Sump baffles and water levels

[LadyTang2]

Hi all! I'm having trouble understanding why/how water levels change due to baffles in a sump. Do under-over and over-under baffles both lead to a lower water height in the next chamber and why? what about under-over-under? Lastly what changes when the water supply and or water leaving the sump is stopped? Thanks!

 

[lapin]

Hi all! I'm having trouble understanding why/how water levels change due to baffles in a sump. Do under-over and over-under baffles both lead to a lower water height in the next chamber and why?

They can, as long as your sump water level is not higher overall than the height of your last baffle.(return chamber) As water enters the first chamber it builds up until it flows over a baffle. Then it fills the next chamber, until it goes over another baffle. and so on........
Once it get to the last chamber you have a pump to pump it out back into the tank.
As it goes into the tank it raises the water level and forces some water back into your overflow pipes back into the sump.

what about under-over-under?

The under/over forces bubbles to pop. The under-over-under will get rid of more bubbles.

Lastly what changes when the water supply and or water leaving the sump is stopped? Thanks!

If your return pump is turned off the water will cease to flow out of the sump. Any water in the drain and return pipes will drain back into the sump. It is important that you posistion your return nozzles high in the tank so air can be sucked in, breaking the siphon effect, thus avoiding a sump overflow.

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[Swingline77]

Consider each baffle separately, and look at them from upstream to downstream. If water flows under a baffle, the level will not change. Since this baffle can be ignored as influencing water level, look to the next downstream baffle.

If water flows over a baffle, then:
Water in an upstream chamber will rise to the level of any baffle it has to go over.

If water flows over a baffle to a farther baffle that is higher yet, then the first baffle can be ignored as influencing water level, since it will be submerged at all times.

If a baffle farther downstream is lower, then the water will fall over the baffle in a waterfall-like fashion. The level of the "pool" at the bottom of the waterfall will be determined by the level of the baffle at the downstream side of the pool.

 

[Salahunreal]

Consider each baffle separately, and look at them from upstream to downstream. If water flows under a baffle, the level will not change. Since this baffle can be ignored as influencing water level, look to the next downstream baffle.

If water flows over a baffle, then:
Water in an upstream chamber will rise to the level of any baffle it has to go over.

If water flows over a baffle to a farther baffle that is higher yet, then the first baffle can be ignored as influencing water level, since it will be submerged at all times.

If a baffle farther downstream is lower, then the water will fall over the baffle in a waterfall-like fashion. The level of the "pool" at the bottom of the waterfall will be determined by the level of the baffle at the downstream side of the pool.

Very well explained.