Posted 30 July 2012 - 06:54 AM
bliztz,
You have a hydraulic flow problem that can be solved as a simple network. To accurately do so, you'll need to have your pump information as well as the piping data (lengths, fittings, valves, etc.). Essentially, the pressure drop from the top of the liquid in each tank to the pumps must be equal; if the pressure drop due to friction from the discharge line of one tank is higher than the other then that tank's liquid level will be higher. The balancing line you propose can work; you will have to model it into the flow network and play "what if..." games to determine an acceptable size and location. You have to account for differences in the tank head pressures, if any, and have acceptance criteria for the difference in tank level that is acceptable. The flows into the tanks must also be accounted for in your overall material balance, and you might find that your model is dynamic (if the flows into the tanks change with relation to each other over time, for example). This can all be done with a spreadsheet although the solution method may be tricky (e.g., Hardy-Cross).