Reducing a pump

[Windy Acres]

Can you pump sap with a 2" pump through a 1" line, or would a 1.5"pump be a better bet?

[DaveB]

Can you pump sap with a 2" pump through a 1" line, or would a 1.5"pump be a better bet?

I'm sure other will have some more specifics but I believe that you can but you would be reducing capacity. If you have a 2" pump, it can pump a higher volume with a 2" hose than it can with a 1" hose. You're limited to what can fit through the 1" line. Now, if you are sucking through a 2" hose and putting it out through a 1" hose, the pressure is going to be a lot higher on the output than the input.

[wiam]

I use a 2" gas powered pump from tractor supply to pump sap 1600' in 1" line. Works ok. Have done this for years.

[Windy Acres]

Wiam, what do you feed the pump with, 1 or 2 inch?

[wiam]

2" black and green stripes. Available at tractor supply.

[maple flats]

Yes, you don't want to reduce the suction side much, but reducing the pressure side will work however it may add a degree or two to the sap temperature.

[Windy Acres]

Thanks guys

[Cedar Eater]

If you have a real good supply on the suction side, you run the risk of getting too much pressure on the discharge side. There are two common fixes for this. 1) put a gate valve on the suction side so you can reduce the flow to lower the pressure on the discharge side. 2) Construct a bypass line from the discharge side with a gate valve back to the suction side or back to the source tank to bleed off part of the flow to lower the pressure on the discharge side.

The first solution reduces the load on the pump and saves energy, but if the pump is way oversized, it will burn up due to insufficient flow. You can use both solutions.

[Super Sapper]

You never want to restrict the suction side of a pump, it is the fastest way to kill it. Unless it is a positive displacement pump restricting the discharge should not hurt the pump. Throttling the discharge will reduce energy consumption because it is doing less work.