General information · Technology
How it works
How a wind-powered water pump lifts water without a single watt of electricity.
Overview
How the wind-powered water pump works
Wind-powered water pumps are windmills built for one job: to lift and move water on wind alone, with no electricity and no diesel.
The wind wheel starts to turn at a wind speed of just 4 m/s. A low-maintenance gearbox converts that rotation into an up-and-down stroke. Wind wheel and gearbox form a single unit that swivels automatically at the top of the tower so that it always stands ideally in the wind.
The pump is fitted with a piston and a system of valves that push the water up through the connected pipes to the surface and into the reservoir. In high winds, PE wind wheels are protected by an automatic braking system, and every wind wheel also has a manual braking system at the foot of the tower.
In detail
How does a wind-driven water pump actually work?
Engineering without electronics
Wind-powered water pumps are windmills that move water on wind alone, with no electricity and no diesel. They rely on proven mechanical engineering, entirely without electronics or computers. Our current systems are refined to today's engineering standards, and you can see that in the quality and in the materials. Farmers, livestock keepers and fish breeders have rediscovered this self-sufficient system as a way of becoming that bit less dependent on energy suppliers.
From wind to pumping stroke
The wind wheel starts turning at a wind speed of just 4 m/s. A low-maintenance gearbox converts that rotation into an up-and-down stroke. Wind wheel and gearbox form one unit that swivels automatically at the top of the tower to stand ideally in the wind. The pump rod passes the movement on to the piston pump, running protected inside a galvanised steel tube all the way from the wind wheel down to the pump.
Pump & valves
The pump combines a piston with a valve system that pushes the water up through the connected pipes to the surface and into the reservoir. One major advantage: the pump keeps working even when the groundwater level is low, with no risk of damage from running dry.
Higher than the wind wheel itself
The system also delivers water above the height of the wind wheel. Non-return valves fitted at the start of the pipework make sure that no water is lost on the way.
Safety
PE wind wheels are protected against high winds by an automatic braking system. In addition, every wind wheel has a manual braking system at the foot of the tower, so you can slow the rotor down and lock it: reliable, safe operation of your wind-powered water pump.
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