The water supply system can be organized by a whole group of pumps of various types. Some units will absorb water, others will provide pressure support, while others will perform lifting and distribution. Of course, such a number of installations is rare and, as a rule, users tend to organize water supply with the help of one unit and an addition in the form of a hydraulic accumulator. At the same time, it is quite advisable to assign certain tasks in the system to individual devices. In particular, a circulation pump for water supply facilitates the pumping of water in a certain circuit and in a given direction. This feature makes the system more productive and efficient.
Features of models for water supply systems
Circulation pumping units can be integrated into heating systems and into the water supply infrastructure. As a rule, the differences between these categories of pumps are only in the materials of manufacture. For heating circuits, plastics and metal components are required that can withstand increased heat loads. In turn, cold water supply is organized even without taking into account such requirements. If circulation of hot coolant is also provided in the circuits, then the temperature limits are initially calculated - but even in this case, the levels of peak values of heat resistance will not be comparable with heating communications. There are universal models in case the possibility of functional reorientation of equipment is provided. Such plants are able to withstand the temperature of the coolant on average up to 100 ° C.
Types of pumps
The main classification involves the separation of models according to the location of the rotor. In this sense, “wet” and “dry” action aggregates stand out. In the first case, the principle of operation of the circulation pump for water supply will include lubrication of moving structural elements and surfaces due to the coolant itself. Such equipment has a simple design that does not require special care and does not produce noticeable noises during operation. But due to low productivity with an efficiency of about 40%, such models are not very popular.
Devices with a "dry" action are built on a system in which the rotor mechanism is completely isolated from the coolant. As insulators, sealing parts and seals can act. Therefore, from the point of view of the influence of the pumped medium on the structural parts, it does not matter which circuit is serviced - with cold water supply or heating. Lubrication is carried out in a separate order by the user. A special technical oil is intended for pump rotors. As a result, the efficiency of the equipment rises to 70%.
What to consider in the choice?
In the selection of the circulation pump model, the main focus is on working qualities. They are expressed by three parameters - power, pressure force and productivity. If the unit is selected for home use, then you can make a choice among models with a potential of 20 to 70 watts. This is a small amount, but it will be enough to serve small household needs. In other cases, equipment with a capacity of 100 to 600 W on average is selected for integrated water supply to industries or apartment buildings. In turn, the pressure is responsible for the possibility of lifting the media and the feed rate. Obviously, the same power of the circulation pump will affect this indicator - for example, a minimum level of 20 watts can provide a 10-meter head.
However, a direct connection between these parameters is also not worth it, since performance can adjust these values. By productivity is meant the volume of water pumped over 1 hour. For example, a power of 20 W can provide about 2.5 m3 / h, and 600 W - about 30 m3 / h. In this case, the pressure may be the same for them. Together, these three characteristics will give an idea of the most suitable device for specific purposes.
Manufacturers - Who Should I Prefer?
Circulating pumps are manufactured by the largest manufacturers of engineering and construction equipment. In particular, the models of the following firms deserve attention:
- Grundfos is one of the oldest pump manufacturing companies. The most interesting model series are ALPHA, UPS and MAGNA. The average power of the pumps is 30-150 W with a pressure of 4 to 10 m. Among the shortcomings, there is a high cost (15-30 thousand rubles), although there are practically no alternatives to this product in terms of quality and ergonomics.
- Wilo is a German company, in the assortment of which you can find low-cost circulation pumps for water supply with a price tag of up to 10 thousand. Attention is paid to the Star-RS and Yonos lines, the advantages of which include the provision of automation and the presence of metal-graphite bearings.
- Dzhileks is a Russian manufacturer whose pumps can also be considered as budget solutions. The assortment of circulating units is formed by the "Compass" models in various modifications with a capacity of 60 to 245 W and a pressure of 3-8 m.
Circulation pump installation
Installation is carried out only after flushing the circuits of the water supply system. Make sure that no sediment remains in the pipes. It will also not be superfluous to pressure test by checking the tightness of the line. Directly installing the circulation pump is carried out by attaching to the supply or discharge pipe. Fixation can be done both in closed and in open circuits. After this, two shut-off valves must be installed before the installation site. They will be required in case of repair work to temporarily stop the circulation of water.
First start
The launch organization has its own nuances. Especially in the case of "wet" mechanisms, it is not recommended to open the circuit if the pump itself has not been pre-filled. Also, models with “dry” rotors do not tolerate a sharp load - in the first place, this filling negatively affects the sealing elements, the wear of which will lead to a violation of the tightness of the structure. Therefore, before opening the central supply taps, the circulation pump for water supply should be separately filled with coolant.
Channel Air
A mandatory procedure preceding the full operation of the pump is air-breathing. In essence, this operation involves the removal of air from the pump and pipe circuits. To do this, the system should be completely filled with water, opening in the lines all the available valves for primary air removal. In this mode, the circulation pump for water supply should work for 5-10 minutes, after which it turns off for a minute, and then the operation is repeated again.
Finally
Only a correctly selected pumping unit will help organize a stable and convenient water supply system within the house. It is desirable, in addition to the primary operating parameters, to also take into account the materials of manufacture, so that the equipment lasts as long as possible. In addition, a modern circulation pump for a private house is equipped with automatic control systems. Their presence, of course, affects the price tag, but it gives many advantages to the consumer. Controllers and sensors in water supply systems are not only a solution to the issue of convenience and ergonomics, but also an increase in the level of communication security.