Performance Characteristics of a Reciprocating Piston Pump Driven by a Wind Machine

Abstract

The torque applied by a reciprocating pump on a wind machine axis is a fluctuating torque. The energy furnished by the pump on the wind machine axis is absorbed mainly in raising the water and the piston when the latter moves up. This has a direct adverse effect on the starting speed. The lower the maximum torque to be overcome, the easier will the wind machine start. If the necessary torque is high, a faster wind speed is required to start the wind machine. The operating time of the machine is consequently reduced. It is therefore desirable to reduce the starting torque, and hence to make the starting easier. This paper presents a theoretical study to reduce the starting torque of a non-conventional reciprocating piston pump by controlling the stroke volume of the pump or by controlling the flow rate of the piston pump. These two methods are the best to control, smooth and reduce the starting torque of the pump by drilling a very small hole in the piston. The effect of this hole is that at very low speed (at starting) all water that could be pumped is leaked through the hole. This is the main important of the hole which made the pressure on the piston is very low and as a result the starting torque is low. The quantity of water leaking through the hole is small compared to the normal output of the pump. Finally the comparison between normal and leakhole piston pump and the effect of this leakhole on the cavitation phenomena are studied