Solar-Powered Pump More Efficient, Easier To Fix

Solar-Powered Pump More Efficient, Easier To Fix ENERGY Solar 25-4-42 After more than 20 years of research and experimentation, Buddy Armstrong is ready to start marketing a solar-powered water pump that he says runs more efficiently than other solar-powered pumps on the market, is easy to install and repair, and doesn't have rings or leathers to wear out and be replaced. Pump capacity varies by model from 600 gallons. per day for the smallest "Gardener" unit to 36,000 gallons/day for the irrigation-size "Big Boy" pump. Armstrong's project started after he met a young man from Kenya who talked about the need for an inexpensive and simple-to-repair water pump for remote areas of his country. He told Armstrong, "There must be a way to pump water out of the ground efficiently, economically and dependably." The words started Armstrong down a long road of research and development. After reviewing existing pumping systems, the largely self-taught electrical engineer began to design a new style pump. To increase efficiency, he replaced heavy sucker rods with a carbon fibre activator rod that weighs 80% less. The pump sits on the surface above the well shaft. It's walking beam/rocker arm design is similar to that of oil well pumps and offsets the down hole weight. A spring mechanism pulls the piston down instead of pushing it up. And when the pump reaches 40 rpm's, a concrete-filled flywheel kicks in. Placing the pump at the surface, as opposed to using a submersible pump, further reduces the amount of energy needed because DC power availability drops over distance. Simplifying the pumping system also meant reducing potential for damage to the pump from sand and other contaminants. On wells of less than 150 ft depth, leathers or rings were eliminated. The piston is made of carbon fibre plastic and the cylinder of stainless steel. Armstrong reports losing 10% of the water in a 100 ft. deep well, but the reduced friction increases efficiency enough to make up for water loss. Sand granules that otherwise would scour and scrape leathers and rings pass by. "Our goal was efficiency and dependability," says Armstrong. "I wanted to build a pump that farmers could fix just from seeing it run and a customer could use and pass on to his grandkids." Armstrong says his pumps run on half the array of solar cells competitors require. Batteries will be available, but he recommends against them due to potential for lightning damage and increased maintenance. He suggests using water tanks and cisterns to provide water when the sun isn't shining. The pump is designed to be operated by hand in an emergency and this fall Armstrong plans to introduce a wind-powered alternator that can be attached to the pump in addition to or instead of the solar array. Armstrong is looking for dealers. "Our first market will be the livestock farmer, secondly the light irrigator and finally third world countries," says Armstrong. Contact FARM SHOW Follow-up, Buddy Armstrong, Armstrong Solar Pump Co., Box 406, Buhler, Kansas 67522 (ph 620 662-4266); Website: www.armstrongsolar pump.com)

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