HDT 51: Pumping water with non-conventional energy

Eng. David Chavez Muñoz, professor at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru, Resident at CEPIS. September 1992.

Spanish version: HDT 51: Bombeo de agua con energías no convencionales

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General index

• Introduction
• Costs
• Hydropower Equipment
• Solar Energy Equipment
• Other Equipment
• Bibliography

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Introduction

One of the major problems faced by developing countries particularly in Latin America is the impossibility to supply water in sufficient quantity and quality to rural and marginal urban areas. The water supply is subject to the availability of sources of energy consistent with social, cultural and economic conditions of the sectors with lower resources of our region.

 
 

It is often necessary to apply water lifting techniques to enable its use by a pumping work. The most widespread equipment for lifting water are conventional motor pumps and electric pumps. The firsts use the energy of fuels derived from petroleum and the seconds use electrical energy to drive a centrifugal pump.

However, hydrocarbon fuels and electricity are not the most appropriate energy sources for rural and marginal urban area. This due to the problems associated with storage, transport and distribution of fuels, in addition to those caused by the generation of wastes that pollute the environment.

On the other hand, the high investments required, do not allow for a continuous and reliable supply of electrical energy and hydrocarbons in these areas.

By applying the appropriate technologies have been developed equipment for water lifting that operate on unconventional energy sources such as wind, solar and hydro energy in the form of small jumps or falls of water.

These sources are more advantageous than conventional, because its availability is almost unlimited, costs are minimal and do not pollute the environment.

 
 

Equipment such as hydraulic ram pumps, wind pumps, turbo pumps, hand pumps and river pumps conform a package of evolving technologies that CEPIS promotes within their strategies to provide water and sanitation services to marginalized populations.

Experimental evidence has demonstrated the applicability of these low-cost technologies for pumping water. One of the institutions that actively participates in this task is the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (PCUP), through the Support Group for Rural Sector (GRUPO). The equipment whose characteristics are presented below are the result of its research and development.

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Costs

Based on the work of GRUPO (1), information on the costs of these items is included. The acquisition of any pumping machine also involves costs of installation, operation and maintenance, which will vary according to the type of machine. These are presented as percentages of the acquisition costs of the equipment using the following abbreviations:

All values are expressed in US dollars (US $).

Next, the technical characteristics of the equipment, its operating principles and the cases in which can be applied are presented.

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Bibliography

HADZICH, Miguel. Selección del equipo optimo para el bombeo en sector rural. X Congreso Nacional de Ingeniería Mecánica. Lima, Octubre 1991.

HADZICH, Miguel. Diseño y estandarización de bombas de ariete hidráulico. Facultad de Ciencias e Ingeniería, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Peru. Lima, 1986.

VALVERDE, Quino. Diseño de turbobombas. Facultad de Ciencias e Ingeniería, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Peru. Lima, 1988.

CHAVEZ MUNOZ, David. Las riobombas. Diseño, selección, operación y mantenimiento de equipos a energía no convencional para bombeo de agua y generación de eléctricidad. Grupo de Apoyo al Sector Rural, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Peru. Lima, 1992.

FIGUEROA T., Victor y TELLO S., Ricardo. Utilización de una aerobomba para riego en el sector rural. X Congreso Nacional de Ingenieria Mecánica. Lima, Octubre 1991.

CANZIANI A., Franco. El aerogenerador Waira. Grupo de Apoyo al Sector Rural. Lima, 1990. Pontificia Universidad Católica del Peru. Lima, 1992.

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