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Nozzle height above pump

Discussion in 'Growing Areas' started by mrbreeze, Sep 3, 2013.

  1. Sep 3, 2013 #1
    mrbreeze

    mrbreeze Anglican Supporting Member

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    So i'm getting ready to install my Mistking system in the greenhouse and I'm trying to determine how far below the nozzles my pump can be and still have enough power to have good flow out of them.

    I *could* run the supply line for the nozzles along the floor, at about the same level as the pump, at eye level (where it was in the house), or at about 8' off the floor. At 8' i could run the tubing along the beam overhead and then run lines down to the nozzles. That's what I would prefer to do. However I'm concerned that the pump might not be able to push the water that far up.

    Anyone have any experience with running a Mistking (20 nozzle kit/pump) at those heights? I wonder if the level of the pump makes a difference? Clearly i need an engineer or hydro-physicist here....

    More specifically, the pump has run at about waist level, drawing water from a bucket on the floor and pushed the water to eye level. What if I mounted the pump at eye level? Does the 'power' of the pump to move water upwards change when the elevation of the pump above the reservoir changes? I really don't want to set up all the nozzles and then find out the pump can't handle the vertical burden. Thanks for any input.
     
  2. Sep 3, 2013 #2
    Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

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    Have you contacted the company? They should be able to answer the question.
     
  3. Sep 3, 2013 #3
    mrbreeze

    mrbreeze Anglican Supporting Member

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    No, not yet. The last time i tried to ask them something, they never responded so I figure I'd ask here and at work first.
     
  4. Sep 3, 2013 #4
    ZWUM

    ZWUM Bulbophiliac Staff Member

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    You should be able to look up the specs for the pump. Usually sumps and large volume pumps have a rating for vertical lift but they're moving a lot of water at through a much bigger tube. Once your system is primed there should t be any issues provided the nozzles don't leak. But even if they do the amount of water your moving probably isn't that much, I'm guessing your tubing is 1/2" or less.
     
  5. Sep 3, 2013 #5
    mrbreeze

    mrbreeze Anglican Supporting Member

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    The tubing is 1/4" and I just noticed on the pump body it says "self prime height 2 m". I can only assume that means 2 meters from the pump itself and not from the reservoir, in which case i should be fine. I did send an email to the company so we'll see if I get a reply. I'd still like to know if the pump distance from the reservoir makes any kind of significant difference. Where's a fluid dynamics engineer when you need one!!?? :rolleyes:
     
  6. Sep 4, 2013 #6
    aLycaste

    aLycaste New Member

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    I have my Mistking nozzles, 15 of them, at the 8' level. The heigth difference is about 7' from pump to nozzles. No problem with the pressure. I have not measured it, but looks good.
     
    Marni likes this.
  7. Sep 4, 2013 #7
    T. migratoris

    T. migratoris Active Member

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    I don't have any experience with your equipment but in the pump world and generally speaking ...

    - Self-prime height would refer to the vertical distance between the minimum water level in the reservoir and the pump intake. So yes ... the vertical distance between the pump and resrvoir can make a big difference - it can make the difference between self-priming and melting. I would typically recommend minimizing this distance in most applications (lower the pump as much as possible).

    - I think aLycaste answered your other question anecdotally. Looks like the pump (assuming you have the same pump) can pressurize misters at least 7 feet higher so try your setup at 8 feet & see what happens. Since the self-prime height is upwards of 6 feet you have a lot of wiggle room. Put the pump as close to the reservoir as possible, run the supply lines at 8 feet where you want them, and if you're not happy with the nozzle output raise the pump a bit until you are.

    When a pump doesn't work right clients always want a larger pump ... 90% of the time the problem isn't pump size, but rather the way it's configured in the system.