What to look for when choosing a well pump
When thinking about which pump is best for a well, pay attention to the following criteria:
Performance. The pump for the well must cover at least 50% of the total water consumption in the water supply system (washbasins, showers, sinks, etc.) and at the same time not exceed the flow rate of the well (so as not to suck water out of the well faster than it is collected there). The well flow rate can be viewed in the well installation certificate. The table below shows how much water each water point consumes on average. Suppose you have a washbasin, shower, toilet and washing machine in your house. Then your pump should produce a minimum of (600+720+720+420)/2 = 1230 l/h. This way you can accurately calculate a submersible pump for a well. Which one is best for you will depend on your conditions.
Consumer | Flow l/min | Consumption m³/hour |
Washbasin with sink | 10 | 0,6 |
Washbasin | 10 | 0,6 |
Bath/hydromassage | 18 | 1,08 |
Shower | 12 | 0,72 |
Toilet | 7 | 0,42 |
Bidet | 6 | 0,36 |
Washing machine | 12 | 0,72 |
Kitchen sink | 12 | 0,72 |
Dishwasher | 8 | 0,48 |
Water tap 1/2″ | 20 | 1,2 |
Water tap 3/4″ | 25 | 1,5 |
Maximum pressure. This is the height to which the pump can lift water. However, the maximum pressure determines not only the height to which the unit is capable of “throwing” water, but also the pressure that will be at the outlet at a specific water collection point. So, for a regular wash you need less pressure than, for example, for a shower stall. Therefore, it is worth taking with a margin of 10 - 15%. For example, if your pump is immersed 20 m into a well, and you need to lift water 6 m up to the second floor, then you should take a pump with a maximum pressure of at least (20 + 6) + (20 +6) * 0, 15 = 29.9 m. The closest device will be a device with a pressure of 30 m.
Maximum diving depth. Here we mean the depth of immersion under water, and not generally into the well. Suppose you have a well with a total depth of 50 m, but from the surface to the water surface is 20 m. This means we have 30 m of water space, and if you want to lower the unit almost to the very bottom, then its maximum immersion depth should be at least 30 m.
Power cord length. The power cord must be at least as long as the total depth of the well (if you go down to the very bottom) plus the distance to the outlet. At first glance, this may seem like a small thing, but practice has shown that many buyers make mistakes with the length of the cord and then start adding a bunch of carriers.
Overheat protection. All submersible pumps have a well-organized cooling system, since the device is placed in water. However, under extreme operating conditions, the engine can still overheat. If you plan to fully load the unit, then it is better to buy a model with a thermal relay that will turn off the structure if the engine overheats.
Dry running protection. This function will turn off the device if the water level in the well drops to a critical level, so that it does not run idle. A very useful function, especially during periods of seasonal drop in water level.
Voltage. Most household pumps operate from conventional single-phase networks with a voltage of 220 V. However, there are devices that are powered exclusively from 380 V. Most of these are professional units, so it is not advisable to use them in everyday life
However, pay attention to this indicator so as not to accidentally buy a three-phase model.
Number of suction stages. Single-stage devices have one rotation wheel inside the housing
In terms of power and performance, they are significantly inferior to multi-stage units, however, they are much cheaper. If you have a deep well or need to use water to irrigate fields, then multistage well pumps are suitable for you. Which brand of device should I choose? If you want to save money, then take domestic units.
The above criteria help you understand how to choose a pump for a well. Now let's look at the ranking of the best models of 2021 - 2020.
Which well needs which pump?
Choosing a device for collecting water at a dacha or in a private house must take into account the characteristics of the well itself.
In this case, the following indicators are taken into account:
- Static level. This definition refers to the distance from the surface of the earth to the level of the permanent water surface located in the well.
- Dynamic level. This term refers to the distance from the surface of the earth to the minimum water level in the well.
- Debit. The volume of water that can be extracted from a given well in a given unit of time.
- The depth of the well to the bottom mark.
- Casing pipe diameter.
You can get these characteristics in 2 ways:
- Based on documentation. If a well is drilled by a specialized company, then upon completion of the work the owner is issued a technical passport. All important characteristics are included in it.
- Empirically using measurements. This approach is necessary in case of self-drilling of a well or long-term non-use of the well.
Everyone should watch it, very useful video! The best video about pump selection:
Taking into account well characteristics
To measure the depth of the well to the water surface, you will need a rope and a weight.
First of all, the static level should be measured.
To do this you will need:
- long rope (the length should be commensurate with the depth of the well);
- a load in the shape of a cylinder or cone without a bottom (it is tied to one end of the rope);
- roulette.
Static level measurement
Before taking measurements, you should not draw water from the well for at least an hour.
During this time, the liquid level should reach its maximum. After this, the load begins to be lowered on the rope until a characteristic clap occurs.
This sound indicates that the load has reached the surface of the water. A mark is made on the string at ground level. The rope is completely removed and the distance from the mark to the load is measured. This indicator is a static level.
Dynamic level measurement
To measure the dynamic level, the well requires preparation.
First, a submersible well pump is lowered into it, after which they begin to pump out the water. At first, the liquid level will decrease during pumping, so the pump will have to be lowered periodically. As soon as the water stops decreasing, it is considered that the minimum has been reached. The water level is determined using a rope and a weight in a similar way.
The difference between the static and dynamic levels is the well productivity. This indicator is important to consider when choosing a pump. If the difference between the levels is small, this indicates that the water column is quickly replenished.
For high productivity, powerful pumps can be used. Some artesian wells have no difference between static and dynamic water levels.
When purchasing submersible pumps, it is better to take into account the dynamic level, since the device should be located 2-2.5 m below this mark. Thanks to this, the pump will always remain in the water.
Determination of flow rate
To determine the well flow rate you will need:
- pump;
- timer;
- a large container for water from a well (tank, barrel, bathtub) - the only requirement is to know the volume of this tank.
First of all, you need to pump out the water from the well. To do this, the pump is placed as deep as possible. A squelching sound will signal the lack of liquid. After this you need to wait for the level to replenish. The speed of this process can be measured using a timer. As soon as the static level is restored, the water is pumped out again, but into the container. You can determine the flow rate by dividing the number of liters of water received by minutes.
The recommended power of the device depends on the well flow rate. If it exceeds the flow rate, the pump will quickly empty the well. This causes the device to run dry.
The diameter of the pump into the well should be slightly smaller than the diameter of the casing pipe. This is necessary to ensure access to the device in case of breakdowns and regular maintenance.
Analysis of nuances
It is possible to take into account only the technical indicators of a well in cases where the drilling was carried out by professional workers. According to statistics, wells drilled using handicraft methods are prone to rapid sand accumulation and flooding.
A pressure of 1 bar = 10 meters of water.
Contamination of equipment leads to breakdowns. To prevent this, for such wells it is better to purchase a special pump designed to work in difficult conditions.
For deep wells, experts recommend purchasing a plastic hose instead of a rubber hose. Rigid material will prevent the walls of the hose from collapsing and make the water supply uniform.
Another important criterion by which types of well pumps are selected is the daily volume of water consumption. The average for a family of 3-4 people is 60-70 liters. If water is also needed for watering the garden and feeding livestock, then the average increases.
It is important to measure the diameter of the casing pipe. Most downhole equipment is designed for 4-inch pipe.
Pros and cons of using deep-well pumps for servicing wells and wells
Among the advantages of using deep pumps installed in a well or well, it should be noted:
- high efficiency and productivity of pumping out liquid media;
- compact dimensions of the device;
- the ability to form a flow of pumped liquid with good pressure;
- ease of installation and operation;
- unpretentiousness in terms of maintenance;
- high reliability and long service life.
Naturally, equipment of this type also has disadvantages:
- Most modern models of deep-well pumps are produced in a monolithic housing, which makes repair of such devices almost impossible.
- Deep-type borehole pumps cannot be used for pumping heavily contaminated liquid media and cannot be installed in close proximity to the bottom of the well or well they serve.
The best models for wells up to 10 meters
For well depths not exceeding 10 m, surface pumps are usually used. They do not need to be immersed in a well, so there is no need to select a model based on the body size. However, surface models make a lot of noise. Installing such pumps in residential areas is not recommended; it is better to purchase an inexpensive submersible pump.
Shallow wells are often made on their own or by amateur teams, which does not allow for high-quality casing and contributes to the occurrence of landslides or sand accumulation in the bottom area.
Therefore, when choosing a model, you should pay attention to the presence of a filter element. In addition, it is recommended to consider inexpensive models, since they can cope well with shallow wells and do not require constant attention.
Among the popular models of pumps for shallow wells, the Aquarius BTsPE 0.5-16U should be noted.
Well pump Aquarius BTsPE 0.5-16U
This is a borehole pump, the maximum water lift level is 27 m, which provides the necessary power reserve to supply two-story houses. It is designed for a relatively low well flow rate - its productivity is 3.6 m3/hour.
Which brands to prefer?
When choosing a specific brand of pump for a well, pay attention to two things. The first is the number of positive and negative reviews
Only here you need to keep in mind that positive reviews are rarely written - if the equipment works and they don’t remember about it. Only if there were some problems before that the new pump solved. Then there are chances that there will be a positive review. There is a much higher chance of receiving negative feedback if there are problems. So the ratio of positive and negative opinions will be biased. You can simply compare the amount of positive and negative regarding different brands.
Choosing a pump for a well is not easy
The second thing you need to pay attention to is the availability of service centers and warranty workshops in your region. So that if a problem arises, it can be solved quickly and easily, and not have to travel far away
This is also very important
What should I pay attention to (besides technical specifications)? The presence and number of degrees of protection. Good (and expensive) equipment may have the following built-in mechanisms:
- dry-running protection (shutdown when there is no water);
- protection against overloads and electrical discharges (overheating);
- sand removal system;
- from water leaks (check valve, this can be installed additionally without any problems).
From this list, it is very desirable that the well pump has protection against dry running and overloads. These are basic things that extend the life of the unit. Sand removal is, of course, good, but the equipment is very expensive. A check valve can be placed immediately at the pump outlet on the suction hose (pipe).
Pump brands that are considered the best
The opinion of experts does not always coincide with the opinion of users, but it is also worth listening to them. They mostly recommend expensive brands, but for a reason, but because they really work well. So, here is a list of companies trusted by the pros:
- Aquarius. At a relatively low price, quite decent quality.
- Gilex. They work normally - about 5-6 years - with the correct selection of parameters.
- Flow. Chinese-Russian, but they work fine.
- Aquario (Aquario). Normal quality for not very much money.
- Grundfos (Grundfos). Leader in quality, but also in prices.
- DAB Worthy competitors for Grundfos at lower prices.
- ESPA. Good quality. There may be problems with service - not all regions have service centers.
- Willo (Willo). Another one of the market leaders. Good quality at more or less decent prices.
- ZDS. These well pumps have performed well. The manufacturer gives them a 2-year unconditional warranty - replacement if they break down for any reason.
- Acua. The entire hydraulic part is stainless steel, but these pumps are not sized for most wells.
- Water cannon series Prof. Quite decent quality, but repair only at a service center.
This is a more or less complete list of brands recommended by professionals.
How to choose the right pump for a well
When deciding how to choose a pump for a well, pay attention to a number of factors, which can be divided into several groups:
- Location. All types of pumps for wells are divided into two large groups: those installed on the surface of the earth or submerged in water. In the first models, cooling of the electric motor winding occurs naturally due to a large mass or a fan located on the rear wall; submersible models are cooled by an aqueous medium.
- Principle of operation. The vast majority of household electric pumps for water intake operate on the centrifugal principle - such units have high performance and the highest efficiency. To work with contaminated water environments, screw and vibration models are widely used; the latter are in great demand among the population due to their low cost. Much less often on the market you can find vortex types intended for use only in clean water without impurities.
- Specifications. The parameters of the electric pump are the most important selection criterion, the main ones being: the volume of pumped liquid, the pressure and depth of immersion under the water surface, the size of the particles passed through. Sometimes it is useful to pay attention to the power of the pump, the class of protection against penetration of moisture and dirt (standard value IP 68), and the presence of a power cut-off relay inside the unit in case of winding overheating.
The best pumps for wells CHIP version
VORTEX CH-90V
A domestically produced pump (assembled in China) for wells with a maximum depth of immersion in water of up to 35 m. It allows you to raise water to a height of up to 90 m, which is quite enough to provide water to a two-story house. At the same time, it produces on average up to 1500 l/h - this is enough for a home with a toilet, washbasin, washing machine and shower. True, the power cord here is only 17 m, so you will have to use an extension cord.
The device has a single-stage design with one rotation wheel. Please note that the impeller is made of stainless steel and is therefore not subject to corrosion. This is a simple and inexpensive pump for home use. If you don't want to overpay, then take it.
Note that in the CH series, Vikhr has 8 more models with a maximum head from 50 to 135 m and a capacity from 1500 l/h to 5700 l/h. If the parameters of the VORTEX CH-90V do not suit you, then you can choose another one from the same company.
BELAMOST TF-25
This pump is perfect for a one-story house with several water collection points. The device is capable of pumping out a maximum of up to 4000 l/h, which is quite enough for the simultaneous operation of a dishwasher, boiler, washing machine and shower. At the same time, the pressure in the pipeline system will remain at a good level. The maximum pressure is 28 m - for a shallow well, “just right”.
GILEX Water cannon PROF 55/75
One of the most popular Russian-made models in the segment up to 10,000 rubles. It is capable of pumping 3300 l/h with a head of 75 m, which is enough for two to three floors or for the simultaneous operation of several consumers. Its maximum immersion in water is 30 m. There is a thermal relay here that turns off the device in case of overheating.
Note that there is a really long power cord of 30 m, which most models in this price category simply do not have. It is also capable of pumping water with a maximum diameter of solid particles up to 1.5 mm, so it is suitable for “fresh” wells that are heavily sandy. However, to prevent dirty water from entering the water supply system, we recommend installing filters at the inlet.
Termica Comfortline 3SQ 3/90
One of the best pumps with a depth of immersion in water of up to 80 m. When immersed to such a depth, the device is capable of delivering a pressure of up to 91 m. Thanks to these indicators, the unit has gained popularity among those who live on a hill where the water is very far away and have to drill a deep well. In terms of productivity, the device has an average performance of 2700 l/h.
The impeller is made of noryl - a polymer material that is highly corrosion resistant. In addition, it is resistant to solid particles in the form of sand up to 1.5 mm in size. There is also a long power cord of 40 m.
Aquarius BCPE 0.5-63U
The powerful 1200-watt beast is capable of pumping water with a maximum pressure of 90 m. At the same time, the density of solid particles in the water can be up to 1500 g/m3 and the pump will not fail. This makes the model popular for pumping water from dirty or sandy wells. A multi-stage suction system consisting of several wheels is installed here.
The maximum productivity is 3600 l/h - an average figure for devices with this power. The components themselves are manufactured in China, and are assembled into the device in Kharkov. Users note the high build quality and long service life of the device.
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We select a pump depending on the depth of the well
The performance of pumping equipment largely depends on power.
This indicator determines at what depth the device can operate. Models with different power differ in design and cost. This indicator should not be neglected. Thus, a low-power device installed in a 50-60 m well will always operate at full power, as a result of which it will quickly wear out. For small wells, it makes no sense to install powerful units.
3 best models for wells up to 10 meters
The rating of the best models suitable for working at a depth of 10 m includes borehole pumps:
- DAB IDEA 75M (with flow 2.4 m³/h);
- Elpumps BP ¼;
- Elpumps BP 10.
Characteristic | Vortex pump DAB IDEA 75M | Elpumps BP ¼ | Centrifugal Elpumps BP 10 |
Possible immersion depth, m | 10 | 10 | 10 |
Pressure indicator, m | 39 | 55 | 60 |
Water supply (Q), m³/h | 2,4 | 3,0 | 5,10 |
Voltage U/Power P | 220V/550W | 220 V/1300 W | 220 V/1400 W |
Cost, rub. | 15-20 thousand | 18-20 thousand | 18-20 thousand |
D holes (output indicator) | 1 | 1 | 1 ¼ |
Network cable length, m | 15 | 20 | 20 |
Maximum water contamination, g/m³ | 40 | 40 | about 40 |
Advantages | Low cost, unpretentiousness and simple maintenance. | Multi-stage model, improved cooling system. | A cutting attachment and thermal protection are provided. |
Possible disadvantages | Poorly processed edges may cause the brass wheel to stop working. | Weak bolts in the filter area. | The filter clogs quickly. |
Pump models for wells with depths of 10, 15, 25 meters
If the well reaches a depth of more than 10 m, then it will require more powerful equipment. This category offers a wide range of products. First of all, it is worth considering water pumps with lower power. They are suitable for depths of 15 m, but are often installed in 10 m wells.
Technical indicators | UNIPUMP ECO VINT1 | Belamos 3SP 90/2.5 | Elitech NG 900-60 |
What depth is it suitable for, m | 15 | 15 | 15 |
Water pressure, m | up to 73 | up to 90 | 60 |
Water supply rate (Q), m³/h | 1,2 | 2,5 | 4,5 |
Voltage U/Power indicator P | 220 V/370 W | 220 V/1400 W | 220 V/900 W |
Device price, rub. | from 5 to 8 thousand | from 8 to 13 thousand. | 9.5-13 thousand |
D outlet holes | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Cable (length), m | 15 | 20 | 20 |
Indicator of water contamination at which the device can operate, g/m³ | 40 | up to 40 | 40 |
Advantages | Quiet operation, ability to function in liquids with a temperature of +35°C. | The main components are made of stainless steel and are protected against overheating. | The presence of a control unit, protection against overheating. |
Possible disadvantages of the model | The screw often requires repair. | No deficiencies were found. | Inconvenient cable placement. |
Among the devices installed at a depth of 20 m , the Aquario ASP 1E-30-90 pump can be noted. This model of centrifugal pump for a well has the following characteristics:
- productivity – 2.7 m³/h;
- water pressure reaches 32 m;
- voltage and power – 220 V and 450 W, respectively;
- the outlet pipe has a diameter of 1;
- network cable measuring 30 m;
- works in conditions of water contamination up to 120 g per 1 m³ of liquid.
The cost of such a unit varies between 10-14 thousand rubles.
If the well reaches a depth of 25 m, then ESPA Neptun fl60 65M is suitable. This model is complemented by overheating protection, soft start, and a suction filter.
In the list of technical characteristics:
- with a productivity of 4.20 m³/h, the pressure reaches 92 m;
- indicators of device voltage and power – 220 V/1500 W;
- outlet pipe diameter – 1;
- network cable – 30 m;
- the amount of sand in 1 m³ of water should not exceed 100 g.
The advantages of such a device are quiet operation, the disadvantages are the high price of about 40 thousand rubles.
Selecting a well pump for lifting water from a depth of 30, 35, 40 meters
For wells reaching a depth of 30-40 m, you need to select a pump with even higher characteristics.
The following products can be installed at 30 m:
- PATRIOT SP 3250S;
- GILEKS Water cannon PROF 110/110;
- Aquarius BCPE 0.5-32U.
Specifications | PATRIOT SP 3250S | Aquarius BCPE 0.5-32U | GILEX Water cannon PROF 110/110 |
Depth for which the device is intended to work, m | 30 | 30 | 30 |
Created liquid pressure, m | 100 | 47 | 110 |
Water supply (Q), m³/h | 1,92 | 3,6 | 6,6 |
Mains voltage and unit power | 220 V and 500 W, respectively | 220 V and 820 W | 220 V and 2200 W |
Cost, rub. | from 5.5 to 8 thousand | from 8.5 to 13 thousand | 18.5 thousand - 45 thousand |
Outlet D (in inches) | 1 | 1 | 1¼ |
Power cord size, m | 18 | 32 | 70 |
Permissible amount of contaminants in water | The filter passes solid particles measuring 2 mm. | The filter retains particles larger than 1.5 mm. | |
Pros of the model | It can even work in sandy wells. | The device is characterized by a smooth start and the presence of thermal protection. | Frequency regulator, no-load protection. |
Flaws | When turned on, it does not start working immediately, but after a short pause. | Performance depends on voltage. | High price. |
The category of the best models with average power should also include those deep well pumps that are designed for wells of 35-40 m:
Technical features | VORTEX CH-100V | PRORAB 8776 BP/65 | Pedrollo 4BLOCKm 4/14 |
Permissible depth for installation, m | 35 | 40 | 40 |
Head, m | 100 | 106 | 92 |
Water supply (m³/h) | 2,4 | 3,6 | 6 |
Voltage and power rating | 220 V and 110 W | 220 V and 110 W | 220 V and 1100 W |
D discharge pipe | 1 ¼ | 1¼ | 1¼ |
Device price | 7-8 thousand rubles | 16-20.5 thousand rubles | 32-49 thousand rubles |
Cord size | 20 m | 65 m | 20 m |
Permissible water contamination, g/m³ | 40 | 200 | 150 |
Advantages of the model | The optimum ratio of price and quality | Silent operation, built-in capacitor and thermal sensor. | Provides thermal protection and soft start |
Flaws | Intermittent switching on and off, rapid rotting of bolts | At high pressure, the main components may fail | High price |
Review of deep models 40, 45, 50 meters
Devices operating at a depth of 40-50 m must have high technical performance.
This is explained by the fact that weak devices cannot cope with the load and often fail. The list of models that have proven themselves to be durable and easy to use often includes:
- ESPA Neptun fl120 60M;
- VORTEX CH-50N.
The ESPA Neptun fl120 60M model is a device that can be installed in wells up to 45 m deep.
It is distinguished by the following characteristics:
- Its pressure indicator is 63 m, and its flow rate and immersion are 8.4 m³/h and 45 m, respectively.
- The diameter of the discharge fitting reaches 1 inch, and the cable size is long enough for convenient operation (30 m).
- The well pump copes with water contamination, at which per 1 cubic meter. m of water accounts for up to 100 g of sand.
- The advantages of this unit include protection against overheating, smooth engine starting and the presence of a suction filter.
- One of the negative aspects is the relatively high price (about 43 thousand rubles).
Equipment with bottom water intake VORTEX CH-50N is suitable for wells with a depth of up to 50 m.
Compared to the previous version, this unit has a higher power:
- The device is capable of creating a pressure of 50 m, and water flow reaches 3.6 m³/h.
- The voltage required for the device to operate is 220 V. The power is 600 W.
- The power cord is 20 m long.
- The nozzle has a diameter of 1 inch.
The device has received many positive reviews thanks to its stainless steel case, overheating protection and affordable price (in Moscow it can be found within 12,000 rubles) . However, there are also disadvantages in the form of rapid wear of individual parts.
Submersible pumps for lifting from depths of 60, 70, 80, 150 meters
Deep pumps for operation at a depth of 80-150 m are required for installation in artesian wells.
The choice of models of such equipment is not as wide as the range of water pumping devices for shallower wells (for example, Abyssinian). At the same time, the demand for such devices is lower. This is explained by the fact that owners of private houses and summer cottages rarely choose this method of water supply for a number of reasons:
- the need to obtain a license and pay for it;
- expensive drilling work.
If only this option is possible, then select the water intake equipment, selecting it taking into account strict requirements. Low-priced models often cannot cope with the load and quickly fail.
Models of centrifugal pumps for deep wells 80, 150 meters
Among the 150 m submersible well pumps, several models from manufacturers with a good reputation should be mentioned:
Basic indicators | Belamos TF3-60 | Wilo TWU 3-0501-HS-E-CP |
What depth is it suitable for, m | 80 | 150 |
Device productivity (m³/h) | 2,7 | 6,5 |
Pressure | up to 60 m | 26 m |
Operating voltage and power level | 220 V and 800 W | 220 V and 600 W |
Network cable length, m | 35 | 1,75 |
Water pollution level at which the equipment can operate g/m³ | 180 | 50 |
Model cost, rub. | within 10-17 thousand. | 66-95 thousand |
Outlet Diameter | 1 ¼ | 1 |
Product benefits | Affordable price, parts made of stainless steel. | Anti-corrosion coating, multi-stage protection, additional options. |
Minuses | Risk of depressurization. | Relatively low pressure indicator. |
Types of well pumps by operating principle
If you are thinking about which pump to choose for a well, then first of all you should pay attention to the principle of their operation:
- Centrifugal. Devices operating on this principle have a rotating impeller inside the housing, under the influence of which centrifugal force occurs. Water is sucked into the inlet pipe and flows to the top at the outlet. Centrifugal pumps are the most inexpensive among all types and at the same time have a fairly high efficiency. However, their pressure is relatively small (up to 100 m) in comparison with vortex or auger devices. Centrifugal pumps are worth buying if the well depth is no more than 50 m.
- Vortex. Vortex, like centrifugal, have working blades. They create vortex flows, due to which water can rise to a much greater height than with centrifugal models. However, vortex machines are very sensitive to water quality, so heavily sanded wells will quickly kill the unit. If you have a deep well with relatively clean water, then vortex well pumps are suitable for you. Which to choose? It all depends on the depth of the well and the height of the water surface to the surface of the earth.
- Auger. Screw units have a kind of rotor in the form of a screw. Because of this design, pumps of this type can easily handle the most sandy water, so they are perfect for pumping out process water for watering a garden (or for your own needs if you have a high-quality filter).
Differences between surface and submersible units
All household pumps at the place of installation are divided into two types: submersible and surface. The first ones are lowered down almost to the very bottom of the well. The second ones work on the surface. They are usually installed next to a water source or directly on the surface of the water using a special float.
The operation of surface models uses the principle of suction. The efficiency of such a pump is significantly affected by the distance over which the water has to be raised. They are usually used only if the depth to the water table is eight meters or less.
Surface pumps are successfully used, but only for shallow wells, since these devices cannot cope with lifting water to a height of more than 8 meters
If we are talking about an Abyssinian well, of course, a surface pump will be just the ideal choice, since we are talking about a very specific well - narrow and shallow.
But when operating a filtration or artesian well, a surface pump may simply not cope with the load. In this case, you will have to choose a submersible model.
When choosing between a submersible and surface pump, you should take into account the much higher noise level when operating the latter. To eliminate this nuisance, just cover the pump with a wooden box or install it in a separate room.
Image gallery
Photo from
The essence of the Abyssinian well design
Pump for connection to the Abyssinian well
Pumping station for needle well
Hand pump for Abyssinian well
While surface pumps draw in water, submersible pumps push it up. When choosing such a pump, the first thing to consider is the height to which water will have to be supplied, or rather, the distance from the surface to the pump.
Therefore, a couple more meters should be added to the data on the dynamic water level. The limit height is considered to be 40 meters. If the data exceeds this figure, you will have to select a pump with increased power. The technical data sheet of each product indicates the maximum height to which it can supply water.
To prevent noise from the surface pump from disturbing others, and also to protect it, the device is placed in a special box, which you can buy or make yourself
Visually, high- and low-power pumping technology differs significantly. More efficient submersible pumps have a larger body and weigh significantly more than models that can handle immersion depths of up to 40 meters.
Focusing on the depth of immersion, it is better to give preference to units with some performance reserve. If the pump is designed to operate at a depth of 60 meters, it will be more suitable for a 50-meter well.
For a deep well, you should choose a submersible pump, since surface models are not designed for pumping water from a depth of more than 10 m
If it is lowered to the maximum depth, the unit will have to constantly work at maximum load, which will increase its wear rate and shorten its service life. For a well with a immersion depth of 60 meters, it is better to take a pump designed to operate at a depth of 70 meters. The presence of automatic protection against “dry running” is an important point when choosing a pump.
For a variety of reasons, water may stop flowing to the device. If the pump continues to operate, it may overheat, break, burn, etc. If there is appropriate automation, the device will be disconnected from power as soon as it starts idling, which will prevent the occurrence of malfunctions.
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Model range of submersible pumps
Submersible pump connection
Installation of the pump in the excavation
Caisson for a well with a submersible pump
Criterias of choice
When choosing a submersible pump to equip a well or well, a number of factors should be taken into account:
- tasks for which the selected pump is planned to be used;
- the total water demand that the pump will have to provide;
- required pressure value of the pumped liquid medium;
- the depth of the underground source, the thickness of the water layer in it, its debit, as well as the level at which the water is located in such a source;
- the distance of the well or well from the building to which it will be necessary to transport water;
- the quality of the water to be pumped from the underground source.
A pump with a floating intake pipe is indispensable for shallow wells with silted bottoms
Taking into account all the above factors, when choosing a submersible pump, they are guided by its characteristics such as:
- the flow pressure of the liquid medium that it is capable of creating (this parameter is measured in meters of water column);
- productivity, that is, the amount of liquid that the pump is capable of pumping per unit of time;
- body dimensions;
- an indicator of the maximum possible degree of contamination and water temperature with which the pump can operate;
- the presence of a float water sensor and a check valve as standard;
- the equipment of the device and the additional options it has;
- case material;
- the mass of the device, which is important in order to properly organize its suspension in a well or well;
- the length of the electrical cable, usually supplied complete with pumping equipment;
- electrical parameters, knowledge of which is necessary in order to properly power the device from the mains;
- the brand name under which the pump is manufactured (and, naturally, its cost).
In addition to the cord and cable, the pump may include equipment that ensures automatic operation of the device
When choosing a submersible pump, you should also pay attention to what warranties the manufacturer provides and the availability of authorized centers for maintenance and repair of equipment of a particular brand. When choosing a submersible pump, you should keep in mind: how responsibly you approach this procedure will largely depend on the efficiency of use and service life of such equipment
When choosing a submersible pump, you should keep in mind: how responsibly you approach this procedure will largely determine the efficiency of use and service life of such equipment.
What types are there?
Water devices are divided into two categories:
- Submersible.
- Superficial.
Each of these types of devices works according to a different scheme. Their features:
Superficial
Manual | Effective if there is no need for a continuous stream of jets. By pressing the lever, the water rises from the depths. With a few clicks you can quickly fill a bucket. A hand pump for water from a well, having a simple design, is often made by hand. It consists of a piston, a cylinder and two valves (water or air). The main element is the lever that moves the valve. It will save the family budget due to its independence from electricity. At the same time, it will work on the Abyssinian no less than the purchased one. You can learn how to make a hand pump yourself from the prepared video material in this article. |
Self-priming | Self-priming has an electric drive. The housing itself does not come into contact with liquid, and must be hidden from rain. Such devices are connected to the source by a hose, or pipes are laid. It is mandatory to use a check valve. The weak point is the lack of a cooling system. The design has one control unit for turning the motor off/on. In order not to be distracted by the pumping process, you need to purchase automation separately. On average, they are capable of creating a pressure of about 8 m. For a home, this may not be enough. Similar installations are used when filling small containers |
Ejector | If the water depth ranges from 10 to 25 m, then a device equipped with an ejector is used. This means that the secondary circuit is made from a pipe of smaller diameter. Liquid will be pumped through it at high speed, which will lead to an increase in pressure in the supply pipe. As a result, this will have a positive effect on the overall water pressure in the system. This solution allows you to lift liquid from great depths. However, the pump's performance decreases. Among the disadvantages is the fact that they are noisy during operation. |
Vortex
In vortex submersible pumps, water is taken in and expelled using a single impeller with blades, which is located in the upper part of a vertically suspended housing next to the outlet pipe. To reduce hydraulic losses, the design provides for a very small distance between the side edge of the vortex wheel disk and the working chamber - this makes it impossible for vortex devices to operate in an environment with sand particles.
Vortex-type devices have good pressure characteristics (the height of liquid rise reaches 100 m) and average pumping volumes (about 5 m3/h).
Although vortex electric pumps are rarely used in everyday life, there are Belamos TM, Sprut, Vikhr, NeoClima, Pedrollo Davis models on the market.
Rice. 7 Vortex submersible pump - design and appearance
Centrifugal
Centrifugal devices have achieved such widespread popularity due to the following properties:
- Their efficiency factor (efficiency) is the highest of all analogues; in large-sized industrial units it reaches 92%, in household models it reaches 70%.
- Structurally, the working chamber is designed in such a way that the liquid enters the central part of the centrifugal wheel and is pushed out through the side pipe. This makes it possible to make multi-stage centrifugal devices in which the ejected liquid is fed to the axle of the next wheel, which further increases its pressure. Thanks to the use of several centrifugal wheels with separate working chambers (stages), it is possible to obtain pressure parameters in the system that are several times higher than those of other pumping equipment (in household models, the pressure does not exceed 300 m).
- Centrifugal types are capable of pumping liquid in large volumes at high pressure; for domestic use, this figure rarely exceeds 20 cubic meters per hour.
- Centrifugal-type units are less susceptible to the effects of small sand particles on the working mechanism; they are widely used in sand wells, choosing a model to work with the appropriate particle size specified in the passport.
- A significant advantage of centrifugal types is their high level of automation; the world's leading manufacturers of pumping equipment (Grundfos, Pedrollo, Speroni, Dab) equip their devices with units with frequency control of the impeller rotation speed. This innovation allows not only to significantly save energy when operating the electric pump (up to 50%), but also to significantly increase its service life.
If we list all the manufacturers of centrifugal pumps that present their products on the domestic market, the list will be quite lengthy, so we will limit ourselves to the leading global manufacturers listed above. Among the domestic brands, the most famous are Aquarius, Gilex Vodomet, Vikhr, Belamos, Caliber, Unipump.
Rice. 8 Centrifugal submersible pumps - design and materials using the example of Grundfos SBA
Selecting the right pump
Having received a general idea of deep-well pumps and choosing a specific type, we proceed to selecting the one suitable for our purposes.
The most difficult thing is to select a well pump. For this we will present a selection algorithm; for all others it will be similar and simpler.
The first step: you need to balance the capabilities of the source with your needs. It is necessary to know the so-called “flow rate”: the amount of water per unit of time that the source is capable of providing. The flow rate should be 5-10% more than the maximum consumption. Otherwise, the water intake level will drop below the pump suction pipe and lead to an unregulated (emergency) “dry running” mode and pump failure. The rate of replenishment of water from the aquifer varies significantly for different soils. For example, for rocky soils it is relatively small, for looser soils it is noticeably higher. If the flow rate is insufficient, you need to look for the possibility of increasing it: - look for a more aquiferous layer for a well or well; – increase the number of wells; – increase the cross-section of the well. It is necessary to take into account possible seasonal fluctuations in the flow rate and, accordingly, the dynamic water level.
Having ensured the required flow rate, we move on to selecting a pump (station). The fundamental difference between an automatic pumping station and a pump: – there is no need to manually turn on the power supply, just open the tap. – for small repairs, water is supplied to the system from a hydraulic accumulator, which maintains a reserve of 10-20-50-100 liters or more (depending on the volume of the hydraulic accumulator). In this case, the pump does not turn on, its motor experiences inrush current and voltage surges less often, does not consume its resource, and its service life is extended. – in case of a power outage there is a certain supply of water. There are automatic stations that have a very small membrane tank of 0.1-1 liter or do not have a hydraulic accumulator or pressure switch at all. Control of turning the pump on and off is carried out by built-in electronics with pressure and flow sensors.
So, pump. The selection methodology is as follows: We determine on the ground the relative location of consumption points on the site, in the house and the pump in a well, set the requirements for water consumption, and carry out the necessary measurements.
- The height of water lifting by the pump from the mirror to the highest point of water intake hp, m;
- Length of the horizontal section of the pipeline from the vertical position of the pump to the farthest point of disassembly l, m.
- Planned pressure in the water supply system P, atm;
- Maximum volume of water consumption Q, m3/hour
The pump (station) must create a pressure that allows it to lift water vertically from the mirror to the farthest point of disassembly, overcome the hydraulic resistance of the horizontal section of the water supply system and create a given pressure at the farthest point of disassembly.
When water moves horizontally, the pressure generated by the pump is lost due to the hydraulic resistance of the pipe.
When the cross-section of the pipeline is equal to the cross-section of the pump outlet pipe, the calculated loss value is usually taken to be approximately equal to: – 1/10 of the length of the pipeline from the pump to the farthest point of water collection. This is the part of the pressure lost by the pump when pushing water along a horizontal section. The calculated pressure value should be increased by this amount to compensate for these losses. Taking into account the above, the future pump must develop a pressure of at least:
H = hp + 1/10 × l + P {1}
Next, we move on to selecting a specific pump or automatic station.
Basic parameters of pumps
- maximum pressure Hmax, meter – the maximum height to which the pump can lift liquid from the outlet pipe at zero performance.
- maximum flow Qmax, m³/hour – the volume of liquid supplied by the pump to the pipeline per unit time at zero pressure;
- the quality of pumped water that can be pumped by the selected pump. It is estimated by the amount of impurities, g/m³ - from simple suspensions to abrasive ones, even sand. For most well pumps, the water must be clean, with a small content of impurities, no more than 100 g per 1 cubic meter.
The last characteristic is very important. An error can lead to rapid pump failure. Also, contaminated water can negatively affect the operation of devices installed in the house: – faucets; – electric water heater; – washing machine or dishwasher. It may be necessary to install water purification filters.
The maximum pressure Hmax and flow Qmax indicated in the pump passport are the extreme values of its characteristics. In reality, the pump transports liquid at the so-called “operating point” of the pressure characteristic. It reflects specific operating conditions. It would be more correct to say: in the operating range of pressure-performance characteristics. Because the flow is not a stationary quantity, but varies over time, depending on the number of users connected to the pump and their changing consumption.
What is a submersible well pump, its advantages and scope of application
Unlike wells, wells have a low depth of up to 15 meters if concrete rings are used in their construction, and also a depth of up to 25 meters or more in the designs of plastic wells with walls made of high-strength corrugated polyethylene pipes (Corsis).
For water intake from wells with a distance of the water surface from the surface of less than 9 meters, surface water pumps or pumping stations of a centrifugal operating principle with automation are widely used, which are characterized by budgetary cost and ease of operation. If the static level of the water supply source is more than 9 meters, or it drops to a greater depth during water intake (dynamic level), it is necessary to use a submersible electric pump in the well.
The main parameter of submersible types is high pressure characteristics, which allow water to be supplied over long distances when the source is located remotely from the house.
Centrifugal electric pumps specially designed for water intake from wells are equipped with float switches that prevent their operation when the water level in the source drops to certain limits.
Fig. 2 Scheme of home water supply with water intake from a well using a Gilex electric pump
A submersible well pump for individual water supply systems for domestic use can perform the following functions:
- Collect water to supply a private home from depths of more than 9 meters, ensuring supply volumes within a wide range.
- To supply water to the surface for irrigation, it can be used to fill barrels, tanks and various containers with water, which, after warming up in the air, is used to water the garden. If drip irrigation is organized on the site, you can use a submersible electric pump to fill a large-volume tank and turn it off with a float switch installed on the walls of the tank when filling.
- A submersible well pump can be used to fill swimming pools, artificial reservoirs, ponds or pump water out of them.
- In critical situations when underground basements, garages, cellars and other premises are flooded during the spring flood, you can use an electric pump to pump out the water if it is not very dirty, or install a homemade filter on its suction pipe to prevent dirt particles from entering the working mechanism.
- Using a submersible electric pump, you can immediately fill the heating system with coolant directly from a well or barrel, with a pressure of about 1.5 bar necessary for its operation, or use it to fill an expansion tank located in the attic of the house.
- Some types of submersible pumps (vibrating, screw) are effectively used to combat siltation of water supplies - to do this, the unit is released into the well a short distance from the bottom and the turbid liquid is pumped out with its help.
Wells collect water from shallow water layers (overflow), and are designed to use mechanical means of supply using a gate and a bucket. If you plan to draw water from the site to constantly supply a residential building using an electric pump, it is much easier and cheaper to drill a shallow Abyssinian well (many people drill it with their own hands) and use it as a water source. The use of a well is justified only if there is no or frequent loss of electricity on the site.
Rice. 3 Well electric pump for water supply to the house at the source
Types and characteristics of wells influencing pump selection
When selecting a deep-well pump for a well, the parameters of the source are always considered, the main of which are the characteristics of the aquifer: the depth of passage, the speed of its filling and the amount of various types of impurities in the water. In domestic drilling, there are several types of wells, differing in the depth of the aquifer and the structure of its bottom region.
Abyssinian
A budget type of well with water intake from the first or second aquifer from the surface of the earth, usually its depth does not exceed 10 meters and very rarely reaches 15. For drilling operations, casing pipes of small diameter (1 - 2 inches) are used, the lower part in the form of a pointed spear with a filter placed in a water layer at some distance from the bottom. Due to the low weight of the casing and some measures to fix it on the surface (concrete blind area), the column is stationary, preventing the filtering part from sinking into silt and sand - thus ensuring high purity of the water.
Although you can drill a cheap Abyssinian with your own hands or use small-sized drilling equipment and a hammer for this purpose, the benefits do not pay for themselves when supplying water to a private home. This is due to the low flow rate of the source, which rarely exceeds 3 cubic meters per hour, so the Abyssinian is mainly used for domestic needs - watering gardens, filling swimming pools, ponds and other containers. Often hand pumps are installed at the top of the well instead of electric ones.
Fig.2 Equipment for drilling a homemade well
Homemade
The above technology for drilling Abyssinian wells has long been outdated - driving pipes into the ground or screwing a homemade drill into it takes too long and is ineffective to obtain great depths. Currently, budget (less than $100) hydraulic drilling using the artisanal method is widely popular among individual homeowners.
To do this, use a homemade drill attached to the end of a pipe with an opposite external thread; to create a channel, use a series of pipes with a welded threaded coupling at one end and a cut screw thread at the other. At the beginning of the process, the first pipe is screwed into the ground using a removable handle (the principle of operation is similar to a tap wrench), while simultaneously supplying water with a drainage pump using a hose connected through a threaded fitting to its upper end.
After immersion in the ground, the hose and handle are removed, a new pipe is connected and the process is repeated. When an aquifer is detected, the pipe string is removed from the ground and gradually dismantled; a plastic hose with a perforated filter at the end is then inserted into the resulting shaft. In this way, homemade wells up to 40 meters deep are obtained; the supply volume can reach 5 cubic meters per hour.
The drilling process takes no more than a day and often resembles a lottery with chances of 50 to 50 - if a large boulder gets in the way of the canal, the work can be considered completed. Also, the disadvantages of the technology include the mandatory condition for the water surface to be no more than 9 m from the ground level (only a surface electric pump is used for water intake).
Rice. 3 Wells and soil characteristics around the aquifer
On the sand
The main type of domestic wells, drilling is carried out using specialized equipment; a column of casing pipes connected by thread is lowered onto a sandy-clay bottom. The depth of the well is 15 - 60 m, water is suctioned through holes in the filter located 1 - 2 m above the bottom area.
The service life of a sand well depends on the size of the fractions - the smaller they are, the faster siltation will occur; the operational period can range from 5 to 15 years. There are also smaller fractions with siltation of the source after a year of operation, but in this case, installation of the casing string for a well on sand is not carried out due to economic infeasibility. Since water in a sand well contains a high amount of solid suspended particles in the bottom area, pumping equipment is installed with a suction mechanism designed to operate under these conditions.
To construct the casing, metal or plastic pipes with threads of a standard diameter of 3 to 6 inches are used and a special filter on the last pipe to filter out small sand particles.
The highest flow rate of such wells is 5 cubic meters per hour (corresponding to 83 liters per minute), which is quite suitable for providing drinking water to a country house with a family of 5 people.
Artesian
The most expensive deep-water wells, in everyday conditions, the column is lowered to the limestone bottom at a distance of 40 - 250 meters from the surface of the earth. Since the lime base is quite strong and does not contain small suspended particles, a simple perforated filter is placed at the end of the pipes. Due to the great depth, high ground pressure on the aquifer forces water to rise along the borehole inside the mine to a considerable height; there are often cases when water gushes out of the source.
Due to the great depth, complex technology of casing pipes of different diameters is used for drilling; the most common are 3 standard sizes - 125, 133, 159 mm. An artesian well has a high flow rate (10 - 20 cubic meters per hour) and is capable of providing water to several houses or a small apartment building; its operational life is about 50 years.
Although artesian water is highly pure, it often contains high concentrations of natural salts, hydrogen sulfide and iron - all of which require the use of expensive well water filtration systems.
Rice. 4 Artesian and sand wells - structure
Calculation of a well pump for water supply at home
When calculating a well electric pump for constant water supply to an individual house, the main results of the calculations obtained are the height of the water column and the volume of pumped liquid. The initial data is the estimated or calculated volumes of water consumption using tables or using online calculators.
Consumption volume
There are two main methods for calculating the volume of water consumed: the first is to calculate the water consumption of each resident, the second is to calculate the total water consumption of plumbing fixtures. In both cases, tables or online calculators are used. The indicator of average daily water consumption by one person is more significant in calculating the ability of a source to maintain a static water level with constant water consumption with a certain volume.
The main task of the electric pump is to sufficiently fill the main with water while simultaneously turning on the maximum number of plumbing fixtures that can be used by residents, taking into account working household appliances (washing machines and dishwashers).
Therefore, when tables are used to calculate and add up the water consumption of all plumbing fixtures, this is not entirely true - for convenience, an individual residential building may contain several sanitary facilities, an excessive number of showers and bathtubs, which the owners rarely use. If this plumbing is taken into account when calculating total water consumption, the result will be excessive capacity parameters of the purchased pump - this will lead to excessive energy consumption and unjustified financial costs.
To calculate the maximum volume of water consumption per unit of time for a family of three living in an individual residential building, you can use an online calculator or make simple calculations manually. If we take the three sources with the highest water consumption and add a small volume from household appliances (the tables indicate values that should not be taken into account - water consumption by appliances does not occur on a constant basis), then as a result of simple manual calculations we obtain the peak water consumption per family of 3 people – 2.5 cubic meters/hour. The indicator was obtained using the most water-intensive plumbing equipment - the bathroom; in the absence of such amenities, a water supply of 2 cubic meters per hour is quite sufficient.
Rice. 13 Table of water consumption for plumbing fixtures
Well pump calculation
If the experimental determination of the amount of liquid pumped out by an electric pump does not cause much difficulty, then simple formulas are used to find the required pressure. There are several options for formulas for calculating pressure, one of them looks like this:
H(m) = P x 10.2 + Hb + Np, where
H(m)—determined height of liquid rise in meters;
P is the pressure that must be created in the consumer line, indicated in atmospheres or converted to bars;
Hb is the height difference between the suction filter of the electric pump and the consumer line;
Нп - pressure loss due to hydraulic resistance of the pipeline.
Rice. 11 Table for calculating losses in the pipeline
Let's consider choosing a suitable electric pump for a water well using the example of a family of 5 people, to meet their needs a supply volume of about 3 m³/h is required, with a maximum pressure in the system of 3 bar. It is assumed that the height difference is 30 m, and the water main is made of plastic pipe with an internal diameter of 1″ inch (outer diameter 32 mm) for a standard electric pump outlet, its length is 50 meters.
The main difficulty in these calculations is the determination of hydraulic losses in the pipeline. The fact is that they depend not only on the material used to make the pipes, but also on the volume of liquid passing through them, so when calculating, this indicator is easier to determine in accordance with the table in Fig. 11.
The columns contain two rows of numbers; we are only interested in the lower figure indicating losses on a 100-meter section of the pipeline (data are given in meters). For more accurate calculations, the table shows losses in elbows, shut-off valves, tees, and check valves (the required parameter is also indicated in meters).
Let’s assume that our system has one check valve, a tee, a shut-off valve and 3 elbows at an angle of 90 degrees, the total length of losses on which, based on the table, is 12 m.
So, we determine the losses:
Np = (50 + 12) x 11 \ 100 = 6.82 (m)
And we get the general result:
H(m)= 3 x 10.2 + 30 + 6.82 = 67.42 (m)
To determine which pump to choose, let’s use, for example, the table for Grundfos models (Fig. 12). It shows that the modification SQ 3-65 is most suitable for the given pressure and volume of pumping. In the absence of such tables, the electric pump is selected according to pressure characteristics and flow (point 1 in Fig. 13).
It should be noted that the closer to the center of the curve the desired point is located, the greater the efficiency (efficiency) of the selected electric pump.
Rice. 12 Table for Grundfos pressure characteristics
Selection, installation and commissioning of a well pump
Unfortunately, with no other type of pump do so many failures and failures occur as with household submersible well pumps. The reason is not the quality of the equipment, but the fact that the design and selection are carried out not by professional designers, but by the owners of private houses themselves or by insufficiently qualified personnel of installation organizations. How, for example, does a non-specialist know that the engine of a pump selected with a large supply can burn out if the pump is not brought into the operating range during installation and configuration of the system. We hope that this article will help readers avoid such mistakes.
Defining parameters
Speaking about the types of pumps for domestic water supply, first of all we should distinguish between surface and submersible pumps. The first are installed outside the source and can usually lift water from a depth of up to 7–8 m, the second - well and borehole pumps - operate while in the water and are used to supply it from a greater depth (they are suspended in a well or well on a cable). A horizontally installed well pump can also be used to draw water from a river or lake when they are far from home and high pressure is needed.
In all cases, to select the correct pump, first of all, it is necessary to determine its operating parameters - flow (Q) and pressure (H).
The required water consumption is determined from the total productivity of all water collection points of the facility, taking into account the likelihood of their simultaneous use. In a simplified calculation, you can use the following water consumption standards for plumbing fixtures: washbasin - 60 l/h, toilet cistern - 83 l/h, kitchen sink - 500 l/h, shower - 500 l/h, bathroom - 300 l/h, watering tap - 1080 l/h. Watering lawns and flower beds requires 3-6 m3 of water per m2, the consumption also depends on the irrigation method and watering intensity. A sauna or bath will require about 1000 l/h.
To calculate the required pressure, the formula is used:
Ntr = Ngeo + S + Nfree, where Ngeo is the height of the pipeline entry in the building relative to the dynamic water level in the well (the numerical expression of the dynamic level must be present in the well passport); S is the sum of pressure losses due to friction in the pipeline and local resistance (fittings, fittings, filters, etc.); Nsvob - the pressure that must be created at the entrance to the building, with the calculation of ensuring a pressure of 0.5 atm at the most remote and highest water supply point.
The well parameters are fundamentally important for the user, as they are used when calculating the required pressure and operating characteristics of the selected pump. In the well passport, drillers must indicate such parameters as static level, dynamic level, well flow rate. These data are determined experimentally by the organization that carried out the drilling operations. Obviously, the calculation results will be incorrect if, when determining the dynamic level of the well, a pump of obviously lower power was used than would be required to supply the water to the facility in accordance with consumer requests.
And although it is difficult for a user to quickly receive an official passport for an artesian well (this is a state document that requires many permits and approvals), it is necessary to require detailed data on the well, including the power of the pump used for pumping, to be provided along with the work report. water when determining the dynamic level. When concluding a contract for drilling work, you should pay attention to whether the contractor has a license.
Only serious companies (in the Moscow region - Gidroinzhstroy, Borgeocom, Aqua Help, Seven TVK, etc.) always give the client a guarantee and a detailed well passport upon completion of the work, where all the mentioned characteristics are clearly stated, as well as the diameter of the casing, a list of soils covered, information about test pumping of the well, etc. - up to the recommended pump brand and its installation depth.
The parameters of the required Q and H for additional equipment (jacuzzi, washing machine, sprinklers, sprinklers, etc.) are indicated by the manufacturers. When installing water purification filters, pressure losses (usually about 2 atm) and water consumption for washing them are taken into account. For the pool, only the filling time is indicated.
Calculation example
Initial data:
It is required to provide water supply to a suburban area with a two-story cottage (a kitchen, two bathrooms and a shower with hydromassage require a flow rate of 1 m3/h and a pressure of 4-5 atm.), a garage, a house for service personnel (contains a bathroom), a bathhouse, a swimming pool of 45 m3, watering the territory, water purification system. A family of four and two staff members permanently live on the site.
To supply water to the site, a well 80 m deep was drilled; casing diameter - 150 mm; static level - 46 m; dynamic level - 50 m; flow rate measured during pumping is 3.5 m3/h. Calculation: Taking into account the norms of water consumption (see at the beginning of the article), we obtain the total consumption and pressure of consumers: Qtotal = 500 + 3 ґ (60 + 83 + 500) + 1000 + 1000 + 2 ґ 1060 = 6500 l/h = 6, 5 m3/h Ntr = 50 + 8 + 20 + 2 + 30 = 110 m Due to the impossibility and impracticality of using all water points at once, the required flow rate can be determined as 5 m3/h. The SP 5A-33 pump satisfies the calculated data (Q = 5 m3/h, H = 120 m); its characteristics are shown in the figure.
This ensures sufficient flow for the kitchen, one bathroom and irrigation. (It is understood that the owners will not simultaneously use the sauna and take a bath, wash in the shower and fill the pool while watering the area from both taps.) To ensure pressure on the watering installations and hydromassage, it is cheaper to use separate pumps - this will avoid keeping the entire water supply under high pressure and will make the operation of the submersible pump more stable, and the system flexible and independent (with the help of an additional pump you can always get high pressure at any point of analysis). The pool will be filled at night. In this case, using a valve on the head, you should “throttle” the pump (create additional resistance) so that when working to fill the pool, the flow does not exceed the permissible level - 6.5 m3/h.
If the power is too high
Independent selection of a pump by a customer who has high demands on flow and pressure often leads to choosing a pump with too much power. In the case of the initial data discussed above, such a pump could be SP14A-25. As already mentioned, when installing an overpowered model, complications are possible.
Firstly, since with such a choice the nominal flow significantly exceeds the average water demand, the pump will operate in frequent on/off mode. Manufacturers allow up to 30 pump starts per hour, but only for one hour per day, with a general limit of 60 cycles per day. In any case, frequent switching on has a negative impact on the service life of the electric motor and starting automation. To avoid this, you will need to install a large-volume membrane tank.
Secondly, if the pump power is overestimated, as a result, the water pressure at the entrance to the house will also be overestimated. When such a pump is started, strong hydraulic shocks will inevitably occur. Some fittings may simply not be designed for such pressure (dishwashers, washing machines, faucets); additional installation of pressure reducers will be required to reduce the pressure.
Thirdly, while filling the pool, the pump will work on an “open pipe” without creating pressure. Under such conditions, there is a large flow of water at minimal pressure. The operating point of the pump shifts to the right on the characteristic curve, into an area that does not correspond to the working zone of the pump (see figure). The power on the shaft will be maximum, and if operated for a long time in this mode, the engine will fail.
The consequence of using a pump with increased power will be a general increase in the cost of the entire system, caused by the use of more powerful electrical equipment, materials and fittings with a higher permissible operating pressure, an increase in the diameters of the pipeline and well, as well as an increase in the cost of water treatment. If the pump's rated flow exceeds the well's flow rate, it is necessary to install additional dry-running protection. Throttling and adjusting the pump will lead to excessive energy consumption.
In other words, by ensuring the possibility of simultaneous use of all water points by installing an overpowered pump, the cost of the water supply system increases. In this case, actual water consumption will be significantly less.
Therefore, although the final choice will always remain with the customer, it is cheaper and more correct to choose a pump taking into account real needs and with the help of specialists. It is possible to satisfy the user's requirements for the water supply system, subject to the rules of its installation and operation, by choosing the optimal pump for a given situation with a flat operating characteristic.
For the water supply system from the example discussed above, the SP 8A-25 pump can be selected. In the zone of possible flows (from 4 to 8 m3/h), this model has a flat curve of pressure versus flow, that is, at low water flows there will not be a too large increase in pressure. At the same time, a certain allowable reserve when calculating water consumption will eliminate the possibility of water shortages.
Pump installation and commissioning
In any case, no matter which pump is chosen, during installation it is necessary to verify its operating point in all possible operating modes. When commissioning, you should measure the supplied flow rate (determined by the filling speed of any container of known volume, for example a barrel), the pressure created (according to the pressure gauge on the head) and the current consumed (measured with current forceps).
The obtained characteristics are checked against the pump’s passport data in the catalogue. If the operating parameters are exceeded (as a rule, some power reserve is provided, for example, for the subsequent installation of filters), it is necessary to close the valve at the well exit and create additional local resistance sufficient to establish the correct operating point - the middle of the Q (H) characteristic.
Installation, as well as the selection of a pump, must be carried out by trained specialists; the installation company must have a license to install this equipment.
Well pump protection Even before selecting and purchasing a pump, it is necessary to obtain accurate information about the power supply voltage at the site. This is especially important when choosing an imported pump. All equipment supplied from abroad complies primarily with the industrial standards of the manufacturing country. So for all German pumps, the permissible deviation of the voltage in the electrical network from the nominal value is from +6 to -10%. Despite all the built-in protections, the pump is not designed to operate from a network with a voltage below 200 V; all possible voltage drops and surges will negatively affect the service life of the electric motor.
Here it is necessary to provide adjustable voltage protection as part of the control cabinet, and for three-phase pumps also against single-phase operating modes. It is not recommended to install powerful single-phase pumps. The starting current of a 2.2 kW motor can exceed the rated current by 4.4 times! To stabilize the voltage within the operating range during such surges, you will need a stabilizer with a five-fold power reserve (more precisely, the choice will be made by stabilizer manufacturers). Sometimes it is cheaper for the user to provide a 380 V power supply to the site than to ensure the correct operation of a single-phase pump.
According to statistics, about 85% of failures occur with the electrical part of the pump. The main reason is the interturn short circuit of the stator windings due to overheating due to hydraulic overload, or when operating at low or abruptly changing voltage. Both can be avoided by installing proper overcurrent protection. A regular starter with current protection copes with this task quite well, but some installers forget to set the required current value. The result of such negligence is easy to calculate: you will have to pay for lifting the pump from the well, its repair (the price of a new engine), for lowering the pump again and putting it into operation. The amount may exceed the cost of a new pump.
Glossary of terms:
Pressure is the excess pressure created by the pump.
Flow rate is the volume of water pumped by the pump per unit time.
Operating point - the point of intersection of the pump characteristics curve Q (H) with the resistance characteristic of the pipeline SQ2, corresponding to the current values of pressure and flow rate when working on a specific water supply system.
Throttling is the creation of additional resistance on the pressure pipeline.
Performance characteristic - a graph of the dependence of the operating parameters of the pump - pressure and flow Q (H).
Shaft power - power consumed by the pump
Static level - constant water level in the well
Dynamic level - the water level in the well, established during pumping of the specific flow rate
Well flow rate is a stable flow of water provided by a well.
Based on materials from restore.stroytes.ru