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Construct and Performance Evaluation of Foot Operated Diaphragm Pump for Low Lift Irrigation

PC Paul
Prof, Dept
IWM Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh

A Khail
IWM Division, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Gazipur

BC Nath
IWM Division, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Gazipur

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

A study was undertaken to construct and performance evaluation a foot operated diaphragm pump to improve discharge and operational suitabitity. The study was conducted the laboratory of lrrigation and Water Management department, Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), Mymensingh. For this purpose, three different pumps with different sizes and shapes diaphragm box were construted. The diaphragm box were namely, square box with dimension of 28x28x14 cm (type-l), round box pump with dimension of 28 cm diameler 14 cm height (type-ll), and round box with dimension of 38 cm diameter 14 cm height (lype-lll). The designed.pump was tested for different suction head. Each test was repeated was repeated for three times and in each case, number of strokes, discharge, efficiency and power requirement were calculated. The round box diaphragm pump (type-ll) was founrl suitable for different suction head. The maximum discharge and highest efficiency were 132 lpm and 39%.under the head of 1.4 m for pump type-ll' The highest power (0.042 hp) required at suction head of 1.4 m and lowest power was (0.24 hp) at 1.5 for all the pumps operation. During operation it was observed that an average sized adult man can operate the pump maximum 1.5 hours without much physical troubles and tiredness. All types of pump of can withdraw water from shallow depth (<2m) for irrigation small area.

Keywords: Diaphragm pump, Low lift irrigation, Performance, Foot operated,

Location: laboratory of lrrigation and Water Management, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Farm Mechanization

Commodity: Watershed management

Objectives:

To modify and reconstruct a single acting foot operated diaphragm pump suitable to lift water from a shallow depth for irrigation. ln the context of Bangladesh where labours are abundant and most of the farmers are poor, a foot operated (pedal) pump may be an attractive irrigation technology for the poor.

Methodology:

During the study the following indigenous water lifting devices were constructed and tested in laboratory of lrrigation and Water Management, BAU. Three types of foot operated diaphragm box were considered. Type-l ; square box diaphragm pump and box size was 28x28x14cm, Type-ll, round box diaphragm pump and box size was 28x14cm (diameter x height) and Type-lll round box diaphragm pump and diaphragm box size 38x14cm (diameter x height). Rubber flaps, steel sheet, MS rod, wood, Gl pipe, Gl sheet, flat bars, angle bars nuts and bolts were needed for pump construction. Time was counted by stopwatch, weight machine and jar were required for measurement of water. The main components of diaphragm pump are a rubber box with inlet and outlets pipes. One end of the suction chamber (diaphragm) was closed with steel sheet and another end of this chamber was fabricated to work as a suction mechanism and it was attached with rubber by nuts and bolts. Nuts and bolts are used for tightening the rubber with suction box. Three types of diaphragm was constructing according to dimension. The inlet and outlet valves are made Gl sheet which was checked by 2 mm thick rubber flap. The lever was made of Gl pipes which was 2.5 cm diameter and 99 cm length. The first portion of the lever was joined to the diaphragm box by connection rod and middle portion of the lever was joined with a wooden block by nuts and bolts. The lever is also connected with a pedal which is used to operate the pump with foot. During the initial test, the lever: arm ratio was selected as 2:1(lever length 66cm and arm length 33 cm). Later the ratios were modified to 3:1 and 4:'l to evaluate the case of operation. Finally lever and arm ratio 4:1 was found suitable. A PVC pipe 5 cm diameter was connected with the inlet of the suction box to work as a suction pipe. The operation of pump is simple and an adult man can operate the pump easily. During the upward movement of the connecting rod, a negative (suction) pressure (vacuum) is created in the diaphragm box and causes the check valve (inlet valve) to open (i.e. the rubber flap moves upward) and water inters into the diaphragm box. When the connecting rod moves downward the check valve (inlet valve) is closed and a high pressure is created in the pump chamber due to compression of water which in turn opens the outlet (delivery) valve and water is driven out through the outlet pipe from the diaphragm chamber. When the operator forced the pedal with foot to move downward, the lever pull the diaphragm upward through connecting rod to create negative pressure in the diaphragm box. The downward movement of the pedal causes the suction box to draw water from the sources through inlet pipe. After the leaving off the pedal, the water in the suction box is compressed by the pull of the spring and water is derived out through the outlet valve. The static water level in the laboratory sump was measured directly by a graduated tape from the center of the inlet pipe of the pump. During the operation of the pumps, number of the pumps was counted for a known time. A stopwatch was used to record the time. Dividing the number of stroke by the time spent, the pump speed (stroke/min) was determined. The pump capacity or the discharge of the pump was measured by the volumetric method. A known volume of 130 liter drum was filled and time i was measured with a digital stop watch. Five i replications were made and the averages were taken for filling time of the drum. Dividing the amount of water by the spent time, pump capacity was obtained. The same procedure was maintained for different speeds. The discharge in lpm was calculated using the recorded data.

Source of Information: Bangladesh J. Prog. Sci. & Tech. 8(1): 075-078, January 2010, ISSN 1609-5260

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Performance testing of the pumps as undertaken in this study reveals that the single acting foot operated diaphragm pump will be very suitable and efficient to pump water from a shallow depth (<2 m) especially to irrigate from plot to plot. lt is not suitable for lifting water from ground level or from a very low depth, ln rural areas, farmer often needs to lift water from a low land to high land mainly to prepare seedbed and to irrigate small plots. Considering the comfort and cost, the pedal diaphragm pump seems to be a very promising water lifting device for Bangladeshi farmers. The remarkable advantage of this pump is that being foot operated, the pump needs less effort for operation and would enable an operator lo work with it for a long time without exhaustion. The researchers recommended that this programme may be undertaken to select the appropriate size, shape, and valve type and lever arm ratio of the pump in order to improve its efficiency for making more attractive al field level.

Knowledge Management: Journal