PROTOTYPE WIND POWERED WATER PUMP

Ferrera, Al Owen Roy A.

Miranda, Maria Loriza A.
Salamat, Elaiza Nicole R.
Salgado, Sarah Joey P.
INTRODUCTION
Man has been harnessing the wind energy for hundreds of years. From farms in foreign
lands to our countrys Bangui Wind Farm in Ilocos Norte, windmills have been used for pumping
water and grinding grains. Today, the modern equivalent of the wind mills, the wind turbine uses
wind energy to generate electricity (Renewable Energy World). It is gaining worldwide
popularity as a large scale energy source, although it still only provides less than one percent of
global energy consumption.
A pump is a device that moves fluids by means of mechanical action. Pumps have 3
types: direct lift, displacement and gravity pumps. The water pump is usually classified in the
displacement pump. This makes a fluid move by trapping a fixed amount and forcing
(displacing) that trapped volume into the discharge pipe. Some of these pumps use an expanding
cavity on the suction side and a decreasing cavity on the discharge side. Liquid flows into the
pump as the cavity on the suction side expands and the liquid flows out of the discharge as the
cavity collapses. The volume is constant through each cycle of operation.
The pump is directly attached to the windmill. This is the traditional windmill
technology used by farms.
The researchers interest was piqued by the use of renewable energy in the application in
a pump system because of the practical application of thermodynamics and fluid mechanics. This
led to a study of the application of wind energy in the traditional water pump.

Objectives of the study

This study aims to create a mechanical water pump from recycled materials powered by
wind energy. This study also aims to determine the cost of production of the prototype wind
powered water pump and identify the power requirements and the physical dimensions of the
device.
Importance of the study
The study entitled Prototype Wind Powered Water Pump will contribute to the
knowledge of the students taking the subject AENG21 Thermodynamics about the application
of basic thermodynamics in work, energy and power. This will also benefit future researchers in
using wind energy and water pump. Furthermore, this can also benefit local famers which are
experiencing water supply shortage.
Scope and limitations of the study
The study is only limited to the development and design of the prototype wind powered
water pump and the calculations of its power requirements, dimensions and its cost of
production. It will not cover the use of other energy sources as well as the use of other fluid for
the pump.
METHODOLOGY
Materials
Old carton boxes
Old bicycle wheel
Used CDs or DVDs
PVC pipe
Old hanger

Old bicycle spokes

Old bicycle inner tube
Hot glue
Masking tape
Scrap wood

Wood board

Screws (1 and 2)

Nails

Drill
Saw

PVC

tee
Teflon tape
Sealant
Hammer

Screwdriver
Spray paint
Tape measure

Methods
Gathering of materials. The following materials were gathered from a junk shop: carton
boxes, bicycle wheels, inner tube, spokes, wood board, used CDs and DVDs and hanger.
Screws, nails, PVC tee, Teflon tape and hot glue were purchased from a hardware while the PVC
pipe, masking tape, scrap wood, drill, saw, sealant, spray paint, hammer, tape measure and
screwdriver were provided by the researchers.
Constructing the windmill. The bicycle wheel was drilled with 5 equally separated holes
enough for the bicycle spokes to fit. The cartons were cut around 24cm x 34cm and were lightly
folded lengthwise 10.5cm from the side. From the wider side, 11cm from the left and 17cm from
the top, the carton was pierced while in the narrower side, 4cm from the right and 17cm from the
top, another piercing was done. From the threaded end, the spokes were inserted into the holes
and the spokes were secured using a hot glue and masking tape and then the threaded end was
put into the hole in the bicycle wheel. This was done for the 4 other holes. The wheel was then
fixed in the end of the PVC tee.
Constructing the water pump. The PVC pipe was cut into three; one 7, one 3 and
another 0.5 long. The 3 pipe was heated and was shaped to let the 7 fit inside enough to fit
1.5 of the pipe. A 3/4 diameter circle was cut from the inner bicycle and then glued to the
opening of the 0.5 pipe leaving the half of the opening unglued. The 0.5 pipe was inserted to
the 3 pipe with the rubber tube in the wider end. After positioning, the 7 pipe was next inserted
to the 3 pipe and then fixed it with the use of a sealant. The long part of the hanger was cut off
and then a diameter fiber glass was drilled with 6 holes surrounding a central hole. The
central hole was then fixed to the end of the stick from the hanger using a screw. Another
rubber from the inner tube was cut. It was pierced in the middle enough for the stick to pass
through it. The fiber glass served as the piston of the pump. Three inches from the top of the 7
pipe, it was drilled to create the water outlet of the pump

Creating the stand. The scrap wood was carved with a tube like projection enough to fit
inside the other end of the PVC tee. It was fixed in the base of a wood board and then supports
were provided using scrap woods.
Assembling the prototype wind powered water pump. Four CD/DVD were pierced with
16 holes equally apart from each other. To create 2 gears, the CDs were paired and glued to each
other and then the holes were screwed. The horizontal gear was fixed in the wheel using long
screws and the vertical gear was attached to an axle made from wood. The wood was then
inserted to the middle opening of the PVC tee. Another stick from a hanger was created and then
attached to one of the screws in the vertical gear. The piston was then fixed to the other end of
the stick using a nail to provide free motion during the rotation of the gears. The pump was
positioned in the base and then marked the location of the lower end of the pump. The mark was
used as a guide to where the base will be pierced. The board was drilled enough for the pump to
be fixed in the end. Furthermore, the base was supported by stands from scrap wood and a bottle
was placed under the pump as water source.
Testing and results. After the construction of the prototype water pump, the physical
dimensions of the device were measured. The diameter of the wheel, windmill and CD, height of
the base and device as well as the elevation of the pump were measured using a tape measure.
The volume of the water was computed using the volume formula for a cylinder. The
computation of the power was computed using the formula below. The process of the pump was
tested using an electric fan but yielded no results. The windmill was then tested using manpower
and gave results.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Cost of production
Material
Bicycle wheel
Bicycle inner tube
Bicycle spokes
CDs/DVDs
Teflon tape
Cartons
Wood board
Scrap wood
PVC pipe
PVC tee
Screws
Nails
Hanger
Hot glue
Masking tape
Sealant
Spray paint
Total

Price (Php)
50
0
0
0
16
0
0
0
0
20
16
10
0
15
22
0
0
149

Computation of Power
The wind mill was measured to have a mean diameter of 0.66m. The diameter of the
wheel used was 0. 2794m. The air collector of the wind mill was computed having 816cm 2 and
an interior angle of 131.81. The water pump was measured 0.14m from the check valve to the
outlet hole. This is also the diameter of the screws in the CDs used. From the bottom end of the
pump, the waterbed was measured to be 0.045m away from the check valve. The piston was
0.29m long and the stick connector was 0.20m. The total height of the device was 1m. The base
used was 0.58m x 0.28m x 0.02m and it was elevated to 0.125m.
To compute for the theoretical flow rate of the pump and assuming the windmill revolves
1rev/s.

Q=

V
T

( 0.14 m )( ) ( 0.0095252 )
1 sec
= 3.99 x 10 -5 m3/s
To compute for the energy head of the pump:
The water has velocity and pressure in the outlet is in air.
2

E=z +

v P
+
2g

E=0.045+

0 0
+
2g

0.045 m

To compute for the Power of the pump:

P=Q E

= (3.99 x 10 -5 m3/s)(9810)(0.045m)
= 0.0176 W
Since the air mass density is not given, assuming the wind runs 1m/s, the formula
of power (in hp) to be used is: (D is in ft, W is in mph)
Hp = 0.00000525 D2W3
D = 0.66m(3.28)
= 2.1648ft
W = (1m/s)(0.6214mi/1000m)(3600s/hr)
= 2.23704mi
Hp = 0.00000525(2.1648)2(2.23704)3
= 0.0002754hp or 0.2052W
For the actual power output (assuming the wind mill has 30% windmill efficiency
considering all the losses from the gear, friction in air and air resistance)
Pa = Pt x Efficiency of windmill

= 0.2052W x 0.3
=0.1026W
Therefore the assumption of 1m/s for the speed of wind can be used

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Summary
The study entitled Prototype Wind Powered Water Pump was conducted from February
to March 2013 in Luciano, Trece Martirez City and Bancod, Indang, Cavite. It aims to create a
mechanical water pump from recycled materials powered by wind energy. The study also aims to
determine the cost of production of the prototype wind powered water pump and identify the
power requirements and the physical dimensions of the device.
The wind mill was measured to have a mean diameter of 0.66m. The diameter of the
wheel used was 0. 2794m. The air collector of the wind mill was computed having 816cm 2 and
an interior angle of 131.81. The water pump was measured 0.14m from the check valve to the
outlet hole. This is also the diameter of the screws in the CDs used. From the bottom end of the
pump, the waterbed was measured to be 0.045m away from the check valve. The piston was
0.29m long and the stick connector was 0.20m. The total height of the device was 1m. The base
used was 0.58m x 0.28m x 0.02m. It was elevated to 0.125m.
From the computations, the water pump can generate 39.9cm 3 of water per second but in
actual tests it yielded less. The power needed by the pump is 0.0176W. The windmill can
produce 0.1026W of power estimating the efficiency of the windmill is 30%.

Conclusion
It can be concluded that a wind powered water pump can be created using recycled
materials. The cost of production was Php. 149.00. The wind mill can produce 0.1036 W when
the wind is 1m/s assuming the windmill efficiency is 30%. The water pump needs 0.0176W to
operate. Provided with more wind energy, the water pump is expected to work properly. It is also
necessary to convert the mechanical power efficiently so losses can be avoided. From the design
of the device, it can be observed that losses are occurring during the rotation of the windmill, the
transfer of energy in the gears and the friction in the windmill and pump.
Recommendation
From the results gathered, the recommendations were as follows:
1. The design of the prototype wind powered water pump must be improved.
2. The efficiency of the windmill and pump must be computed properly.
3. Using recycled materials is highly recommended but other alternatives for the gear must
be used.
4. The water source must be close to the check valve.
5. More wind energy must be used to operate the water pump.
6. Further researches are recommended for more accurate results.

REFERENCES

Cariaga, CC., 2013. Power and its measurement. College of Engineering and Information
Technology. Cavite State University.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2013. Review of Pumps and Water
Lifting Techniques. From http://www.fao.org/docrep/010/ah810e/AH810E05.htm#5.3.1.
Retrieved March 10. 2013.
Other

Power,

2013.

Water

Pumping.

From

http://otherpower.com/otherpower_waterpumping.html. Retrieved March 10, 2013.

Renewable

Energy

World,

2013.

Wind

power.

From

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/tech/wind-power. Retrieved March 10, 2013.