Bending Black Poly .....

[Towforce]

New to living with a well for water but have been around pumps and water for years. Last year had the pleasure of having my 12 year old pump (but new to me) die in the middle of winter (chafed wires down at the pump and casing, also got to learn the joy of helping drag the full 1.25 pipe out of the pump house in -10 C.... fun fun fun).

The basic setup is a 400ft well, pump setup is sitting near 250. The great team of locals did the job that included an upgrade to a 2hp from 1.5hp. Once the 1.25 Black poly hits the surface at the top of the well head in a heated pump house, it drops to 1" black poly, splits to an irrigation system and heads off for a 150ft trip to the house with a 20 ft rise.

The well crew did a great job in trying conditions, I volunteered to take on the task of cleaning up some issues once they got me up and running. Issues that include a bunch of rusted up galvanized fittings, including a lot of unnecessary twists and turns that are adding accumulative restrictions.

So.... My question, what sort of bending radius is reasonable for the 1.25 black poly? Right now the 1.25 leaves the well casing, and wanders around a dozen fitting to eventually reach across the room (overhead).

I would like to leave the well head straight up and over to cross the room (6 ft up and 9 ft across the room... then back down to the irrigation and house T). If I can do this with 1.25 it will eliminate a dozen suspect twists and turn that I'm sure will help reduce load on the pump.

I find all sorts of rules that apply to plastic pipes but have yet to find anything that specifically applies to the black poly used in the well. Total pipe distance would be 26ft with two 90 degree turns (36" radius ? = 16 x the OD.... give or take.....).

Doable?

Thanks

Martin

 

[Reach4]

https://ipexna.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/submittal-data-us-ipex-maxflo.pdf suggests miniumum of 30 or 27 ODs if not near a fitting. Those are for thinner pipe than you are using. So maybe there would be a bigger number for 160 or 250 psi pipe, which are stiffer.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Towforce]

https://ipexna.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/submittal-data-us-ipex-maxflo.pdf suggests miniumum of 30 or 27 ODs if not near a fitting. Those are for thinner pipe than you are using. So maybe there would be a bigger number for 160 or 250 psi pipe, which are stiffer.

Lots of digging but have yet to trip over bending spec's for Poly. For all the dragging of the current pipe around during the pump change-out I never paid any attentions to what actually drops down the well for spec (tho if I knew the wall spec for the 1 1/4" I do have a sample still on the old pump)

Measured out the radius at roughly 42" (84 diameter), works out to 30+/- the diameter of 1 1/4.

Given the discharge within the room transitions to 1" and the pressure drop calculations between 1" and 1 1/4" are not huge (clean no fixture, roughly 25' of run), It might make more sense to just go with the 1" .

Martin

 

[Valveman]

Lots of digging but have yet to trip over bending spec's for Poly. For all the dragging of the current pipe around during the pump change-out I never paid any attentions to what actually drops down the well for spec (tho if I knew the wall spec for the 1 1/4" I do have a sample still on the old pump)

Measured out the radius at roughly 42" (84 diameter), works out to 30+/- the diameter of 1 1/4.

Given the discharge within the room transitions to 1" and the pressure drop calculations between 1" and 1 1/4" are not huge (clean no fixture, roughly 25' of run), It might make more sense to just go with the 1" .

Martin

Short distance 1" will be fine.

 

[Towforce]

Thanks, the only thing I didn't mention was the line will be "free" and will need to be supported but yes, 1" may be the simplest way to accomplish the curve. Another option is to go up to the ceiling with 1.25 and insert a single 90, follow through with the 1.25".

Will try to attach a photo showing the plumbing mess I inherited (crazy galvanized manifold).... would like to clean it up to reduce friction loss in the system. (was planning to go straight up from the well head "T", using the side discharge for a gauge set ) , just need to decide if I can maintain the 1.25 discharge or drop to 1")

(White pipe is just a piece of PVC I had kicking around to assess the path.... yah.... nice spot for a light fixture!)

 

[Fitter30]

Calculate the Bend Radius of HDPE Pipe

This blog post goes over how to calculate the minimum bend radius for HDPE pipe and how it may vary between long-term and short-term periods.

www.wlplastics.com

 

[Towforce]

Calculate the Bend Radius of HDPE Pipe

This blog post goes over how to calculate the minimum bend radius for HDPE pipe and how it may vary between long-term and short-term periods.

www.wlplastics.com

Thanks, decided to install a short stainless 1.25" manifold with a 90 at the closest supporting wall, the 1.25 poly will easily arc over the ceiling and junctions to the 1".....