Wind Generator for Deep Well

[Patrice]

Hi everyone: I'm new here on this forum, so forgive me if someone has already addressed this topic.

We are rural and are trying to do some sensible preparedness. We doing okay with one exception: our well has an electric pump. When the power goes out, we have zippo water, which means nothing for our livestock or us. Naturally we have stored water, but only enough to last a few days.

The trouble is, our well is very very deep, about 610 feet down. We have a lot of wind where we live, and I was thinking that a small wind generator might work.

Please understand that I'm a technological dummy, so can someone explain to me in lay terms whether a wind generator would work for powering our well if the electricity goes out?

And/or, can anyone refer me to a company that sells this kind of equipment?

Thanks!
Patrice

[WileyCoyote]

What about a windmill?
Or have those gone totally by the wayside?

[machinemaker]

Usually deep well pumps draw a lot of power, 220Vac 10-20 amps so a wind turbine could work, but you will need to set up a complete system, turbine, batteries, inverter etc. I have seen some wind pumps that use the turbine to compress air that is used to bring the water up to the surface, thus eliminating the batteries, inverter etc. You might want to look online at real goods.com if for nothing else to see whats out there to start shopping around.
kent

[AlchemyAcres]

Patrice,

The problem you are going to run into with DC at those depths is the fact that the wire would need to be of such a heavy gauge that it would be cost prohibitive when you also factor the cost of the pump and all.

Maybe it would make more sense to look into a backup generator...you could run the pump and other stuff as well.


~Martin :)

[msta999]

Here are some solar options, although they are spendy. Scroll down to the bottom of the list for the deeper wells.

http://www.solardyne.com/solwatpum.html

Here is some info on windmill for pumping water.

http://www.aermotorwindmill.com/Sales/CommonQuestions.asp

[kawalekm]

Hi Patrice
Your well might be 610 feet deep, but is that where the static water level is? My well is 450 feet, but the un-pumped water level is 70 feet down. The pump may be located 610 feet down, but the water will raise in the pipe to whatever your static level is. Usually there is some kind of plaque or note somewhere on the system to identify the well driller. All the information about your well can be obtained from the driller. Before deciding how you can possibly get the water out you need to know information like the number of aquifers, static level, refresh rate, ect.

Maybe your best option would be a generator backup. I'd suggest getting a dual-fuel generator that uses either gas or propane. Propane doesn't go bad and can be stored forever, so if the power goes off, you just go out, turn the propane on, and start the generator. Will the rest of the water system work without electricity? With our water system I pump water with our generator (220V) into a 5000 gallon holding tank up the hill from the well. After shutting off the generator, water can flow back downhill by gravity, giving us 75psi of water pressure. Maybe the cheapest alternative for you would be putting in a propane/gas generator and a larger holding tank.
Michael

[Patrice]

Thank you, everyone, for your info and links. I think if we're going to have to spend $7000 for a solar pump that handles a well that deep, we'll probably get a generator instead. That was my husband's suggestion to start with, but I was hoping for something a little less depending on an outside fuel source.

I appreciate all your help!

Thanks,
Patrice

[msta999]

Looking at the first link I posted, looks like (because I don't know how many amps your pump needs to work) 840 watts will be the minumum. Here is a 1000 Watt wind generator from ebay, if you check there you can usually find things cheaper or find a place that deals with used equipment.

http://cgi.ebay.com/1000-WATT-WIND-GENERATOR-LOW-WIND-START-UP-QUIET-OP-a_W0QQitemZ140228695579QQihZ004QQcategoryZ121837QQ ssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

most of what you need you should be able to find on ebay. I am not an expert on this type of equipment, but I have read a lot about it. If you contact the seller of one of the wind generators on ebay, they should be able to tell you what you will need for you well.
Sorry I couln't be more help.

[LeatherneckPA]

Silly question time!!!

Why couldn't Patrice just put an old fashioned wheel-type windmil over her existing well head and let the wind pump like they did 100 years ago?

[msta999]

I think we're too high tech nowadays. Do they still make those things? ;D

[LeatherneckPA]

I think we're too high tech nowadays. Do they still make those things? *;DI know at least two companies that are still making them. They are in my plan for both moving water and creating 12V electricity if I get to buy my 40 acre dream piece.

[msta999]

This type of windmill would probably be better today, than they were in the old days. I don't see why a person couldn't run a generator off them, the only problem would be keeping it at the correct rpm. I talked to a guy, who said you could use the flywheel type motor to power a generator. I bet you could use the windmill to power the flywheel and keep the flywheel motor spinning at the speed it needs to spin. It would be a constant power then, I would think.

[JAK]

Depending on your needs a good strategy for solar powered wells is to have a cistern closer to ground level and have it constantly refilled at a trickle, when the sun is shining. This eliminates the need for batteries and reduces the size of pump needed. The reduced flow rate can also make things more efficient. Doesn't work so well with wind power. Wind power is more intermittent, so you would need somewhat larger sized pump, and either a much larger cistern or lots of batteries.

Power needs...

Assume 200 U.S. gallons per day, from 600 feet.

That is about 1,000,000 ft.lbs per day
Solar powered at 8 hours/day = ~ 50 watts
Wind powered at 100 hours/month = 120 watts average but perhaps 500 watts peak.

[JAK]

Of course in theory that is all well and good. Excuse the pun. ;D

Beyond 600 feet or so it does get very tricky, and you may have to search around to find a reliable low flow high head pump that you can put alot of hours on with reasonable maintenance. Keep digging. Oops again. ;D