Can I position a pump in a vertical orientation?

[Sierra_Bravo]

I am building a mixing station in a very restrictive space. Question: Can an external pump be mounted vertically with the inlet facing the floor or must it be mounted horizontally? I'm not sure what effect this may have long term on the motor or bearings.

 

[JBradford]

I don't think I would effect anything but I've never tried it. I'm also thinking back to pumps I've used in industry and I don't recall ever seeing a pump mounted 90* out. Let me talk to a flow engineer I work with and I'll let you know what he says.

 

[Reefing Madness]

@AZDesertRat

 

[Sierra_Bravo]

I don't think I would effect anything but I've never tried it. I'm also thinking back to pumps I've used in industry and I don't recall ever seeing a pump mounted 90* out. Let me talk to a flow engineer I work with and I'll let you know what he says.

That would be great - I appreciate that.

 

[JBradford]

He said pump orientation does not mater as long as there is a source to feed the inlet properly without it running dry and that if it needs to be primed to start there is a priming source. It could however change your flow rates/head pressure so keep that in mind as well.

What is the reasoning for wanting to make this change?

 

[JBradford]

And the manufacturer may not recommend it and it could void your warranty.

 

[Sierra_Bravo]

What is the reasoning for wanting to make this change?

It's a space issue (which really translates into it's a poor planning issue :)) . I don't have sufficient area to place the pump horizontal for the salt water mixing station I'm trying to create. I'm exploring options before having to relocate the entire station. Thanks for asking your expert.

 

[naecO rM]

Hi, what pump you gonna use?
The problem can be with an air inside the pump (bell effect) and rotor will be dry, which is not good.
I think you will try to solve the problems just drill back side of pump a small hole, where rotor is bearing, but be careful and do not crash the bearing. That must help let an air go through the pump and rotor will be always wet.

 

[Sierra_Bravo]

24v DC pump, Varios, Vectra, Eflux or similar. Thought was to use the same model pump as what I will eventually use in the sump to feed my DT as this would allow me to have a backup on hand. I haven't made a final decision on the pump brand. I'd post a pic of the area I'm trying to squeeze into but I'm at work at the moment.

 

[bobman]

IT will work fine just make sure the impeller is wet. Meaning air must be able to escape which is a pretty easy thing to do. You would need to have the inlet to the pump plumbed close to the bottom of the mixing station. Then plumb the outlet of the pump higher up than the inlet with no turns that would trap air. This should let water in and through the pump keeping it wet at all times. It may affect head pressure but it would be minimal and since it is a mixing station what little bit of flow you might lose is not a concern honestly.