STUDY OF LOW TECHNOLOGY SOLAR

THERMAL WATER PUMPS FOR USE IN

DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

Presented by
M.SYAM (06761A0324)

Department of Mechanical Engineering,

LAKIREDDY BALIREDDY COLLEGE OF
ENGINEERING, Mylavaram
 ABSTRACT
Solar water pumps, based on electro-mechanical pumps powered by PV
arrays, are commonly used and commercially available. However, one of the
difficulties for their wider application in developing countries .where there is high
average insolation, is their relatively excessive cost. This arises mainly due to the high
cost of the PV elements. Hence, this paper describes some developmental work and
results of experimental tests on “low-tech” solar thermal water pumps which were
built on the basis of Stirling engines with fluid pistons couple to flat-plate solar
collectors.
Temperatures and pressures in the cycle are comparatively low. Thus cheap
design materials, such as glass and plastic, and a simple technology, available in the
majority of mechanical workshops, can be used for their manufacture and
consequently reduce their cost.
Several design modifications of the above solar thermal water pumps have
been studied. The results obtained demonstrate that existing installations can be
effectively applied for water pumping with a dynamic head which varies between 2-
5m.
Furthermore, data from experimental tests shows that the pulsating motion of
water in channels of the flat-plate solar collectors increases the collector’s efficiency
by approximately 8-10%, which is a considerable advantage when a pump is used as
part of a house solar heating system.
INTRODUCTION:
Solar water pumping is mainly associated with electro-mechanical pumps
powered by PV arrays. At present numerous commercial companies supply the
market with a wide range of such pumps for different applications .The majority of
existing solar water pumps are build with piston or rotary type mechanical pump
driven by electrical motor. The cost of a complete installation, including PV elements
and control and power storage systems, can be relatively high.this the case even when
the required pumping capacity and the dynamic head is low,(0.2m3/hour and 2-
10m),hence restricting any wide application of such pumps in developing countries.
At the same time there is a considerable demand for low cost and low maintenance
installations which are capable of pumping water with a relatively low dynamic head
In order to water plantations and animals and for drainage and salt plants.
Such simple, “low-tech” solar water pumps can be created for this purpose on the
basis of solar free-piston Strirling engines.
There are two types o such engine which can be used for this purpose-free-
piston Strirling engines with conventional “solid” Pistons and machines with “fluid”
pistons. The engines with “solid” pistons very often require the use of special solar
concentrators which then makes the cost of the installation unacceptably high. The
free-piston striling engines with “liquid” pistons are called “Fluidyns.”This is widely
used terminology and is name for free piston Stirling engines with fluid pistons.
“Fluidyns”basically consist of two columns of water in a “U’ tube with the enclosed
spaces above the surfaces of water columns being the expansion and compression
spaces of the Stirling engine. The columns are connected by the channels of the heat
exchangers and oscillate at a frequency close to that of the natural frequency of the
system. The kinetic energy of the oscillating columns then can be converted into
u s e f u l w o r k . However, one of the main disadvantages of employing “Fluidyns” is
their unstableness under changing loads.
The aim of this paper is to describe new designs of thermal water pumps
which, although very similar to the “fluidyns” configuration have several specific
design features which enable them to operate steadily when the cycle parameters and
a mechanical or hydraulic load significantly vary. Furthermore, the developed solar
thermal water pumps are coupled to a set of flat-plate collectors which provide the
energy for the operation.
A LABORATORY PROTOTYPE OF A THERMAL CONVERTER FOR

WATER PUMPING:

Fig shows the general scheme of a laboratory prototype of such an

installation .A thermal converter consists of hot (1) and cold(2) coaxial cylinders
filled with water and there are enclosed spaces (4)and (5) above the water surfaces
that form expansion (5) and compression (5) spaces are connected by channels of a
regenerator (6) and the water columns in hot and cold cylinders are divided by a
piston actuator(7) with a mechanical spring .The water column in the cold cylinder is
connected to an internal water column(9) and diaphragm(10) separates the thermal
converter from a pumping unit(11) with puppet valves(12) .An air space(13)is used as
an additional pneumatic spring for the piston actuator(7).The water in the hot cylinder
is heated by an electrical coil heater(14) and there are relatively larger surface area
heat exchangers (15)&(16) which are installed in hot and cold cylinders respectively.
There is a tubular cooler (17) within the cold cylinder.
OPERATION:
Water in the hot cylinder (1) is heated to 75-95 0 C using the electrical coil
heater (14) and the heat exchanger (15) with large surface area intensifies a
vaporization process. Due to evaporation of hot water in the hot cylinder the pressure
of the air-steam mixture in the expansion (4) and compression (5) spaces rises. heat is
introduced into the cycle).The pressure increase in the working spaces (4)&(5) causes
the downward motion of the water column in the hot cylinder together with the piston
actuator until the latter reaches it’s position of bottom dead center. During it’s
downward motion the piston initiator (7) increases the level of water column in the
cold cylinder and increases the pressure on the diaphragm from the side of thermal
converter. These are both further enhanced by the oscillation of water in the internal
column (9) which is in counter phase with the oscillation of water in the cold cylinder.
The force which is proportional to the difference of the water levels in the hot
and cold cylinders, and the force from the mechanical spring act upon the piston
actuator while it is in the position of the bottom dead center causing it’s motion
upwards. Hence in its turn the motion of the piston actuator results in an increase in
the level of the water in the hot cylinder and in a decrease of the water level in the
cone cylinder together with the motion of diaphragm to the left. During the period
when the piston actuator is moving upwards, the pressure of the air-steam mixture in
the working spaces (4) & (5) decreases. The reduction in pressure in the stage of cycle
is further enhanced by the intensification of steam condensation process from the
additional heat exchanger (16). Heat is rejected from the cycle with the use of tubular
cooler (17).The cycle is completed when the piston is its position of top dead center.
The variation of the pressure of air-steam mixture in the working spaces (4) &
(5) provides the energy for pumping water through the pumping unit (11) of the
thermal converter
The working temperatures in the hot cylinder varies 75-95oC and the operating
pressures are 0.8-1.6 bar (less pressure) , Thus cheap materials such as glass and
plastic materials were used to manufacture the water pumping thermal converter ,so
there is no sensible friction and wear in the components, this ensures a long life
operation and low maintenance costs.

EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS:
Fig 2 shows the variation of pumping capacity with dynamic head at different
values of the power of the electrical heater. The maximum capacities of the converter
are0.5, 1.5 and 2.0 m3 /hr when the power of electrical heater is 0. 8, 2 and 3 KW
respectively.
 Fig 3 shows the change in pumping capacity as a function of the average
temperature of the air-steam mixture in the hot cylinder for different values of
dynamic head .It can be seen that the pumping capacity increases with the rise of
temperature of the air mixture in the hot cylinder.
In order to evaluate the possibility of the operation of thermal converter with
solar collectors, to collectors have been manufactured and tested. Both the collectors
are of flat type, with parallel channels and headers, and end inlets and outlets.
Furthermore they are single glazed and have glass fiber back insulation which is 10
cm thickness.
The first collector has
an integral tube and fin
absorber plate which is
formed by roll-bonding
process that fuses two
aluminum plates
together by heat and
pressure. Thickness of
the aluminum plate is
1mm.The absorber has a
flat black painting. The second collector is brazed copper tube and fin assembly with
a black chrome coating .The aperture absorber is 2 m2 , the thickness of the walls of
the copper tubes and fins is 0.5mm, and the diameter and the length of nine tubes are
12mm and 2 m.
The fig 4 shows a test rig for determination of collector’s performance .The
water from the vessel (1) is circulated by electrical pump (2) through the channels of
collectors(3).During the test intensity of the solar radiation I and temperatures of the
water in the outlets and inlets from the collectors and the mass flow rate have been
measured.

Fig 5 presents sum of the results from experiments and a comparison have
been made with performance of the collectors. Fig 5(a) shows the efficiency of the
newly manufactured collectors as a function of (Tinlet+Toutlet)/2 of the water in the
collector. It has been observed that the efficiency is 30% and 39% for the first and
second collectors when the water temperature is above 80o C .Fig 5(b) shows a
comparison of efficiencies of the present collectors with those of the collectors as a
function of parameter (Taverage+Tambient)/2.These collectors can provide an adequate rise
in the water temperature which is sufficient for the operation of the thermal power
converter.

A “U”-TYPE EXPERIMENTAL
PROTOTYPE FOR A SOLAR
THERMAL WATER PUMP:
The fig 6 shows the general scheme of
a “U”-type experimental prototype of a
solar thermal water pump. In this the
hot cylinder (1) and the cold cylinders
(2) are arranged in “U” shape. The
installation uses solar collector (3) and
a cooler (4) with the hydraulic pumps
(5) to introduce and reject heat from the cycle. A radiator (6) of a cooler (4) is placed
in the water pool(7) and the main pumping unit(8) and the hydraulic pumps (5) have
puppet valves(9).There is a pneumatic camera(10) is in the pumping unit (8) which
maintains a relatively uniform water flow throughout the pump
The operation cycle of the solar thermal water pump is similar to the cycle of
laboratory prototype pf the thermal converter.
The water which flows through the channels of the solar collector (3), is
heated up to 75-95oC and is taken to the surface of the heat exchanger in the hot
cylinder (1).This heat exchanger with a large surface intensifies the vaporization
process. Due to the evaporation of the hot water in the cylinder (1), the pressure of
the air-steam mixture in the expansion and compression spaces rises. The pressure
increase in the working spaces causes the downward motion of the water column in
the hot cylinder and of the piston actuator until the latter reaches its BDC. The
remaining part of the cycle is identical to laboratory prototype
The variation of the pressure in the air-steam mixture in the working spaces
causes the flow of water through hydraulic pumps (5).when the pressure of air-steam
mixture in the working spaces rises the water flows from the converter into the
hydraulic pumps through their lower puppet valves. When the pressure of the air-
steam reduces when water into the expansion compression spaces from the hydraulic
pumps (5) through their upper puppet valves.
The fig 7 shows the pumping capacity of the solar thermal water pump as a
function of intensity of solar insolation when the converter has been completed with
the collectors. When the solar pump connected to the collectors with integral tube and
absorber, its pumping capacity
increases from 0.18-0.55 m3 /hr as the intensity of solar radiation changes from 680-
790 W/m2, respectively.
The efficiency increases due to the pulsating water flow through the channels.
The fig 8 shows the efficiency of the collectors when they are coupled with
solar thermal water pump as a function of the parameter (Taverage+Tambient) /I. It can be
seen that the pulsating flow of water increases the efficiency of the collectors by 8-
10%.
A CO-AXIAL SOLAR THERMAL WATER PUMP COUPLED TO A COLLECTOR WITH A SELECTIVE

COATING:

Fig 9 shows the general scheme of a test rig with the second design of solar water
pump. This design has a co-axial hot (1) and cold (2) cylinders and a set of brazed
copper tube and fin collectors (3) with a selective coating and aperture of 6 m 2 to
supply the pump with heat. The water is pumped from a storage vessel(4) through a
section chamber (5).Water is discharged from discharging chamber (8)with a control
valve(9) and manometer(10)The main pumping unit (11) is supplied with puppet
valves(10).The water jacket(13) surrounds the cold cylinder(2) and is used to reject
heat from the cycle. The
distance H from the surface of the water to the level of discharging chamber (8) is
determined by the design of the solar thermal water pump, and is 1.6m.
 Fig 11 shows the average value
of the intensity of insolation has
been registered at 850W/m2.The
pumping capacity of solar thermal
pump is about 0.7m3/hr.For both
series of tests when the value of
section head and lift head are both
1.5m. The test results shows that
the pump works more efficiently
when the water is pumped from
some depth in comparison with the
case when the water is lifted from the surface unto the corresponding height. Solar
thermal water pumps can provide a stable operation over a wide range of values of
mechanical load.
CONCLUSIONS:

 New designs of the solar thermal water pumps on the basis of a stirling
engines with fluid pistons coupled to set of flat plate solar collectors have been
developed and tested. The working fluid in the cycle is an air-steam mixture
with the maximum temperature and the pressure in the cycle at 95 oC and
1.8bar, respectively, the frequency of the working cycle varies in between
1and 2 Hz and the pumping capacity changes from 0.7 to 0.2 m3/hr when the
value of dynamic head is increased from 1.5 to 5m.
 The designs of the developed thermal solar water pumps provide a stable
operation over a wide variation in the intensity of solar radiation and dynamic
head.
 The results of the experimental tests shows that the pulsating motion of the
water in the channels of the flat plate solar collectors coupled to a solar
thermal water pumps increases the collectors efficiency by approximately
10%.
 Low cost materials and a simple technology have been used for their
manufacture and those solar thermal water pumps cam be used for watering of
the plants and animals, in the solar house heating system and for changing the
water in pools in the fish-agro industry.
REFERENCES:

1. “Photovoltaic, Wind & Diesel”-Hammad.M

2. Stirling engines – Walker.G
3. Liquid piston Stirling engine – Wiley & John.
4. An introduction to application of solar energy-Mc Veigh.
5. Principles of application of Stirling engines, Spriner-verlag.