Learn why a pressure tank is necessary for a true aeroponics system. What are its function and purpose? What size to use. Should you choose a large tank?
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High Tech Gardener
in Aeroponics
High Pressure Aeroponics – Is a pressure Tank necessary?
High Tech Gardener
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First, I mostly focus on building an entry level true high pressure aeroponics system for under $450. I taught over 60 students on how to build their own system. So I share what has worked for me after 10 years of having an aeroponics system. Second, this is a short video that does not allow me to share everything. Third, cost, reliability, and failures need to be considered. Stay tuned, I'll answer your question in a future video, “Why not a larger tank?”. I think you’ll learn new things on high pressure aeroponics. Right now I’m taking you through the basics. True aeroponics doesn’t need to be complicated even though others make it complicated. Good day!
I have to say congrats to your work. Your channel is the best and more professional when talking about aeroponics in YouTube. But I have a question to you: there's another option when talking about the pressure tank? Because in my country, Brazil, these kind of tank is very expensive. Anyway… Thanks for the good videos. I'd expect that you keep this great work.
What about the misting nozzles clogging up and you dont have access to ot because theres plants
I like your logical based approach, which you back up with the evidence to support your hypothesizes. By presenting the influences of the factors involved in the complete system, you increase the efficiency, while lowering the maintenance involved in keeping a system running. Keep the videos coming! Live long and prosper.
I found a mini 1L pressure tank, is that big enough? How many nozzles could i run off of a 1 L tank withoit the pump kicking on every time? Or is the 2 gallon really necessary? Just seems awfully big unless you have quite a few nozzles.
Ok so as a follow-up to my previous question on tank sizing in case it helps someone else, I spent a bunch of time studying this. We need to think about:
1) How much water our nozzles are putting out each spray cycle (nozzle flow rate x # of nozzles x seconds of spray)
2) Volume of water that leaves the tank from when it's fully pressurized to when the pump turns back on. This is called the 'drawdown volume' and depends on the labeled tank volume and the min/max pressure values you're using. Drawdown volume = labeled volume x acceptance factor
Where acceptance factor = 1 – (min pressure + 14.7)/(max pressure +14.7). For example, for a 100/80 psi system, the acceptance factor is 0.17.
If you had a 2 gallon pressure tank then, the pump would kick on after 0.34 gal of water left the tank (2 x 0.17).
3) Desired pump cycles. Ideally most pumps should switch on no more than 10 times per hour and not run for much more than 1 minute at a time. So you also need to know the flow rate that the pump can produce.
So to give an example, let's say we've got a system with 5 nozzles, with flow rates of 0.03 gpm each, set to spray for 3 seconds every minute. Pump is set to switch on at 80 psi and off at 100 psi. We have a 1L (0.264 gal) pressure tank. The pump can put out 1.3 gpm at 90 psi.
The acceptance factor is 0.17.
Drawdown volume is 0.04 gal.
Flow rate is 5 nozzles x 0.03 gpm x 0.05 min/spray = 0.0075 gal/cycle.
Since we have 1 spray cycle/minute that means our tank loses 0.0075 gal/minute. With a drawdown volume of 0.04 gal, the pump will kick on every (0.04 gal / 0.0075 gal/min) = 5.3 min
So in this case the pump kicks on every 5 mins or 12 times per hour, which is a bit high. If we'd gotten a 2 gallon tank instead, the pump would only kick on every 45 min which is better, and lets you expand the system with even more nozzles in the future.
I think it makes sense to go with a 2 gallon tank or larger unless you're definitely going to have a very tiny system with no more than 5 nozzles.
Where to buy this tank?
Please can you provide a link of where to buy this tank?
I've noticed some pressure ratings on the pressure tanks. Do I need the pressure tank itself to reach the 60-100 PSI?
Do you have a single-go-to video where you show the parts and assemble them with links to the parts? A proper "How-to" video.
I would very much like to build an HPA system but having watched a few of your videos on HPA and various components butI'm still none the wiser as to how to proceed and build one here at home.
550 nozzles 550 feet tube what setup is recommended?