Design of A Hydraulic Cylinder Suitable for Shallow Wells and Other Applications

ABSTRACT

The need for the use of a pumping device in order to improve the hygienic quality of water supply for the average citizen who are now left to fend for themselves was identified. Due to the fact that various communities could have varying sources of accessible power, it was decided to focus on the design of most common and most basic part of the pumping device which is the Hydraulic Cylinder part. The objective was to produce a Hydraulic Cylinder Design that can be fabricated from locally available materials to bring down the cost and therefore make it affordable for the average citizen. The challenge and design constraint were to design a Hydraulic Cylinder that would deliver the total daily water consumption of 3,000 liters to a storage tank 5m above the Hydraulic Cylinder level from a reservoir 7m below during a one hour pumping duration. A Hydraulic Cylinder Design that would achieve this aim was produced that incorporates the Cylinder, Head End and Discharge Pipe, Cap End and Suction Pipe, Foot as well as Piston Check Valves, Piston and Piston Seal, Piston Rod, Piston Rod Seal and Piston Rod Seal Housing. All the design specifications and diagrams were produced to guide any fabricator. All the materials for the production of all the components stated above were verified through a market survey to be available locally and their cost ascertained. On the basis of the market survey and price confirmation, a Bill of Materials was produced and the total cost of materials needed for the fabrication of the Hydraulic Cylinder was determined to be N36,500.00. This was considered affordable for the average citizen.