate) at what height relative to the accumulator its watering can is, substitute it into the formula, you get the pressure that should be in the tank.
If the house has a jacuzzi, everything is more complicated. You will have to select empirically - by changing the relay settings and observing the operation of water points and household appliances. But at the same time, the working pressure should not exceed the maximum allowable for other household appliances and plumbing fixtures (indicated in the technical specifications).
What is a hydraulic accumulator
A hydraulic water tank is a special sealed device made of metal with an internal elastic membrane, designed to maintain a constantly stable pressure in the water supply.
In addition, the device is used to solve the following tasks:
- Protection of pumping equipment from wear.The pump will be switched on when the water tap is opened if the accumulator tank is completely empty. This will result in more unused pump starts and longer pump life.
- Maintaining constant pressure in the water supply system, preventing pressure drops and water hammer while using several points of water intake.
- Maintaining an optimal supply of liquid in the water supply system, which ensures the supply of water in conditions of frequent power outages.
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Installation of a heating accumulator
The expansion tank must only be installed in a heated room. If the weight of the accumulator exceeds 30 kilograms, then it is installed on a special stand. The location for the expander should be easily accessible for maintenance.
Heating and water supply systems
The insert is made into the pipes only on the return line. The insert is made between the final radiator, close to the boiler. A check valve and a pressure gauge are installed in front of the expansion tank to constantly measure the pressure in the system.
It is best to choose a model with a replaceable membrane, which is replaced in the event of a breakdown without much effort. If possible and desired, the accumulator can be installed without outside help, but if you are not sure or do not want to mess around for a long time, you can hire a specialist. However, in this case, you will not be able to save.
Heat accumulator in solar heating system
The need to improve the heating system of their own home forces owners to constantly search for useful ideas, additional devices that save fuel, evenly distribute heat inside the house, and increase the heat transfer of radiators.
The problem of uniform heat distribution is especially acute in houses with solid fuel boilers. In them, it is impossible to instantly stop the process of fuel combustion and the supply of heat to the pipeline of the system. If you turn off the supply tap, hot water, accumulating at the inlet, can reach the boiling point and damage part of the pipeline. You can distribute the number of kindlings over time. Such solutions are labor-intensive and ineffective. In this case, it is advisable to use a heat accumulator, which will ensure uniform distribution of heat throughout the house and eliminate temperature fluctuations.
In houses where a heat accumulator is built in, heat losses are significantly reduced.
A hydraulic accumulator is a container that accumulates heat produced by a solid fuel boiler, keeping it for a long time. The device works on the principle of a thermos.
The storage tank consists of the following components:
- Container made of steel or stainless steel, large size (rectangular or round);
- Four nozzles inside the tank, spaced apart in height. One is the outlet from the heater to the tank, and the other is the inlet of the heating system, the same at the bottom;
- A safety valve is built into the accumulator at the top;
- Outside, the container is insulated with a thick layer of insulating material.
The buffer tank accumulates the heated coolant inside, maintains heat in the house for up to two days after the heating system is turned off.
When installing a hydraulic accumulator, it is necessary to arrange a piping circuit between it and the boiler, including:
- Circulation pump;
- Thermal mixing valve;
- Expansion tank.
The storage tank must be thermally insulated, otherwise the heat generated will heat the room where the accumulator is located.
The storage tank works like this:
- From a solid fuel boiler, heated water enters the upper pipe;
- The circulation pump, while working, expels cold water from the bottom of the heat accumulator into the solid fuel boiler until the entire tank is filled with hot water;
- The next step is to supply hot water from the battery tank to the heating system. With the help of a circulation pump from the heating system, the cooled water is distilled into the tank, and from the tank into the system.
How to connect
The tank has two technical openings: a branch pipe for connecting to the system and an opening on the opposite side, equipped with a valve to relieve excess pressure in the gas (air) chamber.
At the initial stage of installation, it is necessary to choose the right place for installation. It is recommended to embed the hydraulic accumulator on the water return pipe between the last battery and the heating boiler. Moreover, the closer the tank is to the boiler, the better it is for the stable operation of the system - there will be no sudden pressure drops.
A check valve and a pressure gauge must be placed in front of the tank to control pressure indicators. The task of the valve is the same as that of the accumulator. This unit compensates for pressure surges, but it is designed for a large load.
It is important that the tank is provided free access to in some cases, the owners will have to independently adjust the air chamber valve. It is forbidden to place shut-off valves on the section of the line between the hydraulic accumulator and the circulation pump! Reinforcement will violate the parameters of hydraulic resistance
It is forbidden to place shut-off valves on the section of the line between the hydraulic accumulator and the circulation pump! The armature will violate the hydraulic resistance parameters.
Calculation of the accumulator
In water supply systems, with the help of a hydraulic accumulator, a lot of problems are solved, and the calculation for each of the cases is performed using various methods. The above algorithm for calculating a hydraulic accumulator allows you to select tanks for solving the two most popular problems and determines the initial pressure of the gas space, the pressure on and off the pump.
The first option for calculating the accumulator is with the priority of the frequency of switching on the pump. In systems with booster stations, downhole and booster pumps, a hydraulic accumulator tank is necessary to reduce the frequency of pump activation.
Water is an incompressible liquid, so even a short-term opening of one tap in an apartment building can cause the pump to turn on. Frequent switching on of the pump leads to its rapid wear and failure.
The switching frequency is related to the electric power of the pump, so, for example, it is recommended to turn on pumps with a power of more than 8 kW no more than 10 times per hour, pumps with a power of less than 5 kW - no more than 20 times per hour, and pumps whose power falls in the range from 5 to 10 kW no more than 15 times per hour. This dependence underlies the above calculation algorithm.
In addition to the pump power, many other factors affect the permissible switching frequency, for example, the greater the mass of moving parts, the lower the permissible switching frequency.
Therefore, pay attention to the correspondence between the switching frequency values obtained as a result of the selection of the hydraulic accumulator and the optimal frequency for the previously selected pump, and if necessary, repeat the calculation of the tank
The second option for calculating the accumulator is with the priority of the stored volume of water. Recommended for systems where interruption of water supply is not allowed, but there are interruptions in the supply of electricity or water from centralized water supply systems.
Conclusions and useful video on the topic
In this video, the principle of operation of the hydraulic accumulator is discussed in detail:
To calculate the volume of the accumulator, you can use special calculator programs. One of these options is presented in the following video:
Replacing the hydraulic tank membrane is not a very complicated process. It's covered in detail in this video:
A hydraulic accumulator is an important part of a modern autonomous water supply system.Of course, this device is more complicated and more expensive than a conventional storage tank.
But all costs are fully paid off, because in the presence of a hydraulic tank, the quality of tap water is better, and the service life of pumping equipment increases significantly. Finally, it is simply convenient, because there is always a stable water pressure in the water supply system, which is taken care of by reliable automation.
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