The Open Fuels & Energy Science Journal

2009, 2 : 129-134
Published online 2009 December 22. DOI: 10.2174/1876973X01002010129
Publisher ID: TOEFJ-2-129

Thermodynamic Solar Water Pump with Multifunction and Uses

Romdhane Ben Slama
Department of Electromecanique, University of Gabes, ISSAT, Gabes 6029, Gabes, Tunisia.

ABSTRACT

The solar pump, object of the present study, is of a thermodynamic type, which is attached for the rural population of the country. The design of the pump is to lead to a reliable system of solar pumping, without maintenance and being expensive. It proceeds by suction tanks to the vacuum, created by vapour condensation inside the pump. Thus, this pump plays triple role of solar collector, pump housing and water tank. The daily quantity of pumped water reached 221% of the volume of the pump. The rate of filling reached 82% and the pressure drop is of 0.96 bar. Moreover, pumped water is naturally heated in the pump housing, which confers on this pump a second function of solar water heater. This double usage can be interesting in the places where it is necessary to draw water before heating it. This case occurs in areas where the rainwater is collected in large cisterns underground. The solar pump which proceeds by suction (discharge head lower than 8 m) then finds an adequate application including its double function.

Keywords:

Water pumping, solar energy, suction.