GB2305958A

GB2305958A - Solar-powered water supply system

Info

Publication number: GB2305958A
Application number: GB9520710A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Olusola Olumide Akindele Oni
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-10-10
Filing date: 1995-10-10
Publication date: 1997-04-23
Also published as: GB9520710D0

Abstract

A water supply system comprises a tank or reservoir 10 to which is integrated a solar-powered pump 17 which draws water into it using electrical energy provided by solar panels 15. Adjustable legs are provided at one end of the solar panels 15 which allow same to be orientated toward the sun as required.

Description

THE SOLA WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM This invention relates to a system for supplying pipe-borne water by solar energy to farms and to remote rural and desert communities.

Worldwide, water is a scarce resource. In the rural communities of third world countries and in desert communities, people may spend most of each day looking for and fetching water by hand. Famine is rife because crops cannot be adequately supplied with water; diseases are rife because of the poor quality of water available for domestic use. If water could be borne by pipes to these communities, their agriculture would flourish thus enhancing their socio-economic status and their health and mental well-being would improve more than can be achieved by the inumerable health projects that have been tried over the years.

In many of these areas of the world, water is often available at least from an underground source. However, this water needs to be brought to the surface. The most efficient method currently available is to use an electric- or a diesel-powered pump which the affected peoples cannot afford not least because of running costs even if pumps were to be donated to them by the richer communities of the west.

According to the present invention, there is provided a water supply system comprising a tank or reservoir with inlet, outlet and overflow pipes connected to it; solar panels with adjustable legs inlaid on the top surface of the tank; and, a pump, with its motor connected to the solar panels, and powered by it, inlaid into a recess on the side of the tank so that they all form one single integrated unit.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 shows in perspective, the tank with the inflowing and outflowing pipes, the solar panels and the pump in position; Figure 2 illustrates the side view of the tank with pump and motor in position; and Figure 3 illustrates the top view of the tank with solar panels in position.

Referring to the drawing, the system (Figure 1) comprises a tank 10 and a pump 17 inlaid in a recess on its side (Figure 2). Separate inlet 14 and overflow 11 pipes or channels are located at the top side and a separate outlet pipe or channel 12 is located at the bottom side. On the top surface of the tank 10, there are two recesses for housing solar panels (Figure 3) which are connected by electrical wires 16 to the motor of the pump 18. At one end of each solar panel is provided an adjustable leg for orientating the panel as necessary toward the sun.

In use, the tank is mounted on a roof or stand; the pump which is driven by a motor powered by electrical energy derived from the sun via the solar panels 15 draws water into the tank from a river, a well, a borehole or a surface or an underground reservoir; from the tank, water is piped for use and distributed by gravity feed, for example, in homes or to irrigate small holdings.

Although the system is all-in-one, all the different components or parts - tank, pipes/channels, pump, motor, solar panels and wires - are separable and, therefore, can be individually replaced as required. A 'trip-wire' device 20 is provided to switch off the pump, should it ever be necessary, as the water level in the tank, for example, rises and falls around a preset level. A water purification device 21 is housed within the outlet pipe 12 to filter and render water issuing from the tank drinkable.

Claims

1 The Sola Water Supply System comprising a tank or reservoir with inlet, outlet and overflow pipes connected to it; solar panels with adjustable legs inlaid on the top surface of the tank; and, a pump with its motor connected to the solar panels, and powered by it, inlaid into a recess on the side of the tank so that they all form one sinlge integrated unit.

2 The Sola Water Supply System as claimed in Claim 1 wherein an integrated pump is provided in a recess at the side of the tank to bring water into it.

3 The Sola Water Supply System as claimed in Claim 1 and Claim 2 wherein solar panels with adjustable legs are provided in a recess on top of the tank to bring electrical energy from the sun to power the pump

4 The Sola Water Supply System as claimed in Claim 1 wherein a 'trip-wire' mechanism is provided to switch off the pump at preset levels.

5 The Sola Water Supply System as claimed in Claim 1 wherein a water purification device is provided to filter and render water issuing from it drinkable.

6 The Sola Water Supply System substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1-3 of the accompanying drawing.