For Many years the windmill has been a major source of power for water pumping. Up until recently the windmill was the only free to run water system. Lately due to large technogical advances in solar water pumps and panel design, this form of free water supply has become a major competitor to the windmill. The choice of the most suitable product depends on use required and local conditions.
Naturally windmills perform best in windy areas in coastal and higher regions, where as solar water pumps perform best in dry sunny locations.
Windmills have the following advantages
- They can operate for 24 hours a day when the wind blows.
- Can produce large volumes of water in windy areas.
- Heads up to 400M are achievable
- Easy to service mechanical operation without electronic components
- Can run dry without damage.
Windmills have the following disadvantages.
- More expensive than solar water pumps
- Wind does not necessarily blow in summer when water is most needed. In southern Australia the windiest months are August and September.
- Due to Workcover requirements, maintenance staff must be certified with the necessary approved equipment to work at heights.
- In deep bores due to rigid piping the pump is difficult to remove for servicing.
- Cannot be turned off with a pressure switch.
Advantages of a Solar Water Pump.
- Operates best in summer when water is most needed.
- Very efficient with modern design of solar water pumps and panels.
- Easy to install at ground level.
- The electronic controller has no moving parts and does not require servicing
- In deep bores the pump is easily removed due to the flexible poly pipe.
- Probes switch the pump off when the water level is low.
- A simple pressure switch isolates the pump when the tank is full.
Disadvantages of solar water pumps.
- Do not operate at night
- Reduced pumping on overcast days
- Does not operate when it is raining.
Types of Solar Water Pumps
- Solar water pumps can either be Centrifigual or Helical Rotor
- They can be operated Manually or Automaticly
- Solar water pumps operate very well in Bores, Tanks, Dams or Creeks
- Solar panels may be mounted as a fixed array or as a tracker system which returns the maximum output for the site due to longer pumping times
Conclusion
- Solar water pumps require very little maintance compared to windmills
- Windmills are generally ok in locations where the wind regularly blows in the summer months.
- In most other applications particularly in dry sunny areas the solar water pump is the answer and the price is now less expensive than it was.
