Solar Emergency Water Pump System for Grid Outages
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Solution Overview
Problem
Private water well users face challenges in obtaining adequate drinking water during power outages or disasters, as existing water pump systems are disabled, and there is a need for a reliable alternative power source to ensure continuous water supply for households, pets, and livestock.
Innovation Solution
A solar-powered emergency water pump system that includes a solar panel, battery, controller, microprocessor, hydraulic pump, submersible motor, and storage container, designed to provide a continuous low-flow water supply of up to 90 gallons per day, capable of operating 24/7 and routing water to existing storage tanks or standalone storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a primary electrical grid powered water pump is used, then adequate water supply is provided during normal operation, but the system becomes disabled during power outages or disasters
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the water supply function into two independent segments: a primary grid-powered pump for normal operation and a solar-powered emergency pump for disaster recovery. This segmentation allows each system to operate independently, ensuring that failure of one does not compromise the other, thereby resolving the contradiction between reliability and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the power source parameter from exclusively grid electricity to a hybrid of grid electricity and solar energy. By incorporating solar panels and battery storage, the system can operate under varying power conditions, maintaining water supply reliability whether the grid is operational or not.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If solar power is used to provide continuous 24-hour operation, then energy independence is achieved, but energy storage capacity must be sufficient for nighttime operation
Solution Approach 1:
The solar pump operates at a reduced low flow rate during daytime to conserve energy, rather than running at full capacity. This partial action allows the system to extend operation into nighttime hours using stored battery energy, achieving 24-hour coverage without requiring excessively large battery storage capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs periodic charging during daytime when solar energy is available and periodic discharging during nighttime when stored energy is used. This periodic action pattern optimizes the use of limited battery storage capacity while maintaining continuous water supply.
3Productivity
If the pump runs at high flow rate, then water supply speed is improved, but energy consumption increases and reduces operational duration
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the pump's flow rate based on available energy. During daytime with solar power available, the pump can operate at higher flow rates. During nighttime or when battery charge is low, the pump automatically reduces to a lower flow rate to conserve energy, ensuring continuous operation throughout the 24-hour cycle.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump operates at a reduced low flow rate during certain periods (nighttime or low energy availability) rather than maintaining high flow rate continuously. This partial action at reduced capacity extends the operational duration to cover the full 24-hour cycle despite limited energy availability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system ensures a reliable water supply during power outages by utilizing solar energy, reducing downtime and damage from lightning and wear, and providing a low-maintenance solution with modular components and sensors for diagnostics, effectively addressing the need for continuous water access.
Implementation Method 1
a solar panel for gathering energy
Implementation Method 2
a battery for storing energy for energy supply at night
Implementation Method 3
a hydraulic pump, a submersible hydraulic motor and lifting pump
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is a solar powered emergency water pump system designed to be used in combination with a private water well system to provide water when a power outage or other failure disables the primary pump system. The invention is comprised of the following major components: a solar panel for gathering energy, a battery for storing energy for energy supply at night, a controller for converting and directing energy flow, a microprocessor for system control and diagnostics, a hydraulic pump, a submersible hydraulic motor and lifting pump, tubing or piping for water transfer and a container for storing the emergency water. The system is designed for the pump to run 24 hours a day supplying water at a low rate.