Air Bubbles & Causation

[ninbura]

I have a very large water loop containing multiple computers and external pumps and reservoirs. Up until a few months ago I was using 3 PMP-500 pumps in serial to drive the system but wondered if I could remove one and retain performance. 

 

At first all seemed well, but over time large air bubbles have developed in my system. There would appear to be no leaks, would this be caused by a lack of pressure or flow rate? 

[W-L]

17 minutes ago, TheAgnda said:

I have a very large water loop containing multiple computers and external pumps and reservoirs. Up until a few months ago I was using 3 PMP-500 pumps in serial to drive the system but wondered if I could remove one and retain performance. 

 

At first all seemed well, but over time large air bubbles have developed in my system. There would appear to be no leaks, would this be caused by a lack of pressure or flow rate? 

Photo, love to see this setup!

 

Sounds like there isn't enough flow to push the fluid completely through everything, or there a a trapped air pocket somewhere causing a buffering type effect with the fluid as it's try to go through. 

 

Depending on how it's configured having a secondary pump mid way along the line may not be a bad idea as long as there is a constant feed of fluid. 

[ninbura]

12 minutes ago, W-L said:

Photo, love to see this setup!

 

Sounds like there isn't enough flow to push the fluid completely through everything, or there a a trapped air pocket somewhere causing a buffering type effect with the fluid as it's try to go through. 

 

Depending on how it's configured having a secondary pump mid way along the line may not be a bad idea as long as there is a constant feed of fluid. 

You may have already seen it, you've helped me in the past although I've been away from the forums for a bit now.

 

https://imgur.com/gallery/ZinwY

 

So you don't think this would have anything to do with head pressure? I've got the each pump on a speed controller and can easily increase the flow rate. Just wasn't sure that would do anything considering flow should technically be the same as before I removed the third pump right? 

[W-L]

11 minutes ago, TheAgnda said:

You may have already seen it, you've helped me in the past although I've been away from the forums for a bit now.

 

https://imgur.com/gallery/ZinwY

 

So you don't think this would have anything to do with head pressure? I've got the each pump on a speed controller and can easily increase the flow rate. Just wasn't sure that would do anything considering flow should technically be the same as before I removed the third pump right? 

I may have in the past but don't think I saw the final result, looks real good. 

 

As for removing one pump it should be alright since the PMP 500 is pretty hefty, but if you are getting air trapped at the PC it's probably lacking the flow to force the air back into the large res since the PC is the highest point in the loop. See if increasing the speed of the pumps help to push trapped air back around the loop. 

[ninbura]

22 hours ago, W-L said:

I may have in the past but don't think I saw the final result, looks real good. 

 

As for removing one pump it should be alright since the PMP 500 is pretty hefty, but if you are getting air trapped at the PC it's probably lacking the flow to force the air back into the large res since the PC is the highest point in the loop. See if increasing the speed of the pumps help to push trapped air back around the loop. 

Thanks 

Turns out one of the two pumps I was using at the time of writing the post was actually dead, oops... well at least the system was redundant. 

Went ahead and drained everything and replaced the dead pump with the one I originally took out, though I wonder if having two pumps in serial is somehow bad for the PMP-500, weird that it would die in just over a year. The one that died had a direct feed from the reservoir so it seems odd that the configuration would have been the problem, nevertheless things seem to be good for now.

I think you were right about the flow rate, I have both the controllers at 50% now (was 0%) and bubbles seem to be less prevalent or at least quick vanishing, thanks for the help.

[W-L]

4 hours ago, TheAgnda said:

Thanks 

Turns out one of the two pumps I was using at the time of writing the post was actually dead, oops... well at least the system was redundant. 

Went ahead and drained everything and replaced the dead pump with the one I originally took out, though I wonder if having two pumps in serial is somehow bad for the PMP-500, weird that it would die in just over a year. The one that died had a direct feed from the reservoir so it seems odd that the configuration would have been the problem, nevertheless things seem to be good for now.

I think you were right about the flow rate, I have both the controllers at 50% now (was 0%) and bubbles seem to be less prevalent or at least quick vanishing, thanks for the help.

It’s not a problem to run pumps in series as that’s a very common practice to increase pressure.