Thread: Time taken in the filling of Tank

​I need to transfer cosmetic cream from manufacturing vessel to another movable tank.
In the existing system a pump is used to fill the tank with the inlet at the bottom.

I would like to know will it take less time if I fill the tank from the top.
Reason behind this thinking being, for the case of filling from bottom as the height of bulk increases the flow rate should decrease, hence more time will be required. In addition load on pump will increase too.

Would like to hear form you all whether I am correct or Not .

Hello funhere,

Simple answer is yes.

Any tank fills quicker from the top as the pump does not have to push against the back pressure building up in the tank.

Cheers Peter

just use a bigger pump- Btw why is it critical to fill it faster?

Ok will the substance bubble or foam up if filled from the top, maybe you should check it out as to why it's pump works from the bottom.... Just saying...

Originally Posted by funhere

​
I would like to know will it take less time if I fill the tank from the top.
Reason behind this thinking being, for the case of filling from bottom as the height of bulk increases the flow rate should decrease, hence more time will be required. In addition load on pump will increase too.

Would like to hear form you all whether I am correct or Not .

If you fill from the top then you have to pump the liquid to a higher height before it can fall into the tank. That's wasted energy. If you pump from the bottom, then as the tank fills you would have to elevate each new drop of liquid higher and higher, thereby lowering the flow rate. But if you start at the top, you're starting at the lowest flow rate you would ever have reached the other way and sustaining that rate for the whole fill, aren't you? (assuming flow rate is proportional to how high you have to elevate the liquid).

More efficient way of pumping and perhaps a bit safer too.

Originally Posted by kojax

Originally Posted by funhere

​
I would like to know will it take less time if I fill the tank from the top.
Reason behind this thinking being, for the case of filling from bottom as the height of bulk increases the flow rate should decrease, hence more time will be required. In addition load on pump will increase too.

Would like to hear form you all whether I am correct or Not .

If you fill from the top then you have to pump the liquid to a higher height before it can fall into the tank. That's wasted energy. If you pump from the bottom, then as the tank fills you would have to elevate each new drop of liquid higher and higher, thereby lowering the flow rate. But if you start at the top, you're starting at the lowest flow rate you would ever have reached the other way and sustaining that rate for the whole fill, aren't you? (assuming flow rate is proportional to how high you have to elevate the liquid).