Development of a minimum maintenance solar pump

Abstract

Recent efforts at the University of Science and Technology (UST), Kumasi, have resulted in the successful development of a Minimum Maintenance Solar Pump (MMSP) from locally available materials. The design employs 202.5 liter (45 gallon) oil drums reinforced with 12. 7mm (0. 5 in) steel pipes. Two prototypes based on this design have been tested at UST and Brace Research Institute (BRI), Montreal. The maximum temperature attained in the UST prototype was 84áµ’C with no water being pumped while BRI prototype pumped 158 litres (79% of total capacity) with the bottom of the drum reaching 96áµ’C. The volume of water which remains in the drum after a previous operation has a great influence on the maximum temperatures attained by the drum and the test results indicate that this residual water should be kept at a minimum of about 1 litre.