Design and simulation of an electromechanically operated mechanism to motorize hand pumps.

Abstract

Access to instant, piped water which requires minimum human effort to fetch is still a huge challenge in many rural communities of Uganda because most of the people that reside in rural areas are very poor and cannot afford the piped water from National Water. The aim of this project was to design and simulate a mechanism which can be mounted on a hand pump so that it runs automatically with very little human effort without interrupting with the water flow. To automate hand pump, a motor was added to convert electrical energy from a solar powered system, and stored by a battery, to rotating mechanical motion while turning a crankshaft. The crankshaft then converts this motion in to reciprocating motion on to the handle of a hand pump. The power available from human muscle depends on the individual, the ambient environment, the conversion efficiency, and the duration of the task. The power available for long term useful work, consumed for 8 hours per day, 48 hours per week for example, by a healthy young male laborer is often estimated at 0.08 to 0.10 horsepower (60 to 75 watts). This value becomes of bigger magnitude less for very young kids, individuals in poor health, malnourished, of slight Statute, or aged persons. The mechanical chunk of this project comprises of designed geometrical components, application of finite element analysis and simulation of forces and displacement upon them, and then evaluating their response to the changing speeds and loads. The electrical chunk of this project deals with the motor and solar requirements to make it functional. The design is achieved by the help of various software such as solid works, solid edge version 2019, and SCILAB. Keywords: Electro-mechanic, Mechanism, Hand Pump, Borehole, Motor, Simulation.