It’s been a long time I’m thinking about making a solar-powered water pump for my farm. I already have a 100 w solar panel, which I bought for making my off-grid system. Let’s make a water pump {solar powered)
It’s the perfect time to make a solar-powered water pump. Which type of water pump am I gonna make? I thought for a moment. Watched a few YouTube videos, referred to some blogs, and decided to make a Centrifugal pump.
How Centrifugal pumps work? Centrifugal pumps are hydraulically operated machines characterized by their ability to transmit energy to fluids (in particular to liquids) through the work of a field of centrifugal forces. Their main purpose is to transfer fluids through an increase in pressure.
Centrifugal pumps have different structures, but their operating principle and fluid dynamic characteristics are always the same.
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Schematically, centrifugal pumps are an impeller that rotates inside the casing. The impeller comprises a series of blades, preferably of a radial design, which transmits kinetic energy to the fluid being pumped.
The casing is equipped with suction and discharge nozzles for the fluid being pumped. The suction nozzle has an axis that corresponds with the impeller’s rotational axis, while the discharge nozzle has a normal axis to the impeller axis but still lying on the plane passing through the axis itself.
Table of Contents
How to Make Centrifugal Water Pump
Step one: Making of the Impeller of make Water Pump
I got this component accidentally when I search for a suitable material to make the impeller for my pump. I’ve always had this experience of getting things that I’m searching for when I’m really passionate about them.
I think what Paulo Coelho said is correct. If you really want something the whole universe conspires for you to achieve that dream. What’s your opinion?
By the way, this component is a part of an old CD casing. I got this from my friend’s studio. Mahesh Deva agreed to give it to me without any hesitation when I asked for it, even he needed it. Thanks, bro. Without it, I would be still searching for another suitable material.
I love to look at it this way. Elizabeth Gilbert in her book Big Magic said something similar to this. That CD casing was sitting in my friend’s Studio all these 10 long years to finally got found by me to fulfill its life purpose. Ha,. I know you are smiling now, right. It’s not my opinion. But I find this idea amazing and real? haven’t you ever felt it?
Oh, we are going in the wrong direction. How did I make this project? That’s what matters here, the purpose of this article. Move on. Then I used a couple of PVC pipe pieces and an M seal to make the impeller of the centrifugal pump.
Step two: Casing Making
I used a piece of 4” PVC pipe and two square pieces of fiber glasses to make the casing. I fixed a bearing on one glass and a 3/4” connector to the other piece using M seal. The truth is that those fiber glasses were part of an old project. I find it perfectly match my needs for this project and dismantled it.
Pump casing using PVC Pipes, Use M seal to fix
Get a Rubber bush of a mixer jar
Place Impeller Inside the casing
Step Three: Fixing Motor We need a motor to turn this impeller. I had a DC motor I purchased long ago. It was working perfectly and have perfect torque too. So I decided to go with it. Successfully fixed the motor on the frame.
Step Four: Priming and Testing a centrifugal pump have to be primed before operating. Firstly, Fill the casing with water. Then, Connect the motor to the solar panel. Place the solar panel in sunlight. Turn the switch on. Success. Our Centrifugal pump is ready.
Watch my video at the top of this post. It has all steps to make a successful solar powered water pump project. Subscribe to my YouTube channel New Physicist to get more renewable energy-related project ideas.
Renewable energy is the future of energy. let’s build a better tomorrow. I’m waiting for your comments.
How Does a Centrifugal Water Pump Works?
Firstly we have to figure out the components and parts of a water pump. There are different types of water pumps but I’m gonna make a centrifugal type water pump.
A propeller is the most important part of a centrifugal-type water pump. It is where the centrifugal action takes place.
When the impeller rotates at high speed it creates a centrifugal force on the water inside which will throw the water radially. The throwing of the water will cause a vacuum in the eye of the impeller.
This vacuum will suck water from the reservoir and will throw outward radially outwards. This will increase the water pressure at the tip of the impeller and exit through the outlet pipe. This is the working principle of a centrifugal water pump.
Mistakes I made when making the project
1. I used plastic materials to make the project, which will not last long if the pump continuously works.
2. Inlet and outlet pipes were the same diameter which caused cavitation. You can see that water exiting through the outlet is not replaced by the water entering to impeller casing through the inlet pipe. Watch video
3. The motor I used is a DC Dynamo I bought a long time ago. It couldn’t provide much power to get enough head.
What I am Going to do
I am planning to make a water pump completely out of GI sheets. So that I can use my new pump continuously for a few hrs without much wear and tear.
I’m going to use a slightly larger outlet pipe compared to an inlet pipe so that I can avoid cavitation. When the speed of the water at the outlet increases the amount of water exit will be large. So we’ve to provide enough water at the inlet to compensate for this requirement.
I’ve bought a new mixer grinder ac motor for my next project. An AC Universal motor.
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