What pressure should be in the accumulator: features of relay settings

Organizing a water supply system is a rather complex matter. Moreover, considering that it consists of many different elements. And if the distribution of pipes and their connection to consumers is usually not a problem, then with plumbing equipment the situation is more complicated.

Homemade hydraulic accumulator

However, some items may not be purchased. For example, you can make a hydraulic accumulator with your own hands - in principle, this is not particularly difficult.

Hydraulic tank functions

In the process of organizing an autonomous supply of water from shallow wells in private homes, a pumping station is most often used to lift it to the surface. It is a unit assembled from a self-priming pump, a storage tank and instruments through which the station is put into operation and pressure is controlled.

• However, the station can only be installed superficially and can extract water from a maximum depth of 8 meters (we do not take ejector units into account). In deep water intakes, a submersible pump is used, and the hydraulic accumulator for it must be selected individually.
• There may be more than one such container in the system if, for example, higher pressure needs to be ensured on the upper floor. There are situations when the station simply cannot become a replacement for a hydraulic storage tank, especially since not only cold water supply is organized in the house, but also hot water.

A diagram in which, in addition to the pumping station, there are two more hydraulic tanks Source kadetbrand.ru

• The pressure in a hydraulic accumulator integrated into a particular system will not be the same, just as the containers themselves should be different. They may be similar in appearance, have the same volume or shape, and sometimes even color (it all depends on the manufacturer), but if you place the device on a network not intended for it, this will quickly make itself felt.

Only a tank for cold water is called a hydraulic accumulator; in a hot water system it is already an expansion tank. You can still put it on heating, but not on cold water. What's the difference?

Distinctive features

Inside any hydraulic tank there is a rubber bulb (membrane). So, in tanks for cold water supply systems, the water is inside this bulb, and the air pumped inside occupies the space between it and the walls of the tank itself, as shown in the photo:

Pressure in the hydraulic accumulator of the pumping station and its internal structure Source nasosovnet.ru

• In an expansion tank, the opposite is true: air is pumped into a rubber balloon, and water is around it, in contact with the metal body. Since it is intended for hot water, the permissible pressure and temperature range will be approximately the following: 10 bar/+70 degrees.
• A tank with such indicators is universal; it can also be used with cold water. If the container is intended only for cold water, the permissible pressure will be significantly lower. You can navigate the characteristics by looking at the information label pasted by the manufacturer on the container body.

The permissible air pressure is indicated on the information plate Source sima-land.ru

• And one more important question that requires clarification to understand the topic. The tank body has a certain capacity, which is specified by the manufacturer. Many people mistakenly believe that this is the amount of water that is placed inside. However, this is not so, because part of the container, and a large part, is occupied by air. The tank can only be filled to a third with water (for a body volume of 100 liters, about 30 liters of water).

Note! More water can fit into the tank only when the pressure in the accumulator - 50 liters, or any other volume - is zero. That is, there is no air in it - and, accordingly, the device is inoperative.

On what basis is pressure set?

So, we have already understood that hydraulic tanks differ only in their purpose - for a cold network or a hot one. The volume of the housing does not matter during the settings, so the pressure in a 24-liter accumulator will be the same as in the case of a hundred-liter tank.

• More volume (the shape of the body does not matter at all) means more air. Accordingly, more water will fit. The manufacturer still maintains the balance, and the pressure in the air cavity will be the same in any container (standard is 1.5 bar).

Volume and shape do not matter Source pumpekhoob.com

• When the pump is off, the operating pressure in the network should be twice as high as when it is on. However, under no circumstances should it exceed the limit stated for this device by the manufacturer.
• If necessary, the factory settings can be changed - exactly how depends on the structure of the system. If this is a pipeline that supplies water from a well to the house, the accumulator is usually configured in accordance with the factory parameters of the pressure sensor installed on it.

A well pump connected to a hydraulic accumulator Source de.decorexpro.com

• Most often the range varies between 1.4 and 2.8 bar. The pressure in a 100 liter cold water accumulator (or any other tank by volume) is adjusted 0.2 bar lower (both indicators). This makes it possible to avoid unnecessary pressure surges when turning on taps or plumbing fixtures that use water.
• If another tank is installed in the system - for hot water, then its settings are no longer oriented towards its relay, but towards the cold water accumulator, with a decrease of the same 0.2 bar.
• Maintaining such a gap is an important point, because with higher pressure in the hot pipeline, the float on the automatic air vent will constantly shift and let air in, which should not be allowed.

Advice! To obtain precisely specified pressure parameters, the air already in the tank should be completely vented, and only then pumped up to the required limit.

Pressure sensor with pressure gauge on the hydraulic tank Source rmnt.mirtesen.ru
See also: Catalog of house projects with a boiler room

In a system in which a hydraulic accumulator is present, a drop in pressure usually indicates either a loss of air through the inlet valve or a breakthrough of the rubber membrane. At the same time, when water begins to be consumed, the relay begins to make constant clicks, and the pump constantly turns on.

On a note! In a hot water supply, when the pressure drops, the emergency valve begins to leak.

Having discovered such problems, it is necessary to find out what pressure should be in the pumping station in the accumulator and compare it with the actual one. Perhaps you just need to pump up the air. If this does not help, you will have to disassemble the housing and check the integrity of the membrane.

Types of hydraulic accumulators

Hydraulic accumulators are used in heating systems, cold and hot water supply.
The containers differ in size, purpose, and design. The design and functions of the tanks remain unchanged.

By purpose:

• for hot water (red);

Price

• for cold water (blue).

Price

The difference between storage tanks is the material from which the membrane is made. The container intended for drinking (cold) water uses rubber that is safe for human health.

By execution:

• vertical models - used for limited space;

Cost of vertical hydraulic accumulators

• The horizontal version is used in conjunction with an external pump mounted on the housing.

Cost of horizontal hydraulic accumulators

Each type of device is equipped with a special device for bleeding air. A valve is installed at the top of the vertical hydraulic tanks. The accumulated air is released through it, preventing the formation of plugs in the system. Horizontal tanks have an assembly of pipes and ball valves. Discharge is carried out into the sewer. In tanks with a volume of less than 100 liters, valves and drain units are not installed. Air is removed during preventative maintenance.

The storage devices are installed in heated rooms. The devices must be provided with free access for repair and maintenance.

How to set the pressure on the relay

Questions like: “What pressure should be in a 100-liter hydraulic accumulator?” are asked by readers with enviable consistency. We have already established that the volume of the tank does not affect these parameters, so 50 liters or 24 - there is no difference. It is important to install a sensor that stabilizes the operation of the system and correctly set the upper and lower pressure limits on it.

The pressure will be controlled by a relay Source stroje.bazar.sk

So let's figure out how to set up the accumulator pressure switch. The process depends on the type of device, which can be either mechanical or electronic. In the mechanical one, which is shown in the photo above, the closure of contacts in the power circuit is provoked by compression of the spring. The electronic device is controlled by a pressure sensor, which changes the electrical resistance by compressing the piezocrystal.

Electronic pressure switch for hydraulic accumulator Source fervently.ru

Despite the fact that the network pressure control sensor may be located quite far from the pump relay, it still protects the water supply from leaks and destruction. In an electronic device, all settings are made by pressing buttons on the front panel, but in a mechanical device you have to tighten the nuts.

Some very important nuances depend on how to adjust the water pressure switch with a hydraulic accumulator. With this you can achieve:

1. increasing the capacity of the tank, which increases with increasing pressure;
2. extending the service life of the tank membrane by reducing the upper pressure value;
3. stabilizing the water pressure in taps and other points of analysis by reducing the difference between the upper and lower pressure indicators on the relay, as shown in the picture below.

How to reduce pressure difference Source greendom74.ru

Verification methods

To check the pressure, you can use a car pressure gauge
. The air pumped into the container at the factory gradually escapes through the rubber membrane and nipple. Rarefaction of the gas cavity leads to excessive stretching of the rubber bulb when filling it with liquid. Without resistance, the membrane wears out quickly and may burst. Air pressure is measured with a pressure gauge. The best option is a car measuring device.

The manufacturer's instructions indicate the number of checks for the device model. The average is 2 times a year. Before starting the parameter measurement procedure, all liquid must be drained from the tank. The pump is disconnected from the power supply system. The tank must be empty at the time of measurements. Control is required before connecting the device to the system. During storage in a warehouse, some air may leak out of the tank. The operating pressure is indicated in the product data sheet.

To check, unscrew the decorative cap covering the nipple. The node is located in the upper part of the housing. A pressure gauge is connected to the spool. The device must have a minimum error. Electronic and automotive devices are recommended. It is better not to use cheap plastic pressure gauges; they have a significant error in their readings. If the level is below the factory parameters, air is pumped in using a compressor. The hydraulic accumulator is left for a day for monitoring. After the next measurement that meets the standard, the device is installed. Exceeding the optimal pressure is eliminated by bleeding the air.

The number of checks depends on how long the plumbing system has been in use. For summer cottages where communications are operated in the spring and summer, indicators are monitored before the start of the season. A sign of a decrease in air pressure is the frequent turning on and off of the pump. In case of any deviations from the norm, an unscheduled inspection is carried out. Minor air loss can be pumped up with a car pump.

Video description

An example of setting up a pressure switch in the video:
See also: Catalog of companies that specialize in swimming pools and related equipment

Step by Step Actions

We offer instructions in pictures that will help you understand how to set up a mechanical relay:

Photo source: Youtube.com

Installation

Often the HA kit is sold disassembled, and the control unit must be installed yourself.

Connecting the pressure switch to the hydraulic accumulator looks like this in stages:

1. The station is disconnected from the network. If water has already been pumped into the storage tank, it is drained.
2. The device is fixed permanently. It is screwed onto the 5-pin fitting of the unit or onto the outlet pipe and must be firmly fixed.
3. The wiring diagram is normal: there are contacts for the network, pump, and grounding. The cables are passed through holes on the housing and connected to contact blocks with terminals.

Electrical connection to the pump

Video description

What the pressure should be, see the video:

Optimizing underpressure

The problem of excess pressure also occurs, but quite rarely. Most often it is not enough, and this issue is solved in several ways. Here are the two most popular.

With booster pump

A booster pump is included in the system. That is, this pump is not present to supply water, but to forcibly increase its pressure. This solution can be considered optimal when there is water in the source, but due to its distance from the distribution points, it loses pressure along the way.

Scheme with booster pumps Source ppt-online.org

It is ideal when such a pump is controlled automatically, which itself starts and stops its operation when necessary. This option is suitable for both private houses and apartments, but in the latter case there is a risk of leaving neighbors without water.

Using a storage tank

If there is not enough water in the well (the flow rate of the source is reduced), installing a booster pump will not only not solve the problem, but will also aggravate it. In this case, a sufficiently large storage tank must be installed in front of this pump, and in the absence of water intake, water will be pumped into it.

In this case, the owner himself will decide what pressure is in the accumulator, because this is not important. If such a tank is equipped with a float sensor, it will itself give the pump a command to turn on when the water in the tank is used up to a certain limit.

System with large storage capacity Source seid-nn.ru

If you place the container in the attic, it will also be filled by means of a pump, but it will flow to the flow points by gravity. True, the pressure will not be strong enough, and most likely, you will have to install another pump that will supply water from the tank. By using the second pump, you can place the barrel anywhere – even in the basement.

Design and principle of operation

The device looks like a box of various shapes with controls under the lid. It is attached to one of the outlets of the fitting (tee) of the container. The mechanism is equipped with small springs that are adjusted by turning the nuts.

Operating principle in order:

1. The springs are connected to a membrane that responds to pressure surges. An increase in indicators compresses the spiral, a decrease leads to stretching.
2. The contact group reacts to these actions by closing or opening the contacts, thereby transmitting a signal to the pump. The connection diagram necessarily takes into account the connections of its electrical cable to the device.
3. The storage space fills up and the pressure increases. The spring transmits the pressure force, the device operates according to the set values ​​and turns off the pump, sending it a command to do so.
4. The liquid is consumed - the pressure weakens. This is fixed, the engine turns on.

The assembly consists of the following parts: a housing (plastic or metal), a membrane with a cover, a brass piston, threaded pins, metal plates, cable sleeves, terminal blocks, a hinged platform, sensitive springs, and a contact assembly.

The operating algorithm of the control device is as simple as possible. The mechanism responds to changes in the number of atmospheres inside the drive. The moving platform is raised or lowered by springs depending on the pressure on the piston, which in turn interacts with contacts that signal the pump to start or stop pumping.

Materials

To create a hydraulic accumulator with your own hands, we will need a number of tools and materials outlined in the list below:

• A vessel consisting of food materials, its volume must be at least 30 liters, otherwise the efficiency of the accumulator will be low and it will not be able to perform its functions;
• A piece of rubber, for creating seals and gaskets;
• Washers and nuts for fastening elements;
• Pressure gauge;
• Food grade silicone sealant;
• Special tee and quarter for connection to the pipeline;
• Water taps;
• Air injection nipple;
• Pressure control sensor;
• Drill;

Features of choosing receiver capacity

The tank capacity should be chosen arbitrarily, taking into account some features. A large tank capacity has many advantages, but don't forget about the cost. After all, the larger the tank’s capacity, the more expensive its cost. But even if financial resources allow a person to purchase a tank with a capacity of 500 liters, this should not always be done.

When purchasing, you need to take into account such a parameter as the size of the product. Typically, hydraulic accumulators are installed in wells or pits. If the size of the pit is small, then installing a large tank will not be possible. It can be installed in the house, but whether it is worth sacrificing free space is up to the buyer to decide.

This is interesting! Hydraulic accumulators with a capacity of more than 50 liters are purchased mainly for installation in the basements of multi-story buildings. For the private sector, a device with a capacity of up to 25 liters is usually sufficient.

When choosing a receiver, it is enough to provide the equipment seller with information such as the type of housing (apartment or house), the number of residents and the availability of garden space. Indeed, in addition to water consumption for domestic needs, it is often also consumed for irrigation. The larger the area of ​​the personal plot, the larger the volume of the receiver it is better to purchase. Usually, if you need to water your garden plot, you should install a hydraulic accumulator with a capacity of at least 50 liters.

This is interesting! Even if you made a mistake in choosing a hydraulic accumulator, you should not change it for another (larger capacity), especially since it will no longer be accepted during its operation. You can always install an additional tank that will be filled with water in parallel.