Solar Steam Vacuum Pump

The Imagination Factory is bringing together modern solar technology with a simple legacy pump from the steam era. Solar powered irrigation will be provided by a combination of a condensing steam pump and a solar steam generator. Steam vacuum pumps are robust, piston-less and have very few moving parts. These pumps date from the earliest days of steam and were widely used into the 20th century for pumping mines, ship bilges and for portable excavation work, they are well suited to pumping dirty water. Steam is used to apply direct pressure on the pumped water to provide positive displacement; condensing steam creates a vacuum to draw water into the pump. A vacuum is able to draw water to a height of ~30ft . Sub-Saharan Africa receives an abundance of solar energy. This will be used to create low pressure safe steam from a wet tube boiler. A compound parabolic solar thermal concentrator will concentrate heat onto a low cost solar vacuum tube. This will provide the heat to create the steam. Compound Parabolic solar thermal concentrators and solar vacuum tubes are well understood, reliable, solid state devices; both are light weight and portable. The ambition for this project is to combine these two well established pieces of mechanical technology in order to manufacture a modern solar steam vacuum pump design; appropriate to localised low cost production in the developing world. The Imagination Factory is able to draw on the talents of Motivation - Freedom through Mobility - charity who are skilled in setting up training, local manufacturing and production plant in the developing world. We will also receive advice from Oxfam's internationally recognised water program. The Imagination Factory has a number of creative approaches to meet the aggressive cost target for this pump. Recycled and repurposed fire extinguishers and other used pressure vessels are intended as the core pump components. The design intent will be cost sensitive from the outset, the pump will be available in kit form appropriate for simple production and servicing and maintenance in the developing world The Imagination Factory team includes members of the successful British Steam Car Challenge that broke and still holds the land speed record for a steam powered car. Steam and engineering experience are embedded.