Axial Flow Pumps

[GaryD]

Hi,

While airlifts can be used to move large volumes of water, I see axial flow pumps as a better choice for where I'm heading.

The two devices are compared in this video.

The smallest pump that this company makes is still far more than most backyarders could accommodate.....but the wattage:volume equation looks very tidy.

The manufacturer claims that....

One of our three inch (inlet and outlet) Axial flow pumps. This unit is low low head and can pump up to one foot and at water level or just above water level pumps 100 gpm and uses 60 watts.

378 litres a minute.....or over 22,00 litres per hour.....at 60 watts.

Something about half the capacity of this one would be good.

Might be a good DIY project.

I've emailed the manufacturer for a price.......I can feel the pain already.

Gary

[ande]

here is preformance charts from a dutch airlift site http://users.telenet.be/airlift/html...t_results.html
I think it's easyer to build a small (volum) airlift than a axial pump, but indeed they are comperable in low watt use.
You get x-tra airaiton with the air lift aplication so thats my favorite.

Iff you want to build (DIY) axial pump small, a tunnel thruster (bow truster) for model boats might be a option ?

http://www.cornwallmodelboats.co.uk/...thrusters.html
I have not looked at any particular on the link, just put it up for exampel to show what I'm talking about

cheers

[GaryD]

Hi Ande,

I think it's easyer to build a small (volum) airlift than a axial pump, but indeed they are comperable in low watt use.

They certainly seem to have merit in certain situations......but then there's the racket that blowers make and an airlift that moves 22,000 litres an hour may not be an easy DIY proposition......nor as compact as the unit featured in the YouTube video.

As you suggested earlier, airlifts are going to be easiest to incorporate if you do so at the system design stage.

Hey, horses for courses.

Gary

[GaryD]

Hi,

I had a very timely response from the manufacturer of these pumps....and he says:

Gary,

The three inch units in the videos range in price a little depending on the motor. The smaller one is 399.00 and the other unit is 499.00. In fact there is one on ebay right now for 399.00.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/160706440674...84.m1555.l2649

I build pumps in the 1000-2000 gph range and will can run on 240 volts. The units in the video are very special low head design. If your aquaponics is set up low head you will get the flow rate in the videos. If the water has to over come a foot or two of lift the flow rate is reduced. For example the pump on ebay pumps 6000 gph at water level while at one foot it will pump 3000 gph.

Thank you,
Andy Williamson
714 676 4871
www.aquatechmfg.com

I might just have to try one of these pumps.....once I get a few more tanks hooked up.

Gary

[Kaduda]

Interesting find...Could be a DIY project...I have an old trolling motor...Just need to get a pipe big enough for the prop...Put reducers on each side...Since it uses 12v could hook it up to a solar array...