simple water wheel for irrigation

[bee_pipes]

This is a simple device that even my limited abilities could make. Been looking at ram pumps and all sorts of stuff to take advantage of the low head, steady flow we have in the creek, then I came across this on OtherPower.COM. This is by far the simplest device I have ever seen:

http://www.earthgarden.com.au/images/125Waterwheel-and-John.jpg

(mozilla/firefox right click and view image for larger picture)
http://www.earthgarden.com.au/images/125waterwheel.gif

http://www.earthgarden.com.au/waterwheel.html

All I need to do now is get the water level raised a little bit...

Regards,
Pat

[kawalekm]

Now that is an interesting set up. Could you go into more detail as to how the waterwheel generates any pressure beyond the height of the wheel (I'm guessing 1psi)? I suppose with the right gearing, you could also hook up an alternator to generate electricity.

[bee_pipes]

Supposed to be 3:1 ratio of length of spiral to pressure - a 30 foot spiral would bush water 10 feet up.

Regards,
Pat

[AlchemyAcres]

Actually...there's alot more to the water wheel than some of the basic ram pumps I've built......You mentioned elsewhere that you have 20 feet of drop. Over how many linear feet? That's a lota drop if it's a fairly short distance.
You could set up a homemade ram pump with a stand pipe and move alota water for very little investment...no 'dam' needed.

Here's a pic of one of my ram pumps....a 1 inch....an altered upside down foot valve is the cornerstone....built for less than $20...they don't get any more basic than this.....this one moved a lota water for cattle.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y98/cooko75/rampump.jpg


~Martin :)

[bee_pipes]

No, the 20 foot drop I have is over the entire length of the property - about a mile.

Can you give a parts list and diagram - that's a mighty small, simple looking piece of equipment. Would be handy to know how to put one of those together.

Regards,
Pat

[AlchemyAcres]

Hi Pat....

My goal was to make a pump as simple and inexpensive as possible using the absolute minimum amount of parts, especially compared to ones like this Clemson University pump.

http://www.clemson.edu/irrig/Equip/ram.htm

My pumps are similar to The Breurram pump...but even more basic.

www.wot.utwente.nl/documents/articles/2003_breurram_en.pdf

The parts...

Pump can be made any size....

>One Foot Valve (altered)
>One T-Fitting.
>One Spring Check Valve
>Two Nipples (One between the foot valve and the T..the other between the T and the spring check valve.)
>One barbed fitting (between the spring check valve and the hose)
>Piece of hose used as the air chamber......the one pictured is only about 3 feet long and horizontal....takes some experience to get it to work right.....a better option would be a 12 foot length of black poly looped and tilted slightly from horizontal. (less likely to fill completely with water)
>There's a barbed fitting between the air chamber hose and the supply pipe (not pictured)

You do need back pressure in order to start the pump....i didn't use a valve like they do with the Clemson pump (Part #7)...I simply fill the supply pipe with water using a funnel....that supplies ample back pressure.

Maybe I can get some pics taken of the altered foot valve....it's quite simple but pics sure would help explain it.


~Martin

[AlchemyAcres]

Better pics of the Breurram....

http://www.wot.utwente.nl/documents/articles/breurram/index.html

These are some VERY well made pumps...but they've made things much more complicated than they need to be.


~Martin :)