HOW TO INSTALL THE PAPA WATER POWERED PUMP
Having purchased your Papa water powered pump, it is important that the groundwork is carefully prepared.
Once the position for the pumping system has been decided, it is necessary to consider whether some form of filter or screening is required. Generally speaking, all but spring water supplies tend to carry unwanted debris at some time or another.
The setting of a catchment tank in the bed or to the side of the water course is a necessity. An outlet is taken from the tank about one third distance from the tank bottom. This allows an area in the base of the tank for solids settlement, while less dense debris such as twigs and leaves will tend to wash over the tank. Various formations of mesh and screens may be incorporated to enhance the process, as may a second supply or settlement tank.
Assessing the filtration requirements will be dependant upon the individual site but it is generally easier and less costly to incorporate a screen and secondary settlement during the initial installation, as it can only be an advantage to do so.
With the water supply part of the system decided, you will now have to look at locating and securing the Papa water powered pump. The position for this will already have been assessed during the site survey but it is worth considering further before commencement of the work.
To maintain the 'Supply Head' it is preferable to position the Papa water powered pump at the lowest level available. However, if this is inconvenient to do so because of, say, flooding or bad ground, it may be positioned at a higher level, providing a pipe with airtight connections is fitted to the 'Exhaust' outlet with the other end submerged below the water level. This pipe should be kept as short as possible with a facility to allow for flexing and contraction. This could be in the form of a flexible pipe section fitted to the 'Exhaust' water pipe and close to the pump, or by coupling in a second smaller pipe ( typically half the diameter of the 'Exhaust' water pipe ) at a position close to the pump and submerged with the main pipe.
By doing this, a 'Siphon' effect is generated, thereby maintaining the 'Supply Head'. ( The 'Siphon Head' should not exceed one third of the 'Supply Head' ) It is recommended that an 'Exhaust' water pipe as described is always fitted to the Papa water powered pump as it prevents any 'Drawback' of air into the pump and also maintains a dry pump site.
Pressure Vessels
Because the Papa water powered pump operates in a pulsating mode, the water delivery is not a smooth flow. If your application requires a smooth flow, a pressure vessel may be installed in close proximity to the pump delivery outlet. This reduces the energy losses in the delivery system thereby increasing the pump's efficiency.
How the Pressure Vessel works
An elastic membrane or bladder retains the delivery water inside it, and is surrounded by an 'air cushion' outside the membrane or bladder. As a high pressure pulse of water is delivered, the membrane expands, thereby compressing the air. This air then acts back on the membrane, pushing the water out as the pressure pulse diminishes. Because the 'Delivery Head' affects the pressure on the membrane, this pressure has to be balanced on the other side by the air pressure. This is achieved by pumping air into the vessel through the Schrader air valve using a hand, foot or automatic compressor pump.
