×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

Syphoning Down a Lake

Syphoning Down a Lake

Syphoning Down a Lake

(OP)
As part of our process I will have to reduce the level in a small lake that forms on top of our waste rock containment by about 1 meter.  The average inflow is 900 US GPM and the water will only have to be piped a short distance overt he final spill way.  How would I get the flow started?  I assume I will have to run the discharge to a lower elevastion than the suction, just enough to cover the head loss in the pipe?

Some one over on the mechanical forum suggested the civil forum might be better for this one.

RE: Syphoning Down a Lake

You will need to put valves or plugs in each end of the pipe and a "T" section at the high point.  Then fill the pipe using the "T", block off the "T", and open both valves at the same time.  That should start the syphon.  It may take a couple of times, but the keys are to get the pipe full and open the valves at the same time.

RE: Syphoning Down a Lake

I have seen pumps used to get the flow going.  Using valves, you can then let gravity take over the flow.  I worked at a research lab that had 5 ciphens running over a dam that carried 30 CFM each.  Geopave's method wouldn't require a pump, but some way of filling your ciphon up.

RE: Syphoning Down a Lake

We do this all the time do dewater ponds at feedyards.  Use PVC pipe with a ball valve at the top.  Plug your discharge end and hook you ball valve to the vacuum lines on your truck.  Start the truck and let it suck the air out for you.  Make sure you have a clear sight valve so you don't suck water into the trucks vacuum system.  When water breaks the crest close the ball valve and off she goes by herself.  You could then open the ball valve to let air in to stop the syphone.  

RE: Syphoning Down a Lake

Carefully immerse the pipe(s) in the lake so that it is filled with water as it is fed in. Seal/ plug one end and anchor the open end so that it remains immersed as you drag the sealed end to the outfall point. When all is set remove the plug.

regards Hugh

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources