Livestock water system

System
System Posts: 2,511 admin
Any suggestions on what type of pump and panels I'd need given this setup and requirements:

A spring fed tank that can supply the pump via gravity.
Lift 25' vertically, and supply approx 1000' of 3/4" poly to a number of tanks with float valves.
move 1000 gallons a day in summer, 700 winter.
Lat 39, Ohio.

Much thanks

Comments

  • mike95490
    mike95490 Solar Expert Posts: 9,583 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Re: Livestock water system

    So you need about a 3000gal "supply tank" to store your spring water.

    How "clean" is the water - do you need strainers ?

    25' lift is not too bad Can you go with 1" pipe? 3/4 is kind of small for a long run

    It needs more "head" than most transfer pumps, but less than many well pumps.

    figure a 6 hour solar pumping window in summer, 4 hours in winter
    Summer : 170 GPH
    Winter: : 175 GPH about the same, seasonally, about 3G per minute should do it.

    Do you need another tank at the destination end ?

    What about cloudy days ?

    Will you need battery backup for pumping in winter (now you are talking some real money for enough panels to recharge low batteries in the winter)

    What about freeze ups in winter ?

    Gosh, no real answers here, just more questions.


    Powerfab top of pole PV mount | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
    || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
    || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

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  • System2
    System2 Posts: 6,290 admin
    Re: Livestock water system

    The spring in the driest times produces more than 1000 gallons/day. The excess would overflow into a creek. The water is clear.

    A second tank at the end of the pump would have to be elevated and would freeze in the winter, not a year round option. The actual stock tanks with float valves would be below grade far enough to only freeze in the most extreme expected temps.

    The cloudy days question is one I also have, would the system need to be size accordingly?

    1" pipe is possible, a little more costly.

    thanks for the help.
  • mike95490
    mike95490 Solar Expert Posts: 9,583 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Re: Livestock water system
    The actual stock tanks with float valves would be below grade far enough to only freeze in the most extreme expected temps.

    The cloudy days question is one I also have, would the system need to be size accordingly?

    Will the water pipe be exposed to freezing ? and what happens to your float valves if they freeze ?
    Will the source pump be damaged if line is stopped with ice plug ?
    If you had a 1000 gal tank at the far end of the system, would it freeze solid, or just edges? You likely shouldn't try to refill stock tanks from the pressurized pipe, but use a tank near there. That would also hold you on a cloudy day or 3

    Powerfab top of pole PV mount | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
    || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
    || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

    solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
    gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister ,

  • System2
    System2 Posts: 6,290 admin
    Re: Livestock water system

    All the lines would be buried. The tanks and valves would be about a foot below grade so they wouldn't freeze most winters.

    Maybe I should simplify the question. What pump and panel configuration would be used if I had the the tank at the spring, a 25' lift and a storage tank 1000' of pipe away?