The
cylinder pump is located inside the windmill's drop pipe
near the bottom of the water well. It pumps
water from the bottom of the well by ratcheting
it upward through the drop pipe, towards the storage tank.
It
achieves this by repeatedly drawing water in
through the bottom of the drop pipe and lifting
the water column upward. This cycle repeats
until water pours out of the top of the drop
pipe into the storage tank.
Cylinder Pump Valves
Two valves work together in an opposing manner to
pump water. The top valve is called the "plunger"
and the lower valve is called the "check
valve". Power is provided by the windmill
motor and transmitted to the plunger through
the sucker rod.
Several
Things Happen At Once ...
As you view the animated cylinder pump illustration keep several things in mind:
Water can only flow upward through the valves.
It's strictly an upward, one-way flow of water.
Each valve has a watertight seal at its base.
Water passes through the valve's bottom then
up-and-out through the valve's side vents.
When a valve's ball is down, the valve is closed.
When a valve's ball is up, the valve is open.
Only the plunger moves. The plunger's seal is
watertight in the drop pipe. But as it slides
up and down, the plunger creates a pumping action.
The lower check valve is fixed in position.
Water enters through the strainer and flows
upward through the check valve.
When the wind stops blowing, both valves close
and pumping stops, The water column above the
plunger and the "cylinder water" trapped
between the two valves are held in place, ready
for the pumping to resume when the wind begins
to blow again.
Ball Valves in Action
The
ball's orientation in the valve basket is the
key.
• When
the ball is "up", the valve is open. • When
the ball is "down", the valve is
closed.
Water
Flows Upward
Dark
blue well water is drawn upward through the
lower check valve, filling the cylinder pump.
The
sky
blue water column water above the plunger is
lifted upward.
Pale
blue water in the cylinder area becomes the
new bottom of the water column as the plunger
moves downward.
Valves
Work in Opposition to Each Other
When
the wind blows, the plunger moves up and down.
As the plunger moves, each valve opens and closes
at the appropriate time causing water to be
pumped upward.
Windmill
Plunger
Check
Valve
Upstroke
Closed
Open
Downstroke
Open
Closed
Upstroke
On
the upstroke, plunger valve closes and the check
valve opens. Water above the plunger (the water
column) is lifted. This lifting motion also
creates a vacuum between the plunger and the
check valve. This vacuum opens the check valve,
and well water flows up through the strainer
into the drop pipe.
Downstroke
On
the downstroke, plunger valve opens and the
check valve closes. The plunger can then pass
through the water being held "in check"
by the lower check valve. This downstroke forms
the new bottom of the water column.
