Sand separators must be sized correctly to water flow for optimum or even satisfactory operation. The SMP-05 is designed to operate between 3 and 9 gallon per minute flow, the SMP-10 between 10 and 19 gallon per minute flow and the SMP-20 is for 20-32 gallon per minute flow.
Most Sand Separators are used for house applications, so we will discuss such usage in detail. Flow rates inside your home may be less than you think. A toilet fills at a 3-4 gpm flow rate, the shower provides a 3-5 gpm flow rate, the dishwasher fills at a 3-4 gpm flow rate, the sink runs at a 3-4 gpm flow rate. These flow rates have very little to do with actual sizing of the Sand Separator however, because the separator is usually installed between the well pump and the holding tank. A pump pumps water into a pressure tank much faster than the above rates.
Most pumps provide a 10-20 gpm flow rate when filling a pressure tank, so the correct sand separator to purchase would be the SMP-10 three-quarter inch separator which operates at optimum efficiency on flows between 10 and 20 gallons per minute.
If you will be installing your separator on the downstream side of your pressure tank, you may need to use the SMP-05 half-inch model instead. It is always better to install any sand separator between the well pump and your holding (pressure) tank so the particulates are removed by the separator prior to entering and building up as sludge in the pressure tank.
The SMP-10 model is also appropriate for most residential irrigation applications where sprinkler zones are usually zoned between 12 and 20 gallons per minute flow. For larger pumps with zones utilizing more water, you may need to examine your requirements and perhaps select the SMP-20 model.
The correctly sized separator is important and bigger is definitely not better. If your separator is oversized for the flow, the velocity is cut down in the spinning chambers and performance effectiveness will be impacted.
If you are in doubt as to correct choice, give us a call at 352-683-3582 and let us recommend the correct size. We will be asking you what your flow rate is in order to help with a determination. For homde use that's pretty easy, but if unsure of sizing for an irrigation application the best solution is to count your (residential) rotor heads (on largest zone) and multiply by 3 to determine your approximate flow rate. Example - if you have 9 rotor heads on your largest (most rotors) watering zone, we would multiply by 3 = 27 and estimate your approximate flow at 27 gpm which would call for the SMP-20 Separator.
