kolektiv
Member
Hello! I'm designing a tiny 3V system (about 5-7.5l batches) and am looking at pumps and piping. At the moment I'm thinking that a fairly small pump (something like a Topsflo TS5, or a similar non-branded equiv) would do (about 12l/min), combined with 12mm (OD) piping/valves, etc. By my reckoning this would give about 2.2-2.5m/s max velocity, and I generally hear a rule of thumb of about 1.5m/s for recirculation, etc. and 2m/s+ for cleaning. So it seems like this would work passably well.
However, I'm no fluid dynamics expert. To me that pipe size seems small but proportionate, as does a pump with about that capacity, but am I missing anything? Do I need to think about anything in particular with valve sizing, etc.? At the moment I can't see any reason not to settle on 12mm (1/2") as a standard, as having bigger valves than piping doesn't seem to be particularly required.
Can anyone see any immediate problems?
EDIT!
Immediate problem I'm finding is pipe and braided hose in 1/2"! 3/4" seems to be fine, no problem, but then my flow velocity at 12l/min seems like it would be far too slow. Am I overthinking that? If I went with 3/4" pipe/valves in general, I suppose I could always step the diameter down in a few places if a faster velocity seems needed? (If the pump will take it)
However, I'm no fluid dynamics expert. To me that pipe size seems small but proportionate, as does a pump with about that capacity, but am I missing anything? Do I need to think about anything in particular with valve sizing, etc.? At the moment I can't see any reason not to settle on 12mm (1/2") as a standard, as having bigger valves than piping doesn't seem to be particularly required.
Can anyone see any immediate problems?
EDIT!
Immediate problem I'm finding is pipe and braided hose in 1/2"! 3/4" seems to be fine, no problem, but then my flow velocity at 12l/min seems like it would be far too slow. Am I overthinking that? If I went with 3/4" pipe/valves in general, I suppose I could always step the diameter down in a few places if a faster velocity seems needed? (If the pump will take it)
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