I have a crazy idea to pump water
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ns_in_tex
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stumpfield said:
I am really looking forward to your test runs.
If it works, have you considered a large tank, maybe fiberglass, to store enough water for lawn, fire fighting, or what ever.
This is very interesting to me, since I am using spring water for lawn irrigation. I am trying to store as much as I can, before the remainder heads down the creek.
My spring runs 4 to 5 gpm, depending on water level.
I first set up a 2500 gal holding tank & automated it.
Then I added a 10,000 gal tank & just put 2 ea. 2" siphon hoses from one tank to the 2nd tank, entering the tanks from the top & going to the bottoms. Pumps are set to shut off before tanks are empty so prime is not lost.
As water level goes down in small tank, water siphons into it from large tank. As small tank level is brought up, water siphons from small to large tank.
I used open ended pipes & they rise maybe 5' above the tank tops.
I have since added a pond, which I feel holds well over 10,000 gals.
Since my tanks are above the spring, I pump from spring into the small tank with one pump and pump from the small tank to irrigation system with a second 50 gpm pump. Siphon takes care of the rest.
I have been using it for a couple months now, with no problems so far.
MossRoad
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Stumpfield,
Once you get the siphon going and it works, then take a look at buiding your own hydraulic ram pump. Since the water will be running all the time, you might as well use it's downhill power to pump some water up the hill past the source without any electricity. Read about it here and be sure to check the other links in that article. There are some examples where they have pumped up to 100' higher than the source. Pretty ingenious device that can be made from PVC for about a hundred bucks.
Hydraulic ram - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Once you get the siphon going and it works, then take a look at buiding your own hydraulic ram pump. Since the water will be running all the time, you might as well use it's downhill power to pump some water up the hill past the source without any electricity. Read about it here and be sure to check the other links in that article. There are some examples where they have pumped up to 100' higher than the source. Pretty ingenious device that can be made from PVC for about a hundred bucks.
Hydraulic ram - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
MikeD74T
Veteran Member
More water ram stuff - Water Ram Page MikeD74T
Phils
Platinum Member
MR and Mike have a good point that you should consider (and although I know about the principle, hadn't remembered for your situation). Since you are in the early stages of planning it could be excellent for you.
Phil
Phil
OP
stumpfield
Gold Member
Well, I'm sorry to report that it didn't work out as I hope for. It's a lot more difficult to siphon water 20+ feet than you think. Even the little Robin Subaru pump I got from Harbor Freight didn't do the job as advertised (max. 26.2' suction lift). However, it was time well spent and I got a lot done at the property. ...hate to have to go back to work and sit in front of a computer again. Here's a few pictures.
Last edited:
turnkey4099
Elite Member
stumpfield said:
Sorry to hear that. Did you get any flow at all going?
Just to be sure: The 26.2' max suction lift on that pump is after it is primed. It will not suck water as long as there is any air in the intake pipe or pump chamber.
Harry K
OP
stumpfield
Gold Member
turnkey4099 said:
I spent a week off and on trying different things. I put more water into the well than I got out of it. Even with a check valve at the bottom to keep the suction hose full of water and the pump primed. It just can't pull water up that high and so close to the practical limit. After adding all the variables, I'm very close to that limit. I'm at about 3000' elevation. The well casing is another a foot and a half above ground plus all other inefficiencies. I decided to go with a solar pump. Grundfos SQfelx 11 Helical Rotor pump. It's a very expensive pump but very flexible and able to take 30-300v DC and 90-240v AC.
Jimbrown
Veteran Member
You can not go wrong with that Grundfos pump. There are lots of them in service here in Az. I helped a neighbor put in a similar pump made by Dankoff. His pumps 3 gallons a min in any kind of sunlight. One word of warning. The pump it self is just a helicol cut piece of steel stuck inside of of some sort of highteck semisoft synthetic rubber. Very similar to cramming it inside of a rubber hose. If you let the pump set for extended periods of time the rubber will mold itself to the helicol impeller and the pump will not have enough torque before the pump controller shuts down to start the pump. My neighbor let his set for about 3 months and we had to pull the pump turn the shaft to break it loose and put it back in the well. He now has his so it comes on at least every few days and has not had any more problem.
