Autonomous water pumping and distribution system

Abstract

The invention relates to a self-contained water supply system (10) comprising a submersible pump (12), a water storage tank (14), a supply circuit (34) that delivers water from the storage tank (14) to a plurality of water reservoirs (40, 41) intended to meet the water requirements of the animals, at least one solar cell panel (16) designed to provide electrical power to the pump, the submersible pump (12) being intended to pump water from a water source (32) and deliver it to the storage tank (14) via a pipe (22). According to the main feature of the invention, the water storage tank (14) is pressurized by the entry of a certain volume of water and air through the pump each time the pump starts to deliver water to the storage tank (14). Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Autonomous water pumping and distribution device

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of pumping installations or systems comprising reservoirs for supplying water to livestock or wild animals and relates in particular to an autonomous water pumping and distribution device. State of the art

[0002] In arid areas or areas far from habitation, it is difficult to supply water to drinking troughs intended for livestock or wild animals. On the one hand, due to the increasing impact of climate change, some areas that once had natural water points have become arid and springs have dried up. As a result, the need to supply these areas with drinking water to protect wildlife and maintain biodiversity is increasingly important.

[0003] On the other hand, in areas where cattle herds graze, there is a real risk of watercourses being polluted by animal droppings from cattle when they drink. Creating new water distribution points to reduce this pollution in watercourses is also an environmental issue but represents a significant cost.

[0004] To avoid having to install water supply pipes over tens of kilometers, it is known to provide for supplying the drinking troughs using a submersible or surface pump in / on a water point such as a well, a borehole, a river or a pond. Such a device is for example described in document FR 2 683 703 in which the pump is powered by solar panels.

[0005] Similarly, document US 4,744,334 describes a self-contained solar-powered device primarily used for watering livestock. The device comprises a water reservoir and a pump that pumps water from the reservoir to an adjoining water trough.

[0006] Document FR 2 614 368 also describes a device comprising a reservoir on which a solar panel is arranged and a borehole pump whose discharge outlet is connected to the reservoir so that the reservoir fills as water is drawn. The filling of the reservoir is stopped automatically by means of a float switch which cuts off the power supply to the pump when the reservoir is full.

[0007] The disadvantage of these devices lies in the fact that they cannot supply several watering troughs located far from each other at different distances and altitudes higher than the altitude of the storage tank. Statement of the invention

[0008] Therefore, the aim of the invention is to overcome these drawbacks by providing an autonomous water pumping and distribution device capable of supplying several water reservoirs several kilometers apart and at different altitudes without requiring a pump that runs continuously.

[0009] The subject of the invention is therefore a self-contained water supply device comprising a submersible pump, a water storage tank, a supply circuit which brings water from the storage tank to a plurality of water tanks intended to meet the water needs of the animals, at least one solar cell panel designed to electrically power the pump, the submersible pump being intended to pump water from a water point and to discharge it into the storage tank via a pipe. According to the main characteristic of the invention, the water storage tank is pressurized by the entry of a certain volume of water and air by the pump each time the pump starts to discharge water into the storage tank. Brief description of the figures

[0010] The aims, objects and characteristics of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the following description given with reference to the drawings in which:

[0011] [Fig-1] represents a schematic view of the device according to the invention. Detailed description of the invention

[0012] At the outset, it should be clearly understood that the same reference numerals are intended to identify the same structural elements, parts or surfaces consistently in the different figures.

[0013] CHARACTERISTICS OF THE DEVICE

[0014] The device according to the invention is an autonomous water supply device 10 comprising a submersible pump 12 intended to pump water from a water point 32 such as a watercourse, a well or a borehole and to discharge it into a storage tank 14 via a pipe 22. The pump 12 is supplied with electricity using autonomous electricity production means such as at least one solar cell panel 16 or photovoltaic panel. The pipe 22 comprises a valve 24 and an air inlet valve 26.

[0015] The tank is preferably cylindrical with a diameter of between 400 mm and 500 mm and a height of approximately 3 m. The solar cell panel 16 is arranged at the top of a mast located on the upper part of the water storage tank 14 and the base of which is materialized by the water storage tank 14. This makes it possible to place the solar cell panel(s) 16 out of reach of animals or malicious people and to partially protect the tank from the sun.

[0016] On the other hand, the elongated and tall shape of the tank is designed to blend into nature. The storage tank 14 serves as a mast for the solar cell panel 16 and can be painted in a color suited to the environment in which the device is installed. The wall thickness of the tank is between 6 mm and 10 mm and preferably is equal to 8 mm to prevent it from being pierced if it is hit by a projectile from a hunter's shot.

[0017] The storage tank comprises an outlet 17 located at the lowest point and closed by a manual valve allowing the tank to be voluntarily emptied. The storage tank 14 also comprises a temperature sensor and a safety valve which opens automatically as soon as the water temperature drops below 4°C to allow the tank to be emptied and protect the device from freezing.

[0018] A supply circuit 34 brings water from the reservoir 14 to a plurality of water reservoirs 40 and 41 allowing the animals to satisfy their water needs, such as troughs or drinking troughs. Each water reservoir 40 or 41 is provided with a water inlet 44 in connection with the supply circuit 34, a level sensor 42 such as a hydraulic float and a water inlet valve 43 placed on the water inlet pipe 44.

[0019] The inlet of the pipe 22 into the storage tank 14 is located at the bottom of the tank at the same level as the inlet into the supply circuit 34. In this way, the lower part of the storage tank 14 can be buried as well as the inlet and outlet of the inlet and outlet pipes in order to protect them. The inlet of the pipe 22 into the storage tank 14 and the inlet into the supply circuit 34 are not located at the lowest point of the storage tank 14 to allow the sediment contained in the pumped water to fall to the bottom of the storage tank and be easily evacuated by the outlet valve 17. Among the plurality of distribution water tanks, at least one water tank 41 is located at an altitude lower than the altitude of the water inlet into the supply circuit 34.

[0020] The reservoir 14 is preferably a reservoir with a useful volume of approximately 400 l comprising inside it a pressure sensor 15 of the pressure switch type. The pressure sensor 15 is connected to the pump box 13 connected to the pump 12 by means of a cable 18 so that the pump is started and stopped according to the pressure measured in the reservoir. The pump starts when the pressure measured in the reservoir reaches or is lower than a determined lower limit value and stops when the measured pressure reaches a determined upper limit value, higher than atmospheric pressure, preferably at least 1 bar, the value of the lower pressure limit being greater than or equal to atmospheric pressure. Preferably, the determined lower and upper limit values ​​are 2 bar and 4 bar respectively. When the pump stops, the high liquid level in the storage tank 14 is reached and it contains approximately three quarters water and one quarter air.

[0021] OPERATION OF THE DEVICE

[0022] Initially, the storage tank 14 does not contain water and is filled with air. As soon as the amount of sunlight captured by the solar cell panel 16 is sufficient to power the pump 12, the latter starts up because the pressure measured in the storage tank is lower than the lower pressure limit.

[0023] When the pump stops, the valve 24 closes automatically and the air inlet valve 26 opens automatically. Air enters the pipe 22 through the valve 26 while the water in the pipe 22 falls back down to the static level 33 of the water in the water point 32. When the pump starts, the air inlet valve 26 closes and the valve 24 opens by the pressure of the water discharged by the pump which pushes the volume of air contained in the pipe 22 into the tank 14. Therefore, each time the pump starts, air and then water fills the tank. The volume of air pushed out each time the pump starts corresponds to the volume of the part of the pipe 22 located between the valve 24 and the water level of the water point 32.The pipe 22 and the location of the valves are dimensioned so that a minimum volume of air between 11 and 2 1, corresponding to the part of the pipe 22 located between the valve 24 and the surface of the water point 32, is stored in the pipe 22 when the pump is not operating. This volume enters the tank each time the pump is started. The pump operates as long as it is electrically powered and the pressure in the tank has not reached its upper limit value.

[0024] Thus, during the day, the storage tank 14 always contains a minimum volume of water corresponding to a pressure in the storage tank equal to the lower pressure limit, i.e. a volume equal to half the total useful volume of the tank when the lower pressure limit is set to 2 bar. This minimum volume of water makes it possible to limit the number of times the pump 12 starts up and thus to increase its service life. At each operating sequence of the pump 12, it delivers a volume of air and a volume of water into the storage tank 14 which raises the pressure to its upper limit value. The volume of water delivered into the storage tank at each operating sequence of the pump is between 50 l and 100 l.

[0025] The pressure in the water supply lines 34 and 44 of the drinking water tanks 40 is equivalent to the pressure in the storage tank 14.

[0026] When the water level in one of the water tanks 40 or 41 falls below a determined low filling level, the level sensor 42 of the water tank 40 or 41 triggers the opening of the water inlet valve 43 associated with the water tank 40 or 41 and the latter fills until its filling level reaches a determined high filling level.

[0027] The low filling level of the water tanks 40 and 41 is adjusted so that the filling level of the water tanks 40 and 41 is kept as full as possible. For example, for a drinking water tank with a maximum volume of 800 l, the low filling level is adjusted to be 750 l. During the day and when the pump 12 is powered, the filling of the water tanks 40 and 41 is carried out as soon as the water level of at least one of the water tanks 40 or 41 reaches its low filling level, via the supply circuit 34.

[0028] When night falls, the pump 12 is no longer powered by the solar cells 16 and does not start when the pressure in the tank 14 reaches its lower limit value. The filling of the water tanks 40 and 41 is done as long as there is water in the storage tank 14 and if the pressure is sufficient. Indeed, if the filling request comes from a water tank located at an altitude greater than or equal to 10 m relative to the storage tank 12, the filling of this tank will not take place.

[0029] The water supply device 10 comprises at least one water tank 41 located at an altitude lower than the altitude of the water inlet in the supply circuit 34 located in the storage tank 14 in order to take advantage of all the water stored in the storage tank 14 during the night. In addition, this guarantees the total renewal of the water in the storage tank and its filling with air. Indeed, when filling the water tank 41, air enters the storage tank 14 through the water inlet 44 of the water tank 41 and through the supply line 34, which makes it possible to purge the storage tank and fill it with air, automatically and without human intervention. At daybreak and as soon as the quantity of sunlight captured by the solar cell panel 16 is sufficient to power the pump 12, the latter starts up.

[0030] The device according to the invention allows for an on-demand, punctual and quantitative water supply, which has characteristics of automation, energy saving, stability and sustainability. On the other hand, the device according to the invention effectively solves the problem of drinking water for livestock and wild animals in arid areas, with very little impact on the environment.

[0031] In the case of water reservoirs intended to prevent livestock from coming to drink in a watercourse, the pump 12 of the device according to the invention is installed in a borehole located in the alluvial water table. Reservoirs 40 are located upstream of the reservoir of storage while reservoirs 41 are located downstream. For example, five water reservoirs 40 are distributed along a 1 km long supply line upstream and five water reservoirs 41 are distributed along a 1 km long supply line downstream. All the reservoirs are approximately 200 m apart and are located close to the banks of the watercourse in order to encourage animals to come and drink from them. The device according to the invention thus effectively protects watercourses from pollution due to herd droppings.

[0032] This device makes it possible to supply water to several different livestock herds without the risk of bacterial contamination from herd to herd, because the distribution is individualized. The water does not pass from trough to trough through a system of communicating vessels which was often used in the past.

Claims

Claims

1. A self-contained water supply device (10) comprising a submersible pump (12), a water storage tank (14) comprising a pressure sensor connected to the pump, a plurality of water tanks (40, 41) and a supply circuit (34) which brings water from the storage tank (14) to said water tanks (40, 41) intended to satisfy the water needs of animals, at least one solar cell panel (16) adapted to electrically power said pump, said submersible pump (12) being intended to pump water from a water point (32) and to deliver it into the storage tank (14) through a pipe (22), the water storage tank (14) being pressurized by the entry of a certain volume of water and air by said pump each time said pump is started to deliver water into the storage tank (14), the pump being started when the pressure measured in the tank reaches, or is lower than,a determined lower limit value and stops when the measured pressure reaches a determined upper limit value, Characterized in that at least one water tank (41) is located at an altitude lower than the altitude of the water inlet in the supply circuit (34) located in the water storage tank (14) in order to promote at night, when the pressure in the tank 14 reaches its lower limit value and the pump 12 does not start because it is no longer powered by the solar cells 16, the renewal of the water in the storage tank,

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the conduit (22) comprises a valve (24) and an air inlet valve (26) placed on the conduit (22) so that a volume of air between 1 1 and 2 1, corresponding to the part of the conduit (22) located between the valve (24) and the surface of the water point (32), is stored in the conduit (22) each time said pump is not operating.

3. A device (10) according to claim 2, wherein the air inlet valve (26) opens and the valve (24) closes each time the pump stops, the water in the conduit (22) then falls back down to the level of the surface of the water point (32) while air enters the conduit (22) through the air inlet valve (26).

4. Device (10) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein, when the pump (12) starts up, the air inlet valve (26) closes and the valve (24) opens by the pressure of the water discharged by said pump which pushes the volume of air contained in the pipe (22) into the tank (14).

5. Device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 4, in which the solar panel (16) is arranged at the top of a mast located on the upper part of the water storage tank (14) and the base of which is materialized by the water storage tank (14).

6. Device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 5, in which each water tank (40, 41) is provided with a water inlet (44) connected to the supply circuit (34), a level sensor (42) such as a hydraulic float and a water inlet valve (43) placed on the water inlet pipe (44).

7. Device (10) according to claim 6, wherein, when the water level in one of the water tanks (40, 41) falls below a determined low filling level, the level sensor (42) of said water tank triggers the opening of the water inlet valve (43) associated with said water tank and the latter fills until its filling level reaches a determined high filling level.

8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, in which the storage tank (14) comprises a temperature sensor and a safety valve which opens automatically as soon as the water temperature drops below 4°C to allow the tank to be emptied and protect the device from freezing.

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