Exactly.Philippe Schutt wrote:In a balloon without membrane, the volume of air at 0 bars corresponds to the volume of the balloon. With the circuit at minimum pressure (starting threshold of the pump) a good part of the tank is already filled with water (non-elastic).
To quantify a little with a 500 liter balloon with minimum pressure = 3 bars and maximum pressure = 4 bars.
At 0 bar, it contains 500 liters of air.
At 3 bars, it contains 166 liters of air and 334 liters of water
At 4 bars, it contains 125 liters of air and 375 liters of water
The amount of usable water between 3 and 4 bars (between two pump starts) is therefore 375 - 334 = 41 liters.
Philippe Schutt wrote:By preloading the balloon you recover part of this volume for air.
If it is "inflated" to 80% of the minimum pressure (therefore 2,4 bars), it is as if it contained 1200 liters of air at pressure 0.
At 3 bars, it contains 400 liters of air and 100 liters of water
At 4 bars, it contains 300 liters of air and 200 liters of water.
The amount of usable water has increased to 100 liters between two pump starts.
Yes, but it is not necessary.Philippe Schutt wrote:An air leak could cause these symptoms.
In a balloon without a membrane, the air in the balloon gradually dissolves in water and leaves the balloon.
Air must be periodically supplied either with a compressor or by emptying completely the balloon of its water.
When you put it back on the roadAurelmouth wrote:I just emptied the booster to see and there was practically no water at the bottom.
- is the drain closed properly?
- does the pressure rise regularly or suddenly?