Akvopedia-spade, akvouser, bot, bureaucrat, emailconfirmed, smwadministrator, smwcurator, susana-working-group-susana-member, administrator, widget editor
697
edits
Changes
→Origins
{{Language-box|english_link= Rope pump | french_link= Coming soon | spanish_link= Coming soon | hindi_link= Coming soon | malayalam_link= Coming soon | tamil_link= Coming soon | swahili_link=coming soon | korean_link= Coming soon | chinese_link=绳泵| indonesian_link= Coming soon | japanese_link= Coming soon }}
[[Image:Rope_pump_icon.png|right|80px]]
[[Image:RopePumpMozambique.JPG|thumb|right|200px|[[Rope pump| Rope pump]] on a borehole, made in a local workshop in Mozambique ]]
The modern Rope pump is a highly efficient and low cost pump, it can be produced with local materials and can be truly operated and maintained at a village level. The basic design has a wheel with a continuous loop of rope with pistons that fit with a small clearance in the pump pipe. The low end of this pipe is at the bottom of the well. By turning the wheel the rope passes up through the PVC pump pipe and pushes the water up. At the top end of the pump pipe, the diameter increases and the water comes out via a Tee piece.
If produced and installed well, Rope pumps prove to be sustainable and now there are somer hundred and twenty thousand 120,000 of these pumps world wide used for communal and domestic water supply, irrigation and cattle watering. Modern models can pump from wells as deep as 35 m and compared to imported hand pumps, Rope pumps are three to five times cheaper. Good quality pumps can last for 20 years or more as is proven in Nicaragua where the first improved models that were installed in 1990 are still working. Rope pumps can be powered by hand, bicycle, motor, horse, or wind power.
====Origins====
The almost intuitive design is known by many names, including the paternoster (after the beaded prayer chain it resembles), Noria pump, liberation pump or chain-and-washer pump but all have the same pump principle. Evidence of this pump principle dates back as far as two thousand years, to feudal China <ref> Fraenkel, Peter, and Thake, Jeremy.
[http://www.washdoc.info/docsearch/title/118633 Water Lifting Devices, A handbook for users and choosers], 3rd ed. UK, Rugby: Intermediate Technology Publications Ltd, 2006.</ref>. The earliest report of the design in the west is cited <ref> Olsen, J. P. [httphttps://wwwutorontopress.mlahanas.decom/Booksus/GreekRomanMechanicalWaterLiftingDevices.html greek-and-roman-mechanical-water-lifting-devices-1 Greek & Roman Mechanical Water-Lifting Devices: The History of a Technology]. Toronto, Canada: University of Toronto Press, 1984. </ref> as that illustrated by the Sienese early renaissance engineer, Tacolla, circa 1433 <ref> Tacolla, Mariano. ''De Ingeineis'', Liber Primus Leonis, Liber Secundis Draconis, Addenda. c. 1433, folio 80. </ref>, a copy of which is given in the figure to the right <ref>Weisbaden, Ludwig, ed. et al. [http://digital.library.cornell.edu/k/kmoddl/pdf/037_001.pdf Facsimile of De Ingeineis], Liber Primus Leonis, Liber Secundis Draconis, Addenda [online]. Germany: Satz Und Druck, 1984. [April 2009]</ref>. In the 1970 and 80s the basic design was adapted by numerous individuals, the most prominent of which were R. van Tijen of Demotech, J. Haemhouts <ref>Sandiford, Peter, et al. [http://www.washdoc.info/docsearch/title/116194 The Nicaraguan Rope-pump]. ''Waterlines'', January 1993, Vol. 11 (3).</ref> <ref> Lammerink, M.P. et al. [http://www.ropepumpsircwash.org/Englishresources/IRCevaluation-report-nicaraguan-experiences-rope-pump-1995final-Evaluation.pdf report EVALUATION REPORT NICARAGUAN EXPERIENCES WITH ROPE PUMP] The Netherlands: IRC, 1995. </ref> and R. Lambert <ref>Lambert, R. A. [http://www.washdoc.info/docsearch/title/110481 How to make a rope-and-washer pump]. London: Intermediate Technology Design Group, 1990.</ref>. They applied the simple design as a tool aimed at economic and social development. They took advantage of low cost and versatile modern plastics to produce the modern rope-pump design. They applied this pump as a homemade, low lift pump. However the early models did not really take off and a successful scaling up of the Rope pump only started in 1988 in Nicaragua where the pump was technically improved by Van Hemert of the organization SNV and Alberts of Bombas de mecate. They made it into a compact metal model fit for commercial sales, produced and sold by local private companies. V. Hemert and Alberts <ref>Alberts, J. H. [http://www.ingentaconnectircwash.comorg/contentsites/itpubdefault/wtlfiles/Alberts-2004/00000022/00000003/art00009 -Rope.pdf The rope-pump - an example of technology transfer]. ''Waterlines'', January 2004, Vol. 22 (3), 22-25.</ref> Holtslag.
===Suitable conditions===
[[Image:horse rope pump.jpg|thumb|right|200px|'''Horse Rope pump''', powered by horses or donkeys. Pumps from wells to 65 m deep. Pump capacity 5 times more than a hand powered model. Used in Nicaragua. Photo: Henk Holtslag]]
A Rope pump can be used to draw water from large diameter hand dug wells of 3 meters to boreholes as small as 6 cm. One person can draw water up from 35 m deep, two persons can pump from 60 m deep (using a second crank) and if powered by an engine it can pump from 100 meters or more. A Rope pump can be driven by hand, bicycle, animals, wind or engines. If well made, a hand Rope pump delivers 35 litres / min from 10 meters depth and halve of that if the well is 20 metres deep. Rope Pumps can be [http://www.mawama.org/rope-pump/rope-pump-efficiency very efficient] but typically have an efficiencies of 65%, [http://www.mawama.org/rope-pump/rope-pump-efficiency model equations of the rope pump] confirm the best rope speed to around 1.2m/s and the piston spacing to be 1m. Hand pump models are most commonly used at depths less than 35m.
Some 70,000 Rope pumps are now in use in Nicaragua, 10,000 in countries like Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador and Bolivia. 30,000 in African countries like Ethiopia, Ghana, Senegal, Tanzania, Zambia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Malawi and 6000 in Cambodia and India. In total, the Rope pump is used in over 25 countries.
[[Image:Rope_pump.PNG|thumb|right|200px|[[Rope pump | Rope pump]], (Victory model) on a hand-dug of 20 meters deep well, made in a local workshop in northern Ghana. Photo: Netherlands Water Partnership. ]]
With deeper wells, smaller diameter pump pipes are needed, otherwise the pumping becomes too heavy. See manuals on websites of [http://wwwpractica.practicafoundation.nl/libraryorg/manualspublications/ Practica Foundation], [http://www.connectinternational.nl/english/smartmodules/smart-tec/pumps/ropepumpproduction Connect International], and [http://www.ropepumps.org ropepumps.org].<br>
Many different types of rope pump exist, powered by hand, bicycle, wind, horse, [http://www.mawama.org/rope-pump/powered-rope-pump/solar-pv-powered-rope-pump solar] etc.
Similar to piston pumps, a cement slab and a good soak away are needed to avoid splash water and recontamination of the water in the well.
* Cylinder diameter: (pump pipe) 32 mm for 1 to 10 metres deep, 25 mm for 10 to 20 metres deep and 19 mm for 20 to 35 metres deep
* Pistons: Rubber or HD PE (plastic) pistons spaced at 1 m
* Yield: (50 watt input) at a 10 m head the yield is 2 m³/hour . [http://www.mawama.org/rope-pump/rope-pump-efficiency Model equations can be found here]
* Population/field area served: Max 150 people or irrigation of 0.1 hectare
* Type of well: dug well of 3 metres to borehole of 6 to 20 cm diameter
It was not considered by the users as a good community pump, although repairs were possible. Another disadvantage mentioned was that children found it difficult to pump (caused by too large of a pump pipe diameter) and sometimes got hurt when the handle security break system was not functioning. Due to lack of quality control the pumps did not have an anti-return system. This results in the handle turning back with a high speed due to the weight of the water in the riser pipe. In 2008, over 2000 simple Pole model Rope pumps for irrigation were installed near Blantyre made by the organization DAPP.
In 2012, a Water training centre (SMART Centre) at the Mzuzu University introduced the SHIPO model Rope pump. This centre, supported by Connect International, is now (in 2013) training local companies in manual well drilling and Rope pumps. A focus is on quality control via certification. After initial problems, now good quality pumps are produced and some 100 installed. [httphttps://www.mzuzusmartcentrefacebook.com /SMART.Centre.Mzuzu/ mzuzusmartcentreMzuzu Smart Centre].com]
Apart from this initiative, PumpAid has also been active in the Chimoio province installing Elephant Pumps which are also rope pumps.
WaterAid in Burkina Faso is also currently developing a Rope pump model suitable to local conditions. This project has resulted in a renewed understanding across WaterAid of the need to ensure that Rope pumps destined for community water supplies require high quality manufacturing and installation techniques in order to improve their sustainability. WaterAid now intends to renew its efforts across the organization to improving the quality of rope pumps in countries where this is supported. A training course for manufacturers from Burkina Faso, Ghana, Mali, Zambia and Malawi was held in early 2010 as part of this process. A recent interesting development in Burkina Faso has been the redesign of the bottom guide box to include a non-return valve (foot valve) thereby ensuring that water is immediately available from the first turn of the pump handle. This is currently being piloted on a few pumps. Another organization, Winrock, started trainings in other local workshops and installed Rope pumps of the SHIPO model in communities up to 150 people in 2012 and 2013. Some 100 are installed at the end of 2013 and 98% are functioning.
====Akvo RSR projects====
{|style="border: 2px solid #e0e0e0; width: 20%; text-align: justify; background-color: #e9f5fd;" cellpadding="2"
<!--rsr logo here-->
|- style="vertical-align: top"
|[[Image:akvorsr logo_lite.png|center|60px|link=http://akvo.org/products/rsr/]]
<!--project blocks here-->
|- style="vertical-align: bottom"
|[[Image:project 1349.jpg |thumb|center|140px|<font size="2"><center>[http://rsr.akvo.org/project/1349/ RSR Project 1349]<br>Safe water <br>for Wajir</center></font>|link=http://rsr.akvo.org/project/1349/]]
|}
===Manuals, videos and links===
* Jan Nederstigt, Arjen van der Wal. [http://www.practica.org/wp-content/uploads/services/publications/Rope%20pump%20manuels/ropepump%20manual%20EN%20full.pdf Rope Pump: Low Cost Pump Series. TECHNICAL TRAINING HANDBOOK ON ROPE PUMP PRODUCTION, INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE]. Practica Foundation. August 2011 (3rd edition). French version: [http://www.practica.org/wp-content/uploads/services/publications/Rope%20pump%20manuels/ropepump%20manual%20FR%20full.pdf A POMPE A CORDE: Séries de la pompe à moindre coût.]
* [http://www.practica.org/wp-content/uploads/PDF/practica-180306-rope-pump-manual-ethiopia-march-2006-complete1.pdf Rope Pump production manual], produced by [http://www.practicafoundationpractica.nl/ org PRACTICA] and [http://www.etc-international.org/index.php?id=41ETC ETC Foundation]. It has 86 pages and contains detailed instructions.
* Construction manual [http://www.connectinternational.nl/english/smartmodules/smart-tec/pumps/ropepumpproduction SHIPO Model, Connect International].
[[Image:RopePumpvietnam.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[Rope pump| Rope pump]] used for rice paddy irrigation in Vietnam]]
[[Image:wind rope pump.jpg|thumb|right|200px|'''Wind Rope pump''' used in Nicaragua, produced by AMEC]]
* [http://www.ropepumps.org/ ropepumps.org website](English and Spanish)
* [http://www.ropepump.com/ ropepump.com] (Spanish)
* [http://www.ircircwash.nlorg/pagesites/31886 Rope pumps: out-perform conventional handpumps on most counts in Ghana test]. Article on IRC.* [http:default/files/wwwSutton-2009-Transferring.irc.nl/page/15380 Rope pdf Transferring the rope pumpto Africa: local production A long and installation capacity being developed in Senegalwinding road?]. Article on IRC.*[http://www.rural-water-supply.net/en/implementationsustainable-groundwater-management/handpump-overview pumps Overview of community handpumps hand pumps at the RWSN website]
* [http://www.rural-water-supply.net/en/resources/details/289 Low-cost pump alternatives for rural communities in Honduras (rope- and EMAS pumps), SKAT website]
* [http://www.pumpaid.org/The-Elephant-Pump.shtml Pump Aid works in Malawi and Zimbambwe with the Elephant pump, a kind of rope pump.]
* [http://www.wateraid.org/international/what_we_do/where_we_work/mozambique/2595.asp Rope Pump - WaterAid in Mozambique]
* [http://www.appropedia.org/Rope_pump Rope pump article at Appropedia]
* [[Solution_of_the_week_7|Akvo solution of the week 7]]
* [[Solution_of_the_week_9|Akvo solution of the week 9]]
* [http://www.rural-water-supply.net/en/resources/details/307 'Low Cost HandpumpsHand pumps' RWSN Field Note 2011-3]* [http://www.rural-water-supplyropepump.net/en/implementation/handpump-overviewcom/rope-pumps-nicaragua RWSN: Rope Pumps (Nicaragua)]* [http://www.rural-water-supply.net/en/implementationresources/handpump-overviewdetails/rope-pump-madagascar RWSN: 337 Rope Pumps (Madagascar)]
* RWSN: The Rope Pump Concept [http://www.rural-water-supply.net/en/resources/details/294 English], [http://www.rural-water-supply.net/en/resources/details/296 French], [http://www.rural-water-supply.net/en/resources/details/336 Portuguese]
===References===
<references/>
===Acknowledgements===
* [http://www.henkholtslag.nl henkholtslag.nl], [http://www.300in6.org 300in6.org], [http://www.connectinternational.nl connectinternational.nl]