Idea to increase volume and reduce current

[mrramsey]

Hi all - I want to re work the return nozzle I have so that I get increased water volume while lowering the pressure or current that is produced. Currently it is all 3/4" PVC and one nozzle I made from the pvc that is flared. I am thinking that if I replace what I have with a 2- 3/4" 90's and a 3/4" tee I may be able to produce the desired effect. This will also have several 1/4" holes drilled in the tee to help diffuse the water.

Here is an image of what I want to do.



What do you think??

[waack]

It depends on how far you space the outlets from each other, if they are close it's not going to make a heap of difference because you are still adding the same amount of water (and hence displacing other water making current) to the same area. However if the flared pieces are a fair distance apart the current in the original location will be half, but you will add current in another location. Really you are just distributing the current more evenly in the tank:) the same way a spray bar does. The holes will help that too. Probably a bit long winded sorry.

[KevinVA]

I don't see a photo?

Nevermind - I think it's a problem where the image is hosted. I'm able to see it using a proxy browser (just can't see it from work).

Looks pretty good and as suggested, it'll definitely cover your basis on dispersing the water output, so you get better coverage. Should slow it down a bit, but I doubt you'll see much of a difference. You could add some type of flow restriction to the sides of the drilled area, so that more water is pushed through the 1/4" drilled holes, before passing into the next chambers, like a more narrow passage (or the pressure regulator I mentioned in your journal) that enters into the larger chamber.

[Goes to 11!]

+1 to waack,

You will simply be redirecting the current but it could be very effective [or not] depending on what you are trying to accomplish..

[KevinVA]

Here's what I'm trying to describe above:

[waack]

By restricting flow through the elbows you will get higher pressure through the spray area, but by doing that the holes create 'jets' of water so if you only have say 6 or 7 that will create high pressure flow coming into the tank which i think he is trying to avoid. A better way would be to cut a single slot instead of having several holes, is that a possibility?

[KevinVA]

I don't think that would happen. You're restricting water flow. You're already getting high pressure from the pump. Any obstacle you place in the way of the flow will restrict it, plus there's a "well" after the restriction for the water to fill and then exit the outflow, so you won't get the high-stream effect (or you shouldn't, in theory).

The same practice is used for low-flow showerheads.

Edit: I re-read what you said and realized you were talking about the 1/4" drilled holes that would create the high-stream effect. I doubt there's much flow from the holes right now, though, so the gained pressure will probably bring the output to optimal levels for the holes. Of course, you could always drill more on the bottom or back, if you're worried.

[mrramsey]

By restricting flow through the elbows you will get higher pressure through the spray area, but by doing that the holes create 'jets' of water so if you only have say 6 or 7 that will create high pressure flow coming into the tank which i think he is trying to avoid. A better way would be to cut a single slot instead of having several holes, is that a possibility?

I think your right Waack. I could do the tee and 90's in 1" fittings as opposed to 3/4"... My though t behind this is as follows:

lets say the flow rate through the 3/4" return line is a theoretical 100 gph and that is reduced currently to a single flare and the pressure at the flare is 30psi (again these numbers don't mean anything just using them as a visual). Now I split the outlet into a 3/4" tee and two flares thus reducing the gph to 50 at each nozzle and the pressure to 15psi. The result is the same volume at a slower current or less pressure. Essentially halved.

I want to open my ball valves to allow more volume so even if I increase the theoretical number to 150 gph and the pressure to 45psi when I halve that into two nozzles I am still less that the single nozzle pressure. So the current in the tank should be reduced but not any faster that it was. The main goal it to increase the overall GPH that is circulated through the sump and yet stay within the smallest footprint possible.

[Goes to 11!]

Use a 'Y' and not a 'T' and slot the bottom of it to whatever degree is required [And/or around the sides if need be].

EDIT: Oh actually I see looking at the second diagram I misunderstood what you are trying to get going on... Nevermind :-P

[mrramsey]

Oh and yes I can cut slots as opposed to holes. The idea is to diffuse as much as possible while allowing maximum volume.