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Plumbing Full course Part 23


   In this part of the full Plumbing course, we will see about various flows in plumbing..

A stack is the main vertical pipe that carries away discharge from water closets and urinals

Plumbing Flow in Stacks

Pipe Flow Chart

The pipe flow chart shows how water flows into a stack and out of a stack, or vice versa. Water enters the system at P-1, goes down the intake pipe to P-2, then to P-3 where it may go anywhere. If the system is unbalanced and not flowing properly or if air bubbles have gotten inside the pipes, then they will not flow evenly throughout the entire stack but rather unevenly, causing problems.

Air Bubble in Stack

Air bubbles cause pressure issues in a stack. The problem first starts when excess water enters the stack via the intake pipe. When the water comes through the intake pipe, it hits the top of the valve and causes the valve to open slightly. Once the water is allowed through the valve, the volume of incoming water exceeds the volume of outgoing water. As a result, extra air is introduced into the system. When air gets trapped in the pipes, it creates an imbalance that causes a buildup of pressure.

Unnecessary Pressure Relief Valve

A pressure relief valve should only be opened before a pressure spike occurs, otherwise it could release a high amount of water that could flood an area and destroy property. A pressure relief valve is normally located at the bottom of each stack in order to prevent unwanted leaks. It relieves pressure either automatically or manually when the pressure reaches a certain level.

Blocked Drain Line

Drain lines should drain any liquid waste away from the house and prevent sewage backup. However, if a drain line becomes blocked, the water will back up and overflow onto the floor or driveway. Plumbers may need to clean out the blockage in order to restore proper drainage.

Overflow Preventer (OVP)

An OVP prevents excess pressure from building up through the system. If the system is not designed correctly, it can create an overload condition that causes excessive pressure. This type of device consists of two flanges, one connected to the outlet side and one connected to the inlet side, which will force excess water out of the system when the pressure builds.

 Pumping System

Pumping systems move water to different locations in the home. Typically, pumping systems consist of a compressor, pump, and electric motor. These components work together to transfer water from the well or lake to a storage tank; however, sometimes these parts fail, leading to improper functioning of the system.

 Electric Motor Failure

When an electric motor fails it results in no movement of the pump. This failure can happen due to many reasons, including a broken wire or bad connection. In order to fix this issue, plumbers need to find the source of the faulty wiring and correct it.

What is a stack?

A Stack is simply a vertical structure made out of pipe segments connected together. Stacks are used in water distribution systems to channel water towards its destination. A typical water distribution system consists of a few levels of pipes. Each level contains smaller diameter pipes that run upward until they connect with bigger pipes at the top of the stack. In general, each pipe segment should have a slight slope upwards, or be slightly tapered. This helps ensure water flows smoothly throughout the entire stack.

 How do stacks work?

When the water enters the first level of a pipe stack, it begins flowing down the sloped pipes. As the water makes its way down the stack, it picks up speed due to gravity. When the water reaches the bottom of the stack, it exits the lower end of the last pipe section. At this point, the water travels down the next set of stacked pipes. This continues until the water arrives at its final destination. Water pressure is maintained through pumps and valves placed at regular intervals along the pipes.

 Why are stacks necessary?

Stacks help ensure that water flows evenly throughout the system. If the water were allowed to directly flow into the tap, it would cause the tap to overflow if the water was extremely high in volume. Also, if the water were not directed to the tap, then water could accumulate under certain circumstances, resulting in flooding.

 Flow rate

Flow rates are based off pressure differences across a surface and how much water is being displaced. A standard formula is flow Pressure / Area. In general, if a pipe has a 10 inch diameter and a 4" trench, then the area would be 64 square inches. If we double the area and add 20 feet to the length (so the drain gets deeper), we get 128 sq. inches. We need to multiply this by 2 to account for the two sides of the drainpipe, for a total of 256 sq. inches. At 100 pounds per square inch, we have a flow rate of 256 x 100 25600 gallons per hour.

 Max discharge capacity of a drain system

The max discharge capacity of a drain pipe is determined by the size of the pipe's diameter, the depth, and the number of outlets. For example, a 30-inch pipe with 6 outlets can handle 25600 gallons per hour, while a 45-inch pipe with 12 outlets can handle 40320 gallons per hour. There are many factors that affect maximum flow rate, including pipe size, outlet spacing, and height of the water table. The exact amount of water that flows out of each outlet can vary, depending on soil conditions, seasonal changes, and daily weather patterns.

 Average flow rate of a drainage system

Average flow rate is defined as the average volume of water flowing out of a piping system over a given period of time. To calculate the average flow rate, divide the total gallons discharged by the total hours spent at the site. For example, if a home has a total of 8 hours in its stormwater management program, and discharges 300 gallons of water per hour (or 15 gallons per minute) for 6 minutes, the average flow rate is 60 gallons per hour (300/8).

 Discharge coefficient

Discharge coefficient represents the ratio between the discharge rate and the volume of water that flows down a pipe. The lower the discharge coefficient, the higher the percentage of flow reduction between upstream and downstream pipes. The discharge coefficient is calculated using the following equation: Discharge Coefficient Discharge Rate / Volume Flowing Down Pipe. For example, if the discharge rate is 1 gallon per minute and the volume of flow is 1 cubic foot per minute, the discharge coefficient would be 1/(60) 0.017.

 Head loss

Head loss occurs when water runs downhill rather than going into a sewer line or ditch due to gravity. Gravity causes water to move toward the lowest point in a system, which could create problems in some situations. Headloss is often caused by poorly designed systems or poorly maintained pipes. When water heads downhill, it creates backpressure, restricting flow and causing wastewater to back up. Backflow prevention devices reduce headloss by diverting incoming water before it reaches the downstream pipe.

The drainage systems of buildings are designed to remove excess water from the flooring. These drainpipes are generally constructed above the sub-floor (usually concrete), and therefore act as underdrains. Their function is to divert water along the drainage channels into the drainage system where it is removed either by gravity or pumped out of the house.

 Drainage layout

In order to understand how drainpipes work we need to know about their layout. Drainpipes should always be laid out in a way that ensures good drainage. As shown on the image below, a drainpipe must have at least two openings. One will serve as an outlet while the second will serve as an inlet. The inlets and outlets are connected via small holes called swales. A pipe located next to these holes is called a gutter.

 Gutter vs swale

Gutters are the pipes where water flows through as there is no head pressure. Swales are the small holes between the gutters that ensure good drainage. The main purpose of these holes is to allow excess water to escape off the surface of the ground.

 Underdrain

An underdrain is a type of drainage system that prevents water from sitting on top of the sub-floor. It consists of a perforated slab beneath the floorboards. Water that enters the sub-floor drains across the perforations and then exits through the drainpipes.

Sub-floor

A sub-floor is the first layer of flooring over the concrete slab. It consists of plywood, MDF or similar materials and covers the slabs. Because of its weight, it may rest directly on a slab without any additional support structure.

Slab

A slab is the foundation of a building. It provides the base for the building. In many cases it will consist of several layers of concrete, each layer being reinforced with steel rods. The slab is poured before the concrete floors or roof are added, and it remains exposed throughout construction. After pouring, the slab is allowed to harden completely before the final concrete floors or roof are placed.

Floor joists

Floor joists are the long wooden beams that run lengthwise under the floorboards. They provide structural integrity to the floor and help prevent sagging. Joists are separated by 16 inches or 24 inches and they are spaced according to the size of the room. Larger rooms require fewer joists than smaller ones.

What is Drainage?

If you've ever looked at a plumbing diagram, you'll know what drainage means. The idea behind drainage is to get rid of excess water away from the foundation of the house. To do so, we use pipes called drains (also known as 'drip pans') where the water collects and then flows down the pipe towards the outside world. In some cases, the drain may be combined with a sump pump if there's extra volume of water to remove.

 How Does Drainage Work?

The basic principle of drainage is simple: When rain hits a roof, it gets collected in gutters around the perimeter of the house. As the rain falls, gravity pulls it downwards until it reaches the lowest point possible, the ground. If water is left standing in these gutter channels for any length of time, or if they become blocked by debris, the water will begin to collect along the floor of the house. Water then seeps through the foundation wall and eventually finds its way out via the stormwater outlet located near the driveway.

Why Is Drainage Important?

Without proper drainage, water can easily accumulate over time and cause serious damage to floors and ceilings. These problems aren't uncommon - it happens to homes all across North America each year. A good DIY drainage system can prevent many potential issues before they even develop.

 Water Pressure

The pressure of water flowing through the drain system is known as the water pressure. If the water pressure exceeds some threshold value, then the overflow will occur. The maximum allowed water pressure in a typical residence drain system is 1 psi (0.0079 bar). If the drain pipe is not properly sized, then the amount of water pressure may exceed the threshold level.

Drain Pipe Size

A larger diameter pipe is able to pass more volume of water per unit time. So, if the amount of water passing through a pipe is increased, then the capacity of the pipe should increase proportionally; i.e., if the size of the drain pipe increases by 50%, then the pipe's capacity should increase by 25% to maintain the same rate of discharge of water. In addition, the length of the pipe should be kept proportional to its diameter. Hence, if the length of the pipe doubles, the cross-sectional area of the pipe should double. However, if the pipe is made smaller in diameter or shorter in length, then the pipe would have less capacity than what was predicted based on the previous formula.

 Overflow Rate

The amount of water that passes over the edge of the drain pan due to gravity is called the overflow rate. To calculate the overflow rate, multiply the quantity of water in gallons entering the drain system by the number of square feet of drain surface. Then divide this product by the rated capacity of the drain system. Thus, if the quantity of water entering the drain is 300 gpm, the drain pan has a surface area of 2000 ft², and the drain is capable of discharging 5 L/min, then we have:

Q 300 gpm x 2000 ft² ÷ 5 L/min 60 gal/hr

Overflowing the drain pan is undesirable because it causes an unpleasant smell and unsightly appearance. Furthermore, overflowing the drain pan could lead to unwanted consequences including flooding and damage to appliances and fixtures. Also, if the drain pan overflows, then the user must clean out the clog manually.

 Plugging Up

If the drain pan is blocked with material such as hair, toilet paper, food particles, soil, etc., then the water cannot escape and instead becomes trapped inside the drain pan. As the water continues to accumulate inside the drain pan, it eventually rises to the top of the pan and spills into the sink below. This condition is known as plugging up the drain. If the drain pan is plugged up, then it is necessary to remove the blockage before any further water enters the drain pan. A plunger can be useful here.

Leaks

Leaks can occur for various reasons, such as faulty piping, excessive wear on parts, and improper installation. When a leak occurs, water begins leaking into the surrounding environment. The extent of these leaks can vary greatly depending on where the leak originates. For example, a leak originating underneath the flooring may cause mildew stains on the subfloor. On the other hand, leaks between the roof and wall might result in moisture damage to the ceiling. Therefore, one way to determine the location of the leak is to use a waterproof tape. Once the leakage is localized, it is possible to repair it by using caulking.

 Water flow

In general, water should only go down unless blocked. There are many reasons for having a blocked drain including clogs due to debris (such as food), excessive use of cleaning chemicals (like bleach), or a build-up of air bubbles. If your sink, bathtub, or washing machine does not have working drains then it is time for professional help to fix them.

 Gravity

Gravity will ensure the water flows out of fixtures and sinks without any hassle. However, if your pipes or plumbing are old or in poor condition, they may cause pressure buildup inside the pipes. As a result, the water in your pipes cannot move freely and pressure builds up until something causes the pipes to burst. In order to prevent this, make sure you keep your plumbing clean and well maintained.

Drainage systems

There are three types of drainage systems: gravity, horizontal, and vertical. You should choose a type based on your property's layout. Gravity drainage is the easiest option as it just directs water away from the foundation. Horizontal drains work best if you have a basement or crawlspace below the house. Vertical drainage works best if you have a flat roof or pitched roofs overhangs.

 Drains

Draining water from the shower, tub, and sink is a necessity and makes laundry day much easier. A simple plug keeps water out of the fixture while keeping moisture out of your home. Check with your local plumber to determine what kind of plugs are right for your specific situation.

Plumbing Fixtures

Plumbing fixtures come in different sizes and types. Toilet bowls, faucets, showers, and sinks are examples of plumbing fixtures. Make sure you know how to use each type of fixture before using them.

 Drainage System Design & Construction

A good drainage system should have three primary components: A collector system, a distribution system, and a collection/disposal system. Each of these systems must work together efficiently to reduce water loss. Your choice of drain tile size and type affects how effectively the system performs; choosing the correct size often requires trial and error.

Collector Systems

Collector systems collect rainwater and direct it away from structures where it's not wanted. Rainfall enters the roof deck at its highest point, where it drains down the sides of the structure and flows out through the gutters. If the roof is flat and does not slope, then rainwater may flow directly into gutters without any obstacles to slow it down. In this case, a gutter guard is recommended to prevent leaves and debris from clogging the gutters. Otherwise, if the roof slopes and rainwater hits the roof deck at different speeds, then some parts of the roof deck will likely remain wet longer than others. This creates a pooling effect and could lead to serious problems.

In order to avoid this problem, the roof should be sloped evenly across the entire surface area, and the gutters placed at the lowest point of the slope. Sloping roofs are easier to install because they allow for concrete footings to be set up along the lower edge of the roof. A roof slope of 1 in 12 is considered optimal for most climates.

 Distribution Systems

Distribution systems distribute water throughout the property. They're responsible for carrying water away from buildings where it's not wanted, such as driveways and sidewalks. Distributions systems should be designed and installed correctly to ensure proper performance and longevity.

There are two basic types of distribution systems: Gravity-fed and force-fed. Both require properly sized and spaced pipe. However, gravity-fed systems generally consist of small diameter plastic pipes laid across the lawn or driveway, while force-fed systems use larger diameter metal piping.

Gravity-fed systems are inexpensive and lightweight, but have low pressure ratings that make them vulnerable to freeze damage. On the other hand, force-fed systems provide greater pressure ratings, but are heavier and more difficult to lay. An easy way to identify the difference between the two is that force-fed systems use a single supply line coming off the main house while gravity-fed systems require separate supply lines from each bedroom or bathroom.

Force-fed systems are also less susceptible to clogs, but require additional labor to maintain. A force-fed system consists of large diameter PVC pipe that connects to the main distribution box located near the house. From there, smaller diameter PVC pipe delivers water to various fixture outlets around the yard.

Collection/Disposal Systems

Collection/disposal systems are the final stage of a successful drainage system. These systems capture water flowing over rooftops and carry it safely away from buildings to a storm sewer or retention pond. Depending on local codes, water runoff should either go through a swale or ditch, or directly into a sanitary sewer. Regardless of what design is chosen, drainage systems must perform well in order to keep the homeowner happy.

A swale collects rainwater until a critical mass is reached, after which time the water overflows and runs downhill. Swales are relatively cheap compared to other options, but are prone to erosion if they aren't properly constructed. They also require extra maintenance and care to stay in top shape.

Ditches are deeper and wider than swales, but also require regular maintenance in order to retain their effectiveness. Ditches are more expensive than swales, take more space, and do not capture as much rainfall.







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