The hydraulic accumulator for water supply systems is a device whose main function is to store a certain amount of water and maintain the pressure set in the working system. Very often, this device is used to work in conjunction with a pump, a check valve on a five-way fitting and a pressure switch. The hydraulic accumulator for water supply systems is indispensable in organizing an independent scheme for the automated production and distribution of water, which is especially popular among residents of many cottages and rural houses.
Modifications
Depending on the installation method, the accumulator for water supply systems can be vertical and horizontal. Based on ergonomic considerations, the former are designed for a larger volume, since usually free space is limited in the horizontal axis, and an increase in dimensions upward is quite acceptable. The accumulator housing itself is made of powder coated black sheet or stainless steel.
Construction and work
There is a mistaken belief that the accumulator for water supply systems is designed in such a way that the inner walls are constantly in contact with water. This is not true. The inner space consists of two chambers - water and air, separated by a butyl membrane partition. A certain amount of air is constantly inside the casing (periodic checking with a pressure gauge is required). Water is pumped into a special pear-shaped compartment (one of the options), which, expanding, compresses the air located between the compartment and the walls of the housing. The latter, in turn, begins to exert pressure on the flexible butyl: it is enough to open the tap, as water rushes out of the tank under pressure. Now it is very simple to buy a hydraulic accumulator for water supply systems. The instruction must be attached - it is in it the type of membrane is indicated, since not all materials from which it can be made are allowed to be used for contact with drinking water.
Auxiliary elements
As mentioned above, the accumulator itself (GA) is part of the system. In addition to a correctly selected pump, special attention must be paid to a pressure switch - a mechanical device connected to a hydraulic circuit whose task is to control the pressure of water in the water compartment. By rotating special screws in it, you can set the desired upper (disable) and lower (enable) limits. It should be remembered that they strongly depend on the current value of the air pressure in the tank. As a rule, relays are delivered already set to standard values. Using the system without a hydraulic accumulator would lead to the fact that at the time of switching on the pump, the pressure increases sharply, which causes the relay to trip and the motor to turn off. However, an immediate pressure drop and a restart of the pump follow. Obviously, such a system is functional only in the mode of constant operation, for example, watering the garden.
Features
When buying a hydraulic accumulator for water supply systems, the price of which is too low, you need to require all the supporting documents. Tentatively, we can assume that the lower limit of the cost corresponds to $ 30 (25-liter model for drinking water), and the upper, as is usually the case, is not limited to anything. In addition to the already mentioned membrane material, one can encounter other unobvious features. At the point where the pipeline is connected to the body, a metal flange is screwed. It can be made of galvanized or stainless steel. The cost of a high-quality and cheap flange varies by 2-3 times, due to which a reduction in the total price is possible. There were cases when, externally, the whole product, when dismantled, is internally covered with defects, which causes rapid metal rusting and the appearance of fistulas in the flange. In addition, the GA tank itself can be covered with low-quality paint, which significantly reduces its life, especially in rooms with high humidity.