Sanity check, dual strainers

[jmhart]

Sanity check.

Look at my drawing. Will I get flow through both strainers? The part of me that has engineering experience can't reconcile the part of me that's like everybody else.

On the one hand, path of less resistance and all that, it seems like I'd get more flow through Strainer A. But ther other part of me says that, assuming that the tube is filled with water, I'll get flow from both equally(or at least approximately equally).

Sanity check please.

 

[bghill]

It looks like it will flow from both, but the strainer directly above the drain pipe will pull stronger. This suction effect will cause the strainer at the end of the horizontal tube pull as well. If it is to be a balanced system the drain pipe would need to be in the middle.
Just my best guess though.

 

[Trigger1985]

I think you'll get flow from both, it may be lopsided, but you'll get flow. Tht's pretty much how a python works- fast current past an opening creating a little siphon in the opening drawing water in. The flow may even equalize at some point. That will however give you a nice back up if one strainer clogs and you return pump is still flowing.

 

[jmhart]

That sounds pretty decent to me. I'm trying to improve total flow in the tank(it's 120g), so even getting, say, 30% out of B would be beneficial and worth it to me.

I suppose when it comes down to it, the question really is, will any come out of B? Because, my alternatives are either just A, or A and B. So, point is, if any comes out of B, it's worth it to me.

That might answer my question. I think at the very least, some will come from B. It'll only cost me like $10(not even) to add B.

 

[excuzzzeme]

If it is gravity flow it will work. Likely 70/30 or 80/20. You could always add a restriction to inlet "A" to help balance. Food color dripped very close to each drain will show you a comparative.

 

[jmhart]

If it is gravity flow it will work. Likely 70/30 or 80/20. You could always add a restriction to inlet "A" to help balance. Food color dripped very close to each drain will show you a comparative.

I was thinking that between gravity and siphon effects, it would at least get decent flow from B.

However, my wife(the actual chemical engineer....I'm just a lowly chemist) came up with a better solution to help equalize flow. I'll be moving strainer A to the left(in the diagram). The hole where it goes to the filtration loop is fixed and cannot be moved, but I can move A to the left, and thus adding an elbow as a restriction. Therefore, both A and B will have to, essentially, go around two 90 degree turns before going down to the filtration loop.

A will likely still pull more flow, but it'll be much closer to equal this way.

 

[jmhart]

So, redesigned, it'll be like this:

 

[RodInCALIFORNIA]

since its less than 10.00 to do it i would give it a try.

 

[Trigger1985]

Your wife's idea sounds like darn good plan.

 

[CWO4GUNNER]

Pressure will be the same but volume will be less out of B, almost indistinguishable, I would be more concerned with the bends not being sharp right angles if possible to avoid any clogs or build up restrictions you cant service or don't plan to, becasue that is where your show down will occur more then that length if it clogs as a result. I believe there are elbow you can buy that are more gradual 90's. Important becasue if you do have to service a simple pipe brush on a wire handle will pass and clean out a gradual round turn, but not a right angle.