Optimizing the performance of a spiral water wheel pump

Millimouno, Agnes

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/117719 Copy

Description

Title

Optimizing the performance of a spiral water wheel pump

Author(s)

Millimouno, Agnes

Issue Date

2022-10-04

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Cooke, Richard A.

Committee Member(s)

• Gopu, Raveendran Nair
• Bhattarai, Rabin

Department of Study

Engineering Administration

Discipline

Agricultural & Biological Engr

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

M.S.

Degree Level

Thesis

Keyword(s)

Keywords: Spiral water wheel pump, wheel diameter, pipe size/pipe configuration, number of coils, head discharge, discharge rate, stream depth, and stream velocity.

Abstract

An increase in the world population and global expansion in farmland has increased the need for more efficient water use. The spiral water wheel pumps appear to be a valuable and inexpensive option for supplying water for surface and subsurface irrigation for fields near flowing water bodies. This inexpensive water lifting device is more economical than conventional energy sources like diesel pumps and renewable sources like solar-powered pumps. It was constructed from PVC and wood to reduce the effect of global carbon. However, the wheel pumps tested in this study can only be used in water bodies where the velocity exceeds 2 feet per second. Smaller streams can be channeled if necessary. The study objective was to design, construct, and evaluate a spiral water wheel pump's performance characteristics (maximum elevation and discharge rate) to optimize its performance at any given location. Laboratory and field experiments were carried out on the designed instrument to characterize the relationship between (i) number of coils (using different pipe diameters), (ii) size of the inlet scoop, (iii) wheel diameter, (iv) stream depth and water velocity, and maximum discharge head and discharge rate for two different diameters of the spiral water wheel pumps. The results from the laboratory and field water wheels were used to develop the pump performance curves, determine the best pump configuration for different scenarios, and identify limitations to the use of the pump. The pump's performance increased with an increase in coil numbers (decrease in pipe diameter), which offers an efficient and cost-effective solution for developing high head water wheel pumps.

Graduation Semester

2022-12

Type of Resource

Thesis

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2022, Agnes Millimouno

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