Features of the choice of elements of water supply systems: pumps, membrane tanks, pipes, collectors

The water supply system consists of many elements and structures, interconnected. The quality of customer service directly depends on the choice of the source, water lines, accumulator, filters. How to choose a pump, expansion tank and pipes for water supply and what characteristics should you pay special attention to?

The main elements of the water supply system

In order to extract water, process it and supply it to the consumer, the water supply system must consist of the following elements:

• Water intake unit. Here water of technical quality is obtained from natural sources;
• Pumping station (more often two) serve to deliver water to the treatment plant (HC-1) and further to the consumer (HC-2);
• Wastewater treatment plant... This is a complex of tanks for water sedimentation, clarifiers, filters;
• Plumbingthrough which the resource is transported;
• Stock storage tanks and creating a pressure of water.

The characteristics of the elements largely depend on the choice of the source of water supply, the properties of the water, as well as the distance of consumers from it.

Selecting a pumping station

The technical characteristics of the pump for water supply are selected depending on the depth of water rise and the required amount of resource. Self-priming pumps work well at a resource depth of no more than 7 meters.

Self-priming pumps may have an ejector in the design. Such models move liquid using the vacuum method. They work loudly, so not the best pump choice for water supply to small backyards. Pumps without an ejector run very quietly because they are based on hydraulic mechanisms.

If water for water supply needs to be raised to a height of more than 8 meters, choose submersible or well pumps. Deep - for artesian wells, are widely used in large water supply systems. They are quite expensive, but very reliable and powerful. Their engine is cooled by a stream of water supplied to the plumbing. Therefore, for borehole pumps there is a minimum allowed flow rate. Choosing a submersible pump, you can take a diameter slightly smaller than that of the water supply source.

Well pumps equipped with a motor cooling shell, so their diameter is larger. Such devices are used in artesian vessels of large diameter or in wells.

The most important characteristic of the pump is the volume of supplied water, measured in cubic meters per hour. Household models produce up to 8 cubic meters of water per hour with a pressure of no more than 60 mm.

An approximate calculation of the characteristics of a submersible pump:

Нт = Рв + Рз + Дн + 20%,

here: Рв - the distance from water to the surface of the earth when the pump is running; Рз - distance from the highest water level to the soil surface; Дн - the pressure required for the required pressure in the water supply system (usually less than 3 atm); 20% - correction for pressure losses in water lines.

The final figure is influenced by the length and what size of the pipe is chosen for water supply. The above calculation will be sufficient if the pump is purchased for a private house.

Tank selection

The self-priming pump works in tandem with a reservoir, which can be:

• membrane (hydroaccumulator);
• cumulative.

If you choose a hydraulic accumulator in combination with a pressure switch, you get a full-fledged pumping station for the water supply system. The expansion tank is made of metal, it is sealed and is internally divided into two parts by a membrane.Air is pumped into one of the halves under pressure, and water is supplied to the other. The volume of water injected depends on how much the pressure rises in the second part of the expansion tank. The pump stops as soon as the relay detects the maximum possible pressure. Such a system is very economical and is widely used for water supply of small objects. Before choosing a hydraulic accumulator for a water supply system, you need to decide on its volume. Advantages of choosing an expansion tank for water supply:

• pressure is always maintained in the system;
• the pump starts up less often;
• during interruptions in light, water is supplied from the tank;
• the tank is located where it is convenient for the owners.

Storage expansion tanks are chosen for large water supply systems. The water level in the tank is monitored by a sensor, stopping and starting the pump.

To ensure sufficient water pressure, an additional pump must be installed after the storage tank, otherwise the water will flow by gravity. In this case, special attention is paid to pipe routing.

Choice of pipes

The choice of pipes for water supply, depending on the material, is quite wide:

• steel;
• copper;
• plastic;
• metal-plastic;
• polypropylene.

How to choose water pipes suitable for a specific facility? The size of the diameter of pipes for water supply is indicated in the project, which greatly facilitates their selection.

When the question: what size of pipes for water supply to choose has been resolved, we proceed to consider the basic properties of pipes made of various materials.

Table 1. Characteristics of water pipes made of various materials

Steel water pipes were recently the only choice for water supply. Today, pipes for water supply from a material such as steel are chosen less and less. Along with the indisputable advantages, they also have many disadvantages.

Benefits:

• durable;
• inexpensive;
• withstand high pressure and temperature;
• do not deform when heated.

Disadvantages:

• installation is complicated, welding and threading is required;
• tough;
• rust. If there is no water in steel pipes, they rapidly rust. But corrosion gradually corrodes water-filled lines;
• conduct electricity;
• give the water a metallic taste.

Copper pipes as a choice for water supply - just great.

Benefits:

• withstand high temperatures and pressure;
• have bactericidal qualities;
• resistant to corrosion;
• very durable.

Disadvantages:

• roads;
• complex installation;
• unstable to stray currents;
• on contact with certain elements forms toxic substances.

Plastic pipes (PVC) the most budgetary choice of pipes for water supply, since they have no other advantages. Over time, they begin to emit harmful substances, burn very easily, and are short-lived.

Reinforced-plastic pipes in water supply they are used everywhere.

Benefits:

• do not rust;
• easy to assemble;
• do not deform at high temperatures;
• do not accumulate salt and dirt on the walls.

Disadvantages:

• a lot of not always tight connections on fittings;
• withstand temperatures up to +90 degrees.

Polypropylene pipes the best choice for water supply. They have excellent performance and reasonable price. Advantages of choosing polypropylene pipes for water supply:

• resistant to moisture, chemical elements and electricity;
• withstand temperatures up to +150 degrees;
• the walls are not covered with deposits;
• create a sealed system;
• withstand operation for about 50 years;
• poorly conduct temperature.

Disadvantages of choosing water supply polypropylene pipes:

• special soldering equipment is required for installation and repair;
• they expand markedly under high temperatures.

XLPE pipes a novelty in the market of plumbing fixtures. The fundamental difference from the rest is mechanical memory at the molecular level, the ability to restore shape at high temperatures.

Benefits:

• durable and reliable;
• do not accumulate deposits on the walls;
• when fastening, rubber pads are not used;
• withstand up to +95 degrees and 10 atm.

Disadvantages:

• installation requires special tools;
• some models expand strongly when heated;
• under the influence of ultraviolet radiation they are destroyed;
• roads.

Collector selection

The water supply manifold is selected for the convenience of wiring the internal water supply. The choice of a collector for water supply depends on price preferences, the material of the water lines and the coverage of the network. First, you need to calculate how many hot and cold water points will be in the apartment (house). Disassembly points include all plumbing devices that consume water. Before buying a collector, you should decide on the diameter of the conduits and fasteners.

It is preferable to choose a water supply manifold with taps, this will save installation time. At the same time, the service life of the crane is up to 20 years. Therefore, if one of the cranes breaks down, you will have to change the entire manifold.

If the number of consumption points is large, several collectors must be connected together. It is advisable to purchase a collector from the same material as the pipes. The polypropylene manifold is soldered to the pipe.

A water supply system with a manifold significantly increases the cost of installation. But it increases the reliability and comfort of the water supply system of multi-storey country houses with an abundance of water consumption points.

Video about what elements the water supply of the apartment consists of: