Re: [EE]:: Operation of water pumps from Wind Turbines

Good day to all.

I've been looking at the responses so far and I have to wonder: Isn't 
simpler better?

I'm thinking that a purely mechanical setup might be 
workable.  Downside is that it has to be custom-constructed for each 
installation.

Windmill blade drives a crankshaft which has a (very) long rod to the 
bottom of the well pump.  Flapper or poppet valves for inlet and 
outlet control.  Very much like an oil well pump-jack.

Extra bonus points for making the displacement variable so as to 
maximize pump efficiency.

This might be suitable for a low-volume installation.

dwayne


At 02:33 AM 3/31/2025, RussellMc wrote:
>TL;DR / Summary
>
>Comments on the following are invited - especially the practicality of
>using DC powered deep well water pumps to allow direct powering of water
>pumps by wind turbines across a wide range of wind speeds.
>Of significant uncertainty is the practicality of powering a 1-5 kW range
>DC powered pump from a highly variable wind source, and the ability to load
>the turbine close to maximally at all times to prevent damage.
>
>_____________________
>
>I'm interested in the operation of deep well water pumps powered by WT
>(wind turbines.)
>Direct alternator to pump action without batteries or inverter is desired.
>Pumps motors are typically in the 1 kW - 5 kW range.
>Smaller and larger may happen.
>
>In the target application pumps are in most cases powered by diesel fueled
>generators, but in some cases by AC mains power or solar panels.
>Solar with AC motors has the cost disadvantage of requiring batteries and
>inverters.
>Diesel operation is costly.
>
>When wind turbines are used the most usual method is to produce 3 phase AC,
>rectify it and store energy in a battery and then use an inverter to power
>the pump.
>This has the advantage of decoupling the pump operation from variations in
>WT output and wind energy variations. As required the pump may be operated
>at a relatively constant level in start / stop mode depending on mean wind
>energy availability.
>
>While grid scale WTs can be operated in constant speed mode and provide
>relatively stable AC frequency output, this is not practical with WTs of
>this size. Even if constant speed was viable, energy variations would occur.
>Non constant frequency operation makes operation of standard off-the-shelf
>motors problematic.
>
>
>Application environment:
>
>In this application it is intended that the WTs proper, and where practical
>also the alternators, will be constructed locally in countries where low
>income and possibly also high energy costs make this attractive.
>This replaces material costs with local labour but means that use of
>battery plus inverter systems adds substantially to the capital cost.
>Adequate knowledge and design resource exists in these areas, but more
>relevant input is alway welcome.
>
>DC system:
>
>I'm interested in the possibility of using DC pump motors. WT AC output
>would be rectified to DC and used to drive pumps directly or via an MPPT*
>system.
>This presents the DC motor with a variable voltage variable energy power
>source. Voltage and available energy need to be adequate to start the water
>pump from stall conditions and the pump must be able to provide the WT with
>a full load across its intended power design range.
>When the WT reaches maximum wind speed and power output furling systems
>prevent further increases in output. "Dump load" systems to add extras load
>at the top end are conceivable but undesirable if the energy is wasted.
>Depending on environment two or more pumps may be able to provide a staged
>load.
>
>________________
>
>* MPPT = Maximum Power Point Tracking is a system which adapts a variable
>voltage level input source to a load (by adjusting the load seen at the
>source so that the energy source is optimally loaded (maximum power out) at
>all times.
>This can be thought of as an "electronic gearbox".
>A MPPT controller very usually contains an inverter
>
>
>
>     Russell
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-- 
Dwayne Reid   <[email protected]>
Trinity Electronics Systems Ltd    Edmonton, AB, CANADA
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