Commercial Water System Switches/Valves?

Question

I have a commercial water system which works by an air compressor which forces air down a center pipe located inside a larger pipe, through which water flows, as the air pressure pushes the water up the outer pipe, into a holding tank. What I need is a release valve which will let the air pressure escape (and not water) from the holding tank and shut off when the tank if full of water. Also, I need a switch that will shut off the compressor when the tank is full of water and maintaine about 40-60 pounds of pressure in the system. Thanks Rick Magee

Answer 1

You can find air release valves on the Internet. The rest of the problem is a little more complicated. I am not sure exactly how the system really works. It sounds as if it must cycle. That is, air would be forced down the inner pipe, forcing water up the outer one. a check valve would hold water in the tank and outer pipe. Then the air pressure would have to be dissipated to allow water to rise up to the top of the water table, and the process would be repeated. I think you want to maintain some air in the tank to keep the pumping system from cycling too often. The air release valve could be mounted on a piece of pipe that extends some distance down into the tank. This way you will always have some air in the system.

Then perhaps you want a level switch to start the pumping compressor, and turn it off when the tank is full enough. This same switch would want to operate a solenoid valve that would divert air from the center pipe to the air space above the water in the tank. This is how you could maintain the 40 to 60 psi.

All sounds too complex to me. Is this a manufactured item, or maybe home made? If manufactured, perhaps you could get better advice from the manufacturer.

Answer 2

It doesn't sound to me that you know what you are looking at or can't explain it very well, call a plumber