Inside the sump there is a pipe connection. The pipe is situated at the middle of the sump. We need to find whether water is flowing in or out of the pipe (Water shall flow out of the pipe when the water level is above the pipe level.). Please post your suggestions.
Measure the water levels.
Two flow sensors, two back flow valves.
One pipe t'ed to two pipes in parallel each parallel pipe has a flow sensor and a back flow valve then they are t'ed back to one pipe.
The back flow valves are install opposite of each other.
Optical mouse sensor on a transparent viewing port.
Bidirectional Flow Sensors - https://www.mouser.com/Sensors/Flow-Sensors/_/N-zqi2?P=1yp2188
Alesam those flowmeters are costly. I'm expecting low cost solution. If you have any other cost effective solution please let me know.
Jmanatee there is no need to block the reverse water. Indication is more than enough. Now I'm checking for waterproof flow metre. Thanks for your idea. If you have any other suggestion please let me know.
Paul__B idea is very good. But it will be very hard to implement inside sump. Moreover the water from the pipe will not be clear.
Stand under the pipe.
-jim lee
Muthumanisaravanan:
Paul__B idea is very good. But it will be very hard to implement inside sump.
So will any of the various solutions. All require waterproofing. But the optical sensor has no moving parts.
Muthumanisaravanan:
Moreover the water from the pipe will not be clear.
And the mouse sensor would not work if the water was clear. Ever tried your optical mouse on a glass desk? The window I suggested would have to be not too thick.
My only doubt is how fast the mouse sensor can track.
#1) two DS18B20 sensors about an inch apart. one heater in the center.
when water flows the heated water will make one sensor see the heated water the other will see ambient. the lower temperature is where the water is coming from.
#2) a flapper. insert something like a toggle in the pipe, as water flows, it will push on it. as it pushes, the toggle can have a switch.
#3) install a orifice. pressure drop across and office, measured in inches of water, will not have an effect on pump output, and the large hole of the orifice will not cause blockage. measure pressure on both sides.
#4) two flow sensors, the cheap ones. two wye fittings. water moving will enter one wye fitting that points into the pipe, the other that points the other way will not see the flow.
the water has to be relatively clean or problems could result. look at the Tesla backflow device.
#5) two paddle wheel sensors that look more like backwards curved blower wheels. place so the edge is close to the boundry layer. one will catch the flow and spin faster.
#6) two HALL sensors on the pipe, a membrane flapper in the liquid. as the water moves one way or the other, the magnet will be pushed to one wall or the other.
#7) shaded turbine. the cheap flow meters can be had in a turbine configuration. put a cone in the area on one side and the water will be diverters round the blades. when water runs reverse, the blades will spin.
#8) ultra-sonic. one sender unit on one side of the pipe, two receivers. Doppler effect will indicate which way the flow is traveling.
if this is a commercial venture, you need to think long and hard about the results of a failure.
the list above is woefully incomplete and it seems like only #1 has no moving parts and can be placed in a pipe so that there is nothing to catch on, and that it would allow a full pipe cleaning, either mechanical or water jet type, to be used on the pipe.
and yes, all the above are available in commercial sources and all [as home brew ] would need a lot of trial and error to set up.
Muthumanisaravanan:
Jmanatee there is no need to block the reverse water. Indication is more than enough. Now I'm checking for waterproof flow metre. Thanks for your idea. If you have any other suggestion please let me know.
You put one back flow valve in series with the flow sensor in pipe A
You put the other back flow valve in series with the other flow sensor in pipe B
Then Pipe A and B are in parallel and in opposite directions. When liquid flows forward it can only flow through pipe A, when liquid flows backward it can only flow through pipe B.
If pipe A flow sensor activates you know it is flowing forward
If pipe B flow sensor activates you know it is flowing backwards
cheap flow sensors are available
A sectional view of your sump might help ( a lot).
I thought a sump was a one way process. Inflow to sump outflow to get excess out.