Vacuum pump installation location
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I encountered a problem in the project: the water pump was installed horizontally in a dry setup, and the water level at startup was not sufficient; therefore, a vacuum pump was needed to create a vacuum. The medium pumped by the water pump is seawater, which contains fine sand particles. The manufacturer recommends installing the vacuum system (including a vacuum pump, vacuum tank, solenoid valve, etc.) on the water pump’s outlet pipe. The reason is that this ensures that the volute of the main pump is already filled with water when the vacuum pump is stopped. And it can minimize the possibility of seawater entering the vacuum pump. The owner’s proposal is to install the vacuum system on the water inlet pipe. Dear experts, which option is more reasonable? And what is the reason. Where are general vacuum systems typically installed?
Your goal is that when the liquid level in the vacuum tank is high, the pump casing of the main pump, which is located at the lower level, gets filled with water. At that point, the vacuum pump should be stopped and the main pump started. I think both requirements can be met; the main issue is to implement a high-liquid-level interlock that stops the vacuum pump and starts the main pump.
Located at the high point of the pump and the inlet pipeline, its purpose is to fill the inlet pipeline and the pump with water
If it is installed on the outlet pipeline, it is because of the horizontal installation. The designated point can also be used to fill the water pump and the inlet pipeline with water. Are both options feasible, namely placing it on the outlet pipeline and on the inlet pipeline? Which one is better? What are the advantages and disadvantages? ?
Generally speaking, the vacuuming at the inlet and outlet might be similar, but there are definitely differences. Firstly, this is to prevent air from accumulating in high areas; secondly, it is necessary to evacuate both the inlet pipeline and the pump completely at once. It’s not clear how the pipelines and pumps are arranged on site, and if seawater does not reach those areas during vacuuming, it cannot be considered that sufficient vacuum has been achieved. Therefore, in this regard, the vacuum pump must come into contact with seawater – it is impossible to determine that the pump can start operating until seawater has reached those areas.
Personally, I think it’s more reasonable to place it at the inlet, mainly to ensure that the inlet pipe and the pump are filled with water
Due to the horizontal installation, the position of the outlet pipe is higher than the highest levels of the volute and the inlet pipe. If it is installed at the outlet pipe location, it can also ensure that the inlet pipe and the pump are filled with water.
In a vacuum system, a vacuum tank is installed before the vacuum pump; this tank contains a float switch, and when the seawater reaches a certain level, it indicates that the pump and the pipes have been evacuated. Then turn off the vacuum pump and turn on the water pump.