Do you know anything about using solar panels on an electric borehole pump?

Question

There is an orphanage back home in Zimbabwe that is trying to set up a solar system for their previously electric 30-meter-deep borehole (electricity is now scarce there) ... how do I even begin to know what I'm looking for? What questions do I need to ask about the borehole there? What should I look for on the solar panels? Besides solar panels, what else do I need to set this up? Shipping is no problem, there is a huge crate being sent over there soon that can take them. I'd really appreciate the help!

Answer 1

In Australia (any I assume US and South Africa) you can purchase solar pump kits which include panels, electronics and the bore pump. The existing bore pump would probably drain too much power for a reasonably priced solar setup.

Specialised solar bore pumps run on lower voltages and are designed to minimise power requirements. Type "solar water pump" into your search engine and go from there.

If they want to keep the existing pump they would be better off with a backup generator, perhaps a natural gas powered one if gasoline/diesel is in short supply.

Answer 2

I think solar is a bad idea as it is relatively high tech. If water does not have to be raised too much, a windmill driven piston or lever could raise the water.  Think of a hand pump with the windmill just moving it up and down. Good luck.

Answer 3

There are lots of variables. How much water a day does the well need to deliver, how much current does the pump draw, is it going into a tank....that kind of thing. You'd also need storage batteries to make it effective. The amount of sunlight available is another. I've seen parts of west Africa go weeks without the sun breaking through the clouds. If you had a 1 horsepower pump, it would take close to 2 kilowatts worth of cells to run it any time but high noon.

30 meters is a little deep for a hand pump, but I've seen way too many well meaning people put electric pumps in villages that simply weren't suited for them. They invariably turn into non working monuments to good intentions and bad sense.

Electric pumps give the impression of modernism for the few weeks they work before lack of maintenance and understanding render them useless. Hand pumps only give the people water.

Answer 4

You can get the info from companies that suppply them on the size of panels the horsepower of pump for the volume of water needed. you will need panels batteries pump and regulator. I would suspect they will be available a lot closer than from North America. You may purchase them and have them shipped direct in any event. not all that expensive depending on the volume of water.

Answer 5

The first site shows you solar energy companies from all over the world.  contact any one of them to get all of the information that you need.  You might look into wind mills that are used to pump water all over the western US.  

I've been looking into this new thin film panel technology.  They are cheap and you can set them up almost anywhere.  Might be just what you are looking for, site #2.

http://www.ecobusinesslinks.com/solar_en...

http://www.sti.nasa.gov/tto/Spinoff2006/...