To ensure water intake within the garden, surface pumps are used. There is a whole line of household units of this type, which are a simplified version of a pumping station that requires a small amount of energy to operate. The PN-370 Whirlwind model is one of the most balanced solutions for such tasks, offering a wide range of functional equipment.
Pump purpose
The unit is designed to service water flows with a fence from water bodies for the purpose of local irrigation of a vegetable garden or orchard. An important feature of the model, like all representatives of the garden surface pump group, is its sensitivity to the working environment. That is, the fence is carried out from unpolluted sources with minimal inclusions of fibrous and abrasive elements with chemically aggressive compounds. Also, this version of the garden pump cannot be used in open air, if its temperature is below 1 ° C.
Device and construction
The pump is based on an integrated ejector, which allows you to suck water from tanks at a depth of up to 9 m. That is, along with ponds, shallow wells with wells can also be used as sources. The pipes were configured according to the Venturi system, which creates favorable conditions at the stage of water intake and allows achieving high pressure values at the outlet. The power base is formed by an electric motor, which is attached to the adapter flange of the PN-370 Whirlwind case. The description of the bundle of the pumping part and the engine can be expressed through the interaction system of the impeller and the flow block. In this way, a classic self-priming pump system is implemented with a power base optimized for medium loads. As for the materials of manufacture, they are heterogeneous. The body is made of cast iron, the adapter flange is made of aluminum, and part of the intermediate components and consumables are made of high-strength plastic alloys.
Operating principle
The pumping process is ensured by a vortex scheme using an impeller. The rotation of the blades of the latter creates a characteristic movement of water in the gap between the wheel and the inner surfaces of the housing. Unlike centrifugal units, the principle of operation and the design of the vortex pump are oriented to the supply of the serviced fluid to the casing. Further along the tangent, the water is directed to the rotating wheel, where the effect of the suction force of the grooves between the blades is activated. The working process occurs cyclically until the moment of inertial suction and vortex attack forces are balanced. Despite the complexity of the movement scheme of the pumped liquid, the internal design of the unit is quite simple.
Specifications
Thanks to the optimized design, the manufacturer has achieved an organic combination of compact dimensions and decent performance for the “Vikhr PN-370” apparatus for a domestic class, the technical characteristics of which are presented below:
- Power potential - 370 watts.
- The operating voltage is 220 V.
- The maximum lift height is 30 m.
- Immersion depth - 9 m.
- Pumping speed - 45 l / min.
- The format of the inner pipe connection is G1.
- Fluid temperature - maximum 35 ° C.
- Weight - 5.1 kg.
User's manual
The workflow for putting the pump into operation consists of several stages, which include preparatory, communication and installation operations.
First of all, the "Whirlwind PN-370" should be checked for the presence of technical and design flaws, defects and other defects. It is recommended to position the housing on an even basis, which is also designed for the flat mounting platform of the housing in the lower part. If necessary, the structure can be fixed with bolts through the technological holes provided in the device. By the way, the location of the equipment itself should be protected from flooding and precipitation.
At the stage of communication events, conditions for connecting equipment are organized. First you need to install a 220 V outlet, insert fuses into the network and provide grounding. Then we move on to the directly pumping infrastructure. In this part, pipes are mounted from the suction circuit, which must correspond to the inlet at the end of the pump. Moreover, it must be borne in mind that with a suction height of 4 m or a length of the trunk on a horizontal plane of 20 m, the diameter of the pipe may exceed the size of the inlet pipe. You should also maintain a loop angle of at least 1 degree with a decrease towards the water intake point.
Installation of a surface pump for a well is carried out in the following sequence:
- The suction pipe together with the check valve is connected to the inlet. Again, you must comply with the formats.
- An outlet line circuit is connected to the outlet at the top.
- The suction line and pump are filled with water. To do this, remove the cork from the filler hole, perform the operation and reinstall the locking element in place.
- The power condition is being checked. At least with the help of measuring electrical appliances, make sure that the voltage indicator is 220 V.
- The pump is connected to the mains.
Already during operation, the risks of freezing water should be taken into account. If the temperature drops below zero, then it is advisable to drain the water. This will avoid rupture of the pipeline and the very need to defrost the water supply system. In addition, the design does not provide protection against “dry” running, so the user will have to control the filling level of the circuits and the pump independently.
Maintenance Instructions
During operation, the pump does not require special maintenance, but periodically at monthly intervals, the design should be checked for the same defects, damage, and the presence of formed wear areas. At the end of the working season, the Vortex PN-370 pump should be disconnected from the communications and left for maintenance in a dry room. Before this, it must be washed, dried and cleaned, if necessary. The unit does not require special preservation using lubricants, but it is very important to create the correct storage conditions. The direct rays of the sun should not fall on the surface of the pump, and heaters should not be affected. After storage and before putting the equipment into a new operating cycle, it is necessary to check its working condition - for example, in the framework of the trial period, evaluate the indicators of energy consumption and pressure. If the pressure has noticeably decreased, this indicates signs of wear of the element base, and an increase in energy consumption indicates strong mechanical friction inside the structure.
Advantages of the PN-370 Whirlwind model
In its segment, the model demonstrates good performance, as well as an acceptable level of reliability and ergonomics. Users point to the high build quality, the strength of the casing and the well-thought-out configuration of the pipe system, thanks to which a balance is achieved between modest dimensions and relatively high productivity. For example, by the standards of the average surface pump for a well of a household class, a lift level of 30 m is a worthy indicator. And if this is not enough, then we can give an example of the practice of connecting hydraulic locks, due to which new opportunities will be added to increase the depth of absorption. At the same time, the owners of the unit attribute high-quality sound insulation, a simplified installation scheme, and low maintenance requirements to the positive aspects of operation.
Model flaws
Among critical reviews of the pump, complaints about vibration and overheating of the structure are more common. To a large extent, the manifestations of both shortcomings are determined by the operating conditions of the equipment. As already mentioned, the PN-370 Whirlwind model is sensitive to water quality, so excessive pollution can well lead to overloading and automatic engine shutdown after 5-10 minutes of operation. As for the vibrations, in addition to the same pollution, the cause of the oscillations often become violations in the installation and fastening of the structure.
Conclusion
The model is a worthy choice as a budget class garden transfer pump. Subject to operating rules, the unit will last several years without requiring major repairs. In addition, the price of a water pump is about 2-2.5 thousand rubles. attracts extra attention to him. This is more than a reasonable amount, given the lack of flaws characteristic of lower-level equipment. On the other hand, when choosing, it is necessary to make a deep calculation of the required performance indicators, since the power filling may not be able to cope with high loads. We are talking about cases when it is planned to create high-performance lines with a fence from a deep well for the subsequent distribution of flows across several irrigation zones.