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ABSTRACT
The Niger Delta region, like every part of Nigeria is suffering from low electricity availability. Consequently, many public centers like schools, markets, hospitals, etc. and private enterprises like farmlands and estates, etc. have inadequate water supply with poor sanitary conditions and living standard as a result. In order to ameliorate the low availability of electrical power and water supply, a mobile standalone, solar powered water pumping system was designed, fabricated and tested so as to make use of the freely available sun power. Preliminary tests were carried out to ascertain the useful sun hours (solar insolation) and charging rates for solar panel and batteries. Three design concepts were generated and the best concept was selected based on set of criteria using decision matrix. A prototype of the selected concept was developed in a CAD background in order to produce the working drawings of the chosen concept. Using solar generation factor for Nigeria, detailed calculations were carried out to obtain design parameters necessary for sufficiently sizing the various solar powered water pumping machine’s components. The machine was tested for performance. The results obtained from the preliminary test carried out during dry season showed that the panel charged the battery for about 4hours; this indicated the effectiveness of solar insolation hour in Warri. The results of two separate experiments show that at a total height of 19.27m, using half horsepower pump, a tank of 1200liters was filled in less than an hour with flow rates of 21.43l/min and 20.69l/min. Also, 30liters per minute flow rate was obtained when 75.7liters of water was transferred from one bowl of water to another. The machine produced is reliable, vii safe and can be operated with low maintenance cost as a mobile standalone system to supply water to public institutions in the Niger Delta area.
