Due to the lack of infrastructure and limited external source of energy in the developing world, our method to transport the water to these communities must be capable of generating its own energy. The Archimedes Initiative is conducting research into the efficiency and performance of hybrid-electrical and mechanical designs for water transport, and will be comparing both designs to determine which is most effective for implementation in developing countries. Factors such as material cost, resource availability, and ease of use are all considered during the design, testing, and future implementation of the project.
During the Fall of 2018, both the mechanical and hybrid teams completed their preliminary designs and finalized them following a Critical Design Review with our faculty advisors. The mechanical design utilizes a rope pump to lift water out of the well and into the first raised holding tank. From there, the water descends and runs horizontally through the pipes until it is collected in another holding tank level with the ground. To lift the water from the second tank into the next raised holding tank, an Archimedes screw is used, and the process repeats until the final destination is reached. The hybrid design incorporates three solar panels to supply electrical energy to a custom-built battery bank. From this battery bank, a selected centrifugal pump is powered, providing a significant pressure change in order to transport the water the required distance.
Currently, the Archimedes Initiative has completed the construction of the hybrid prototype and is working on finishing the mechanical design. Once the designs are fully built, the mechanical and hybrid teams will be conducting various tests on both designs in order to test their capabilities and efficiency. The results will be analyzed to determine the effectiveness of each pump.