Solar Operated Pump

I still have not found anything describing this concept....

I was going to give a reasoned reply, but there's just so much wrong I couldn't decide where to start. Have fun.

Would you care to reply and tell me whats wrong with this concept. Didn't think I had to mention that it is a Stirling ( heat- cold ) operated mechanism. To make a model , some parameters have to be set first. Size of pump , depth of well, power needed, size of mirror and expansion container to produce enough force to move the lever arm and pump. I wont tell you how the expansion container moves away and come back to the focal point.

One problem that I have experienced myself with use of parabolic mirrors and troughs is the continuous SOLAR TREKKING. Remember this has to be done everyday, 365 days a year and that too with varying angles everyday.

That's SOLAR TRACKING. Since the OP is clearly a beginner at this, he probably doesn't know what solar tracking is!

The parabolic dish must be continuously moved to point directly at the sun as the sun moves across the sky, and must be returned to the East each morning. The easy way to do this is with electronics controlling two motors, although it should be possible to make a polar axis unit that would use a constant speed motor to rotate once per day, with a manual adjustment for the seasonal changes.

how about a refrigerant based system?

I should have written refrigerant based tracking

I was showing that there are options to electronics for tracking

the need for tracking would be determined by the amount of water that was needed

Thanks! I had not seen that... That is a neat concept. The amount of fluid required would depend on a lot of things, like the weight of the reflector, how well it is balanced, how much friction, and the wind load...

Of course the Freon 12 would have to be replaced with some other fluid that is legal for a DIYer to use, like R134a.

I've heard tell of propane being used as a substitute for R12

I'm sure with

a nice little diaphragm pump

evacuation pump

copper pipe, "2 or there abouts

you could cobb together something

propane is cheap enough you could afford to experiment

Hi dkwarner, I am looking for one such simple system (constant speed motor + polar axis) for Solar Tracking. Is it possible that you send me the guidance??.. Thanks in advance..

For simplicity. a 24-hour clock motor should do. Also a telescope equatorial mount drive.

First, the entire system must be designed around a shaft (or two shafts joined by some form of U structure) with very good bearings, that is mounted parallel to the Earth's axis.

Second, the assembly must be designed so it is very well balanced, using a minimum of counterweights.

Third, the structure must be protected from wind damage.

If those three conditions are met, then as Tornado said, a simple 24 hour clock motor mounted on one end of the shaft can turn it to follow the sun. It should be obvious that any synchronous motor, with appropriate gearing, can be made into a clock capable of moving heavier assemblies.

Then there must be a second axis, perpendicular to the first, so the assembly can be aimed north and south to follow the seasons. For many applications, a once-a-day or even once-a-week manual adjustment of this second axis would be adequate.

Just look at any equatorial telescope mount for guidance...

Thanks for yr reply.

I am trying to make one based on the various inputs and the past trials and see what shape it takes finally.

Go on Google and type in tracking system for sun mirror . You'll find your answer.

Thanks Johann.

How a small change in the keyword can Drastically change the results n Google platform. Hope something is done about it. Difference between man & machine needs to further narrowed down.

What's wrong is something you've pointed out yourself - " I wont tell you how the expansion container moves away and come back to the focal point" - is it a secret? Why didn't you just say "a Stirling engine with the hot end sited at the focus of the parabola"?

You've presented a cylinder which increases in volume (and hence length) as the contents are heated by the sun, and pushes on a pump lever. As it stands, the return stroke won't happen until the sun goes down. There's a lot more than this to a working Stirling engine.

You still don't get it. As the container expands , it also moves higher away from the focal point . At the max. expansion , it starts to cool and moves down to the focal point and starts to heat up again . This is just an idea. The actual design of the container , material, seals and liquid I leave up to a qualified engineer.

With no displacer arrangement (as in a Stirling engine), the system would just move away from the focal point until an equilibrium is reached. As I said, you then have to wait for sundown. "The actual design of the container , material, seals and liquid ..." are irrelevant.

What you describe here sounds more like a focusing mechanism than a tracking mechanism or a mechanism with enough power to pump water, although I haven't yet seen what size dish reflector you are considering.

And of course the other consideration is the amount of water to be pumped. Are you trying to provide drinking water only, to irrigate fields, or somewhere in between?

Although I can not fathom your concept, it seems that you can try your idea for only a few bucks. Why not build it and show us???

The description is so lacking in detail that it could also describe a rocket launcher, or a trash compactor, or a serious hangover. Are you sure those weren't beer cans? If you think the idea is patentable, don't tell us any more.

Apparently you don't understand the difference between describing an idea and a finished manufactured product. Applying for a patent, at my age I wont live long enough to make use of it. To make a model is out of the question with my S/S income . That answerers Ried 's question too. Apparently you never had an idea up for discussion, otherwise you wouldn't make such dumb comments.

My apologies! In addition to being closed minded this morning, I was also a bit cranky. Discuss away!

Build a working model, and we will have a little more respect.

here

It sounds like you're trying to build a Sterling Engine. For efficiency reasons, you don't want to cycle the temperature of your "coke cans". In an efficient Sterling engine, the hot chamber stays hot and the cold chamber stays cold. Only the working fluid (e.g. air) changes temperature, expanding and contracting to do work as the motion of the engine moves it from one chamber to the other. There are various designs that you can find on the internet.

You are right . I looked at many Stirling and they operate as you said. The difference in this idea is; to heat the bottom of the can fast enough so the content ( whatever is best) expands the can fast ther by moving it away from the heat source. the top of the can stays cool , shrinking liquid or gas creating a vacuum and moving down to the heat source and starting the cycle again. Sun power was ment for the equatorial regons. Propane with a contol valve from pilot to full power could be use too where gas but no electricity is available .

Unfortunately, as JohnDG indicated, without some form of switching, valving, or other intermittent variation, the unit will just reach an equilibrium somewhere between hot and cold. It might well oscillate as a spring-mass system initially, but without periodic reinforcement, the oscillations will get smaller and smaller as it approaches equilibrium.

There are commercial sun tracking mirrors on the market. Using a propane gas burner with an on-off switch would be ok too. Because of the mechanical construction that holds the expansion container, it can not come to an equilibrium. As I said before, heat is applied to the bottom , liquid - gas expands, container moves apart and rising heat is shut off, at max. expansion ( top). Liquid-gas is cooling creating a vacuum , container shrinks and moves down with the help of it's own weight,sickle starts again.Choosing the right material for the bottom ant top of the container and type of gas-liquid has to be worked out by somebody ells. The rest is just straight mechanical engineering and a tool maker .

"heat is applied to the bottom , liquid - gas expands, container moves apart and rising heat is shut off"

I'm sorry - without some drawing, sketch, or photo, it is impossible to know just what you are trying to do.

You have indicated that you are too old to profit from a patent... If so, then why not share your ideas before they disappear forever. I'm well over the hill myself, but still hope to help a lot of folks before I too disappear. If you have something useful, let's develop it before it's too late!