Vacuum pump to drain sprinkler line
Vacuum pump to drain sprinkler line
(OP)
I posted this thread on the "piping and fluid mechanics" forum, but then it occurred to me that I should consult you refrigeration pros. You routinely pull vacuums on lines before charging. Has anyone ever pulled a deep enough vacuum to vaporize and remove water from lines?
I have a fire protection sprinkler line above a finished space that needs significant modification. The mains are no problem to drain; however, each drop down to the heads is about 6' long. Those drops will not drain until the heads are removed, thereby making a mess all over my office space. We will of course put down tarps, buckets, etc. but I would like to get all of the water out before breaking the line.
There is a rotary piston vacuum pump on site. Can it be used to pull a deep enough vacuum to vaporize/suck out the water? in theory, the pump claims to be able to pull 29" Hg. Anyone ever done this?
I have a fire protection sprinkler line above a finished space that needs significant modification. The mains are no problem to drain; however, each drop down to the heads is about 6' long. Those drops will not drain until the heads are removed, thereby making a mess all over my office space. We will of course put down tarps, buckets, etc. but I would like to get all of the water out before breaking the line.
There is a rotary piston vacuum pump on site. Can it be used to pull a deep enough vacuum to vaporize/suck out the water? in theory, the pump claims to be able to pull 29" Hg. Anyone ever done this?





RE: Vacuum pump to drain sprinkler line
RE: Vacuum pump to drain sprinkler line
.4 PSIA before you would start to boil the water. We usually get the vacuumes down to < 1000 microns. I don't think this would be a good application.
I'm not a real engineer, but I play one on T.V.
A.J. Gest, York Int.
RE: Vacuum pump to drain sprinkler line
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: Vacuum pump to drain sprinkler line
You could you use the vacuum pump to suspend the water while you remove several head and then break the vacuum to allow the drops to drain. We've suspended the whole charge in an absorbtion chiller while we pulled a pump seal we're talking 300 gallons of solution that wieghted about
13lbs/gal. Pretty cool but a bit tense at times. Better stick with the bucket method!!
I'm not a real engineer, but I play one on T.V.
A.J. Gest, York Int.
RE: Vacuum pump to drain sprinkler line
RE: Vacuum pump to drain sprinkler line