Water towers are found everywhere: in suburban villages, villages, on farms, in greenhouses, in the territories of small enterprises. What are these structures, why are they needed and how do they work?
What is a water tower?
The water tower is a hydraulic structure, the main purpose of which is the storage and supply of water. Structurally, it is a tank (usually cylindrical in shape), which is installed at a certain height from the surface of the earth; pump equipment; pipelines. The volume of the tank is calculated based on the value of the power of the water supply and water flow.
The first water towers were built several centuries ago. In Russia, perhaps the only customer for the construction of water towers for a long time was the railway, which needed volumetric tanks, where it would be possible to accumulate water supplies for “refueling” steam locomotives. Until now, at many stations today you can see the old brick towers, preserved from the 19th century.
The picture has changed since 1951, when the massive construction of water towers in the countryside began, where, in fact, to this day most of these structures are located. We are talking about the so-called Rozhnovsky towers, the design of which was developed by engineer A.A. Rozhnovsky back in 1936.
It was a revolutionary technical solution. The unified economical metal towers, which are mounted in just 2 to 4 days, perform their functions without the need for winter water heating. Based on the constructive solutions of Rozhnovsky, most of the water towers in our country have been built. It should be added that engineer P.I. also made a significant contribution to their development. Zemskov.
Water towers are located around the world. Differing in structural elements, dimensions and performance, they are, nevertheless, very similar in design and have the same functions. More on this later.
Device and purpose
The main functions of the water tower
The water tower is designed to regulate the flow and pressure of water in the water supply network in an autonomous mode. A fairly simple physical principle of operation determined the development and widespread use of this type of hydraulic structures.
The water tower performs the following functions:
- ensuring the flow of water to consumers;
- uniform distribution of water supply with the simultaneous inclusion of a large number of water consumers performing the function of a reserve source of water supply.
Varieties of water towers
- Masonry towers (obsolete method).
- Reinforced concrete.
- Tanks on hyperboloid supports.
- Tank on frame steel frames.
- Steel tanks of variable section (Rozhnovsky tower).
- Individual tanks.
All waterworks have the same set of basic elements, which can vary depending on the time of construction, the required productivity, the level of groundwater, water, and the relief of the surrounding area. However, there are a number of mandatory structural elements that combine all types of these unique engineering structures:
- A tank (tank) with a volume of tens to thousands of cubic meters. It is made of steel, concrete, plastic, and other anticorrosive materials. It is set at a height based on the calculation of the excess of the bottom level of the tank at the height of the highest point of consumption.
- The reservoir support, which makes up the main “body” of the tower, is up to 25-30 meters high.It is a monolithic or frame structure made of steel beams, reinforced concrete or brick.
- Vertical pipeline (inlet and outlet lines). The supply pipe supplying the tank with water is mounted from the pumps under the outer top cover of the tank. A discharge line (a pipeline with a diameter of 200 mm or more) is connected to a water intake system.
- Ventilation hatch. It is located in the upper part of the tank and is designed to maintain pressure during the interruption of water supply.
- Pump equipment. It is located in a separate building built above a water supply source. It is equipped with a control system that periodically turns on pumps for pumping water in the event of a drop in its level.
- Filtration system.
Principle of operation
The principle of the functioning of the water tower is the law of communicating vessels. Under its own weight, water from the tank is displaced into the bypass pipe until the pressure in the tank and the pressure in the pipelines of the consumers ’water supply network are equalized. So, the tower works as follows:
- water from a water supply source is pumped through a pipeline to a storage tank;
- water from the tank under pressure created by the difference in the height of the tank and the level of the water supply, enters the water supply network;
- at a small flow rate, the tank is filled with incoming water for a certain time, and, after reaching a certain level, the pumps are switched off by the signal of a special sensor. Further, as consumers consume, the water level decreases due to hydrostatic pressure, and when a certain value is reached, the sensor is triggered, the pumps turn on, and the cycle repeats.
In the event of a pump failure or a sudden power outage, the remaining water in the tank continues to flow uninterruptedly to the consumption points in a volume that depends on the size of the storage tank and the minimum level of filling.
Scope of application
Hydraulic towers are installed, as a rule, in local water supply systems, most often in small towns and agricultural facilities. These facilities are economical, they are specifically designed to work in conditions of limited energy resources and are indispensable in their field of application.
The water tower, the creation of which has gone down in history as a rather striking example of elegant engineering solutions elegant in its simplicity, today remains a very relevant, moreover, necessary, element of the water supply infrastructure.
