Introduction
Devikulam is a hilly area, located 1800 meters above the sea level. It has a population of 358 people and a total of 86 families. It receives approximately 2716 hours of sunshine per year. The main agricultural activities include dairy farming and pepper cultivation. Water requirement for human and animal consumption as well as farming is approximately 1280 liters per day. Practice of agriculture is very outstanding, and hence supplementation of water supply through solar pumping will come in handy. In this proposal, installation of a Lorentz HR pump is suggested. This pump attains high level of efficiency, especially when run from solar panels (Kondinin Group, 2009).
The equipments set up and specifications
The pump will be used to pump water from a bore hole to a storage tank as illustrated in figure 1 above. The set up will require about 2 to 3 solar panels (100 watts). Since Devikulam is on a hilly location, it will be necessary to acquire a pump that supplies water to the people living in hilly areas, as well as well as the ones living in lower areas. The controller will be placed in a dust free area, secure shed or a pump house. Lorentz HR solar pump will use both alternating current and direct current power sources. Since pumping is done into a storage tank, a float switch is recommendable. The rate of pumping will depend on the rate of water recovery from the sources, and hence prior arrangement of pumping rate must be considered when installing the pump (Kondinin Group, 2009). Operating conditions of the solar powered pump are very important. The pump will be specifically designed for solar power. The controller of the pump should be purchased from the same manufacturer to ensure compatibility. Inspection of the system should be at least once per week.
Cost Requirements
Two 100 watts solar panels that can supply adequate power to pump to water within a 1000 meter radius will be used. Installation of this system goes for about $50,000, inclusive of all installation costs.
Security of the Panel
Security around the pump will be achieved through construction of a perimeter wall, and an electric fence to protect the system from theft. A security guard will also be employed to man the station, especially at night. An alarm system will be installed to create attention in case of an emergency.
Advantages
Lorentz HR pump is one of the submersible bore pump variety, and therefore, it can be used for bore pumping. Despite the hilly nature of Devikulam, this pump will effectively pump and supply water throughout the village. This is particularly because it can pump water up to high levels and withstands very high pressure. If fixed together with an appropriate pumping controller, it can pump water in low light intensity conditions such as when there is a cloud cover, very early in the morning, as well as in the late afternoons (Kondinin Group, 2009).
Due to its availability and low cost, the pump will be very appropriate for the people of Devikulam. In addition to low cost, it uses effective technology that can be depended upon. The solar-powered pump is more durable, especially in groundwater pumping system as compared to other alternative forms of energy. The other factor that makes it recommendable is its portability, and hence can be moved from one source of water to another (Energy Research and Development Administration, 2007)
Disadvantages
One of its disadvantages is that it relies heavily on weather conditions. The system works better during sunny days as opposed to cloudy days. In addition, it is an expensive project requiring heavy capital contributions. Panels will require regular maintenance and thus additional costs. Replacement of the panels will have to be done on a continuous basis. (Energy Research and Development Administration, 2007)
Conclusion and recommendations
The water pump is a very recommendable project for the people of Devikilum village. Since the village receives sufficient sunshine, this pump will undoubtedly pump substantial amount of water to be used in the village. To ensure that the pump is highly effective, I would recommend the following measures to be undertaken.
- A tendering system must be used in hiring a consultant firm to install the system. This will enhance credibility during procurement.
- It is important to identify someone to carry out maintenance from time to time.
- All the villagers should contribute funds for the project. This will make pooling of resources possible so as to achieve the objectives more effectively.
References
Energy Research and Development Administration., 2007. Solar Energy Update. New York: U.S. Energy Research and Development Administration, Office of Public Affairs.
Global Greenhouse Warming., 2010. Solar Water Pumps.Web.
Kondinin Group., 2009. Farming ahead with the Kondinin Group. Cornell: Cornell University.