INTRODUCTION

Water pumping system involves the process of pumping water from a source which can either be
rivers and streams, springs, boreholes and wells, subway dams, artificial discharge or from rain
harvesting to a particular destination for a specific purpose. To pump water from all such sources
of water different types of pumping methods and pumps are used. Most of the time pumps which
requires electric power, fuel combustion or other pumps which requires manpower are used. But
spiral water wheel pump and hydraulic ram pump are neither of these group. Which requires
only a flowing water to deliver the required amount of water for the required application in the
required time for 24 hours.

Spiral water wheel pump is an energy free water pump that use a flowing water as energy to
pump water. Such positive displacement pump is made from a coiled poly pipe and is designed
to be
powered by water. The pipe is coiled in a vertical plane and mounted on a horizontal axle. As the
paddles rotate the coil of poly pipe above the water, the lower part is immersed. The open end of
the coil takes a small gulp of water every time it rotates. An alternating sequence of air and
water is driven along the pipe towards the center of the spiral. Successive coils of pipe lead to a
cumulative increase in the pumps pressure output.

The water wheel itself is very simple consisting of a series of paddle wheels attached through
spokes of a central hub mounted on a central hollow axle. The axle can supported on one side of
the outside river through a brick pillar. The pump also consists of polypipe tube so that it forms a
spiral fixed either on the sides of the wheel or preferably so that it fits within the paddles of the
wheel. In most operating wheels two spiral tubes are used, placed within wheel in horizontally
opposed positions. Water enters the spiral tube through an enlarged pipe which acts as a water
collector. The collector picks up enough water to half fill one complete spiral of the pump. Thus
a core of water is picked up followed by a core of air. Thus a series of air locks is built up in the
spiral tube. The inter most spiral of the tube delivers water into the axle of the wheel and there it
is led through a simple water seal ,to a static rising water pipe which delivers water to a tank.

The spiral water wheel has the advantage of being environmentally friendly, almost maintenance
free, non-use of fossil fuel and its adaptability to existing natural conditions, made of basic cheap
materials and is relatively easy to make for anyone with a welder. Depend on their pumping
capacity (i.e. the required flow rate) these pumps are suitable for small scale irrigation. Our
country Ethiopia is a home of fastest flowing rivers (e.g. blue Nile). So, she is blessed to use
such types of water pumps in rural areas for irrigation and other application. But the use of such
types of energy free water pumps are not yet started.

Overall, its a beautiful piece of alternative technology.

PROBLEM OF STATEMENT
Our country Ethiopia is a home of fastest flowing rivers (e.g. blue Nile) and she have a high
water resource. In addition to this, above 85% of Ethiopian people daily life depends on
agriculture. Almost all Ethiopian people gain their food from rural farmers. Most of these
farmers are dependent only in the rain water for their farm land (i.e. they produce agricultural
products or crops only one times in a year.). As the population increase the demand for
agricultural products also increases. So, producing only once a year is not enough. Which leads
the country to a highly uncontrollable drought. Therefore, our farmers must see other alternatives
to deliver a sufficient crop/food for their people. That is they must produce (harvest)
crops/products more than two times in a year. Such a thing can be overcome only by providing
irrigation systems. They should use there faster border crossing rivers or other water sources.

To provide irrigation systems the following challenges/problems should be faced;

Distance of rivers/other water sources from the farm land.

Shortage of power to use pumps.
Lack of awareness in how they use water resources and simple methods of water
pumping.
Economic and other problems.

This project is aimed to overcome such problems by designing a spiral water wheel pump,
which eliminates all the above problems. That is;
 It does not need any external power sources like electricity, fuel combustion or man
power to power it. It uses only the flowing water.
It can be easily made at home by using basic cheap materials and is relatively easy to
make for anyone with a welder.
It is economical and ecofriendly (environmental friendly).
The required head can be easily obtained by adjusting the wheel diameter and the
number of coils.

LITERATURE REVIEW
In some instances, records of preindustrial technology can be a source of concepts which can be
updated with modern materials and modified to be utilized in today's technology transfer efforts.
In Wind farm Museum on Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, the preindustrial water pumping
technology invention is present to day. That has great potential as a low cost, low technology
pump for certain situations. This invention is the spiral water wheel pump created in 1746 by
H.A. Wirtz, a pewterer of Zurich, Switzerland. Wirtz invented the spiral pump to provide water
for a dye works just outside of Zurich. Little is known about the inventor or the circumstances
that led him to create the pump.

Figure 1Historic Wirtz Pump1842 drawing

It was a low lift rotating pump which could not raise water higher than the pump structures
themselves. The Wirtz spiral pump was constructed so the end of the outside pipe coil opened
into a scoop. The inner coil led to the center of the wheel where it joined a rotary fitting at the
axis of the machine. Figure 1 shows a historical reference's representation of the pump. This was
taken from a Descriptive and Historical Account of Hydraulic and Other Machines for Raising
Water by Thomas Ewbank, edition of 1849, New York City.
And reinvented by P. Morgan in 1984. The pump consists of a flexible plastic hose coiled
spirally on the same axis and plane, so that each loop of the hose differs in diameter from the
next, and the whole device resembles a large wheel with the axis parallel to the water surface.
The pump is partially submerged in the stream and the wheel is rotated by the stream flow, so
that alternating plugs of water and air are scooped into the intake tube. The large diameter of the
pump makes hand-turning easy during decreased stream flow. The end of the hose leads into the
rotating axle, and by means of a water- and pressure-tight swivel, the water moves into the
stationary water delivery pipe. During water delivery, the individual plugs in each of the loops of
the hose are forced against the head, resulting in the build-up of a differential pressure in each of
the loops of the spiral. There was a limitation in the dimensions of the paddles.

Spiral water wheel pumps which are designed and constructed in now a days have almost the
same structure and principle with P.Morgans spiral pump. But in this design project some
modifications will be done specially in the paddles. The dimension of the paddles of the pump
need great attention in order to increase the amount of intake water from the flowing stream.

OPERATION
As stated above this water wheel pump is powered by a flowing water stream. The wheel rotation
starts up during the flowing water applies a pushing force on the paddles. As the wheel revolves
each paddle in turn becomes submerged in the water passing around it. Thus once per revolution
each water collector also dips into the water. Just after the water collector passes the horizontal
position and begins to rise, it takes in a gulp of water-expelling air previously contained in it.
When the collector rises out of the canal (flowing stream) it is full of water. This charge of water
runs back into the first spiral of the tube pump and is followed by a charge of air. As it dips again
into the water, the collector picks up another charge of water and the cycle is repeated again. As
the wheel revolves a pressure head developed within each coil of the spiral tube, water in the
ascending coils being higher than in the descending coils (see figure). Cores of water contained
in the spiral compress air between them as they travel around the tube and both water and air are
expelled under pressure into the hollow axle of the wheel. The water which is under pressure
rises up the pipes and this process is assisted by the compressed air which lifts water above its
attempt to escape through the pipe. The water is finally discharged into the required tank in a
series of bursts (jets of water being followed by jets of air).
Figure 2 spiral water wheel pump operation

Variables which increases the amount of water pumped and that allows this machine to pump
efficiently.

River flow; the flowing water must have a sufficient energy to push each of the paddles
in all their rotation.
Size of paddle; the paddles size must fit with the energy of the flowing water. Its size
should not be too small in order to obtain a sufficient pushing force from the flowing
water to rotate the wheel and not too huge to have a good strength.
Number of paddles; the number of paddles must proportional with the wheel diameter. In
order to ha proper rotation of wheel.
Diameter of wheel; as the diameter of wheel increase the head developed also increase
with the increase in number of coils.
Submergence of coils; as the coils submerge in the water deeply the collector takes high
amount of water from the canal but high pushing force is required.
Inlet pipe diameter (collector); the diameter of the inlet pipe must be larger than the
outside diameter in order to obtain the required discharge.
Height of storage tank.
How a maximum required head and volume of water can be achieved by using
spiral water wheel pump??
The height to which water can be pumped mainly depend on the number of coils in the spiral
tube. As the number of coil increase the radius of the last coil becomes very small which creates
the increase in the velocity of flow in the last coil, indirectly which means the head produced
also increase this occurs due to the centrifugal force. As an example a 2 diameter wheel can
pump water up to approximately 8 meters with 6 complete coils, the same wheel being able to
pump up to 6 meters with 4 complete coils and 4 meters with 2 complete coils. For large wheels
where the diameter of the coils is nearly the same as the diameter of the wheel an approximation
can be made by multiplying the diameter of the wheel by the number of coils. A 4 meter diameter
wheel with 3 coils should be able to pump water up to a height of 12 meters.

The volume of water pumped depends on the capacity of the spiral pump. The capacity of the
spiral pump also depends on the daily demand of the community for the required application.
Naturally, the wheel will only pump water if there is a sufficient energy in the canal to turn the
wheel against the weight of water held in the rising spiral tube. The head of water in each spiral
varies through a cycle, with optimum pressure being developed as the water load in the rising
main reaches a maximum. The volume of water pumped also depends on the speed of the wheel.
The wheel should not rotate too fast however, as the effect of centrifugal force will have an
influence and may carry water over the head of the wheel, and break the essential air lock
between each core of water. More water can be pumped however, when two collectors are fitted
two spiral tubes. The exact arrangements may depend on whether more water is required at small
head or less water is required at a greater head.

Main components of spiral water wheel pump

i. Wheel and axle

Wheel is the main component of the pump. This wheel is fixed with the axle and holes are
provided on it to attach it with paddles and spiral coils. Its rotation makes the collectors to take
water from the canal/flowing steam. The diameter of the wheel determines the required head
because the number of coils attached on it and the static head produced depends on the wheel
diameter. Even the volume of water pumped also highly depend on its diameter. As the wheel
diameter increase the rotation of the wheel decreases which helps to increase the amount of
water pumped and the head produced. The wheel should be made from light, strong and non-
corrosive material like aluminum because, it is best to weld in the water inlet to the axle off-
center, which avoids making a weak point in the center of the axle in addition to its non-
corrosiveness, strength and light weight.

Axle is another component of the pump which allows a connection with a rotating fit or bearing
to conduct a smooth rotation. This part is normally made from galvanized steel pipe. Its diameter
should be reduced at the point where it passes through the bearing.

ii. Paddles and collectors

Paddles are one main components. The flowing water pressure is directly applied on each
paddles in their perspective turn to rotate the wheel and take a gulp of water. The dimension and
number of these components depends on the wheel diameter and the strength of the flowing
water. The paddles have a rectangular box open at the top. These arrangement provides the
collectors to take high volume of water from the canal/flowing stream and supports the rotation
of wheel. In addition to this advantages it is suitable to left holes on the paddles to fit spiral
tubes. And the arrangement is large enough and suitable to fit collector with spiral tube. The
paddles should be made with strong and high corrosion resistant material. For such purpose steel
is a suitable material.

iii. Spiral tubes/coils

The number of coils in the spiral tube has a great influence on producing the required head. As
the number of coil increase the head produced also increase because the radius of the spiral
decreases with the increase in the number of coils which makes the increase in the rotational
velocity of flow in the last spirals due to the centrifugal force. The head produced also have a
direct relation with the last velocity of the jet. The diameter of the inner coil should be slightly
less than that of the outer coil. This was done so that a spiral of a given outer diameter could
accommodate more tubing of a given diameter to provide greater cumulative heads and pump to
the greatest height possible. The spiral tubes should be made from flexible and strong pipe
material. The outer most end of the pipe is connected to the rear end of the collector. A pipe 90
elbow is added to connect the spiral coils with the axle. The required number of coils in the
pump depends on the required height, the atmospheric pressure head, the wheel diameter and the
maximum diameter of coil.

iv. Rotary fittings and Water seal ;

A critical part of the spiral pump. It must provide a relatively watertight seal to prevent fluid
pressure loss. There are a variety of ways of making this. Reinforced plastic pipe fitted over a
plastic fitting such a pipe to thread adaptor can be used. Seals can also be made from neoprene
washer around the outlet pipe. What is important is that the axle section of the rising main is
static. Bearing also fitted between the axle and the outlet pipe for the rotation of the wheel.

Piping system
Piping system involves the channel through which water is to be conveyed to the intended
destination. This involves the analysis of the different parameters involved when water is
conveyed through the pipe from the source to the storage tank or intended destination. The
piping system should thus be able to provide the required demand in the specified time frame.
Piping materials have been classified and to make the best choice a knowledge of the piping
requirements is an important tool. Choice of piping material is made based on the purpose for
which the material is intended, the environmental constraints, the range of the materials available
and their properties, the cost of the material and their capacities.

General topography
The general landscape or the different elevations in terms of height and distance are considered
when laying the pipeline route. This would determine the length of the pipe and ultimately help
in minimizing the losses in the pipeline and thus improving the supply capacity of the piping
system. In determining the static head that the pump should withstand.
 Pipe material selection
Material selection is the one method that could solve the problems of corrosion or erosion. Pipe
selection is thus majorly based on the corrosion and erosion aspect, the economics, the influence
of non-technical aspect such as personnel involved and variation of pipe handling techniques.
Materials mostly used for transmission pipes include iron, steel, cement asbestos and plastics.

Common pipe materials

a) Cast iron
By virtue of its compressive cheapness and ease of manufacture cast iron has been extensively
used. The material is not particularly prone to corrosion attack and has other desirable properties.
They are manufactured according to International, British and American standard specifications.

b) Steel

These are the most predominant among the structural engineering materials. This is due to their
flexibility of fabrication and improved mechanical properties. They are preferred to alternative
pipe materials because of the speed at which they can be laid and relative ease of handling during
construction without risk of damage. However their corrosion resistance are low and in most
cases need protective coating.

Steel pipes are manufactured as seamless tubes, welded line pipes, or spirally welded pies on a
wide range of diameters, lengths and thickness. They are manufactured according to British and
American standard specifications.

c) Plastic pipes

Almost every plastic material can be produced in the form of a pipe. However practical
manufacturing considerations and properties have limited the plastic materials available as
commercial types to relative few basic resin type. PVC pipes are a type of thermoplastics that are
resistant to chemical attacks. PVC pipes are commonly used in underground water supply mains.
They undergo little or no physical deterioration when exposed to direct sunlight. However their
strength decrease as the operating temperature increase. They are manufactured with the British
and American standard specifications.
 Preliminary pipe size
This is the preliminary pipe size having taken into consideration the discharge flow rate obtained
from the demand analysis and the mean velocity of flow of fluid which is the guideline velocity
through the pipeline. This is given by the continuity of flow equation

Discharge = Mean velocity of flow Area of cross section of pipe

d 2
Q = V 4 Where Q = Discharge flow rate,

V = Mean (Guideline) flow velocity of water through pipeline,

d = Internal diameter of pipe (nominal diameter)

In practice the guideline velocity of flow of water through the pipeline should be selected in the
range of 1m/s to 3m/s. This range would give a more efficient flow characteristics through the
pipeline.

Properties of piping material and water

Properties of water
Properties of water are taken based on the environmental conditions. The properties are taken at
the Mean Atmospheric temperature of the environment. The properties can thus be obtained from
the fluid property tables.

Surface and relative roughness of pipe material

Surface roughness k is the average height of the protrusion on the pipe walls while Relative

roughness is the ratio of surface roughness to the internal diameter of the pipe. Surface

roughness, k values have been analyzed for different pipe materials and some of the common
examples are given in table.
Table 1 Surface Roughness k for different pipe materials

Material K(mm)

Steel 0.9 1.0

Concrete 0.3 3
In
Wood slave 0.18 0.9
Cast iron 0.25

Galvanized iron 0.15

Asphalted cast iron 0.12

Commercial steel 0.048

Drawn tubing 0.0015

PVC 0.1

practice the available pipe materials with their values of k are as follows;

PVC K = 0.1mm

Steel, galvanized iron, cast iron and ductile iron K = 1.0mm

Relative roughness can thus be calculated from the formula,

= K/d

Where =relative roughness,

K = surface roughness, d = internal diameter of pipe

Pressure losses in pipeline

In considering pipe flow, Head losses through the pipeline are calculated. To achieve this the
following parameters must be considered.

Reynolds Number for pipe Flow, Re

The Reynolds number takes into consideration the mean flow velocity, internal diameter of pipe
and the kinematic viscosity of the fluid to be pumped. Thus,

V d
Reynolds number, Re = v Where Re = Reynolds number,

V = Mean velocity of flow of water.

d = internal diameter of pipe and

v =kinematic viscosity

Coefficient of fluid Friction,

This is determined from the Moody Diagram which is a plot of relative roughness and the
Reynolds number. Thus from the graphs, values of coefficient can be determined.

Pressure loss due to Fluid Friction in the pipeline, Hf

As water or fluid flows through the pipeline there are losses incurred due to friction between the
fluid and the walls of the pipe. Darcy-Weisbarch formulated this to give the value of this pressure
loss.

2
L V
Hf = Where, Hf= Head loss due to fluid friction,
d 2g

L = Length of pipeline

g = gravitational force (9.81m/s2)

Practical suction head,

Suction head is the pressure generated due to the positioning of the pump with respect to the
water source level. Negative head is attained when the pump is placed above the source water
level at the intake. This should be avoided where it is possible to place the pump below the water
level to create a positive head without excessive additional building expenses.

The maximum suction head depends mainly on the altitude, the temperature, the intake
arrangement and the pump design. For preliminary design the following tabulated suction head
should not be exceeded.

Table 2 Practical suction heads at different altitudes

Altitude above mean sea

level(m) Practical suction head
(m)
0 5
500 4.5
1000 4
1500 3.5
2000 3
2500 2.5
3000 2.0

This practical suction head at the given altitude above sea level plus some height form which the
source of water belongs gives the required static head Hs.

Total Head loss to be overcome in the pipeline, H

The Total Head loss, H is the summation of the static head losses Hs, which is the elevation of
the reservoir tank with respect to the water source and the pressure losses due to fluid Friction in
the pipeline Hf. therefore,

Total head loss, H = Hs + Hf

The total head is a necessary feature to determine the dimension of the wheel and the number of
coils and the spiral diameter since the capacity of the pump is dependent on head.

Coil design
A method of approximating the number of spiral pump coils n for a given delivery head
mounted on a given size wheel has been derived using Boyle's pressure-volume law after
calculating the diameter of the pipe, the head developed, the head in the n-th coil and estimating
the required wheel diameter with a known atmospheric pressure head Patm. The following
assumptions have been made to arrive at this approximation. The first is that the coils are
represented as a static series of pressurized interconnected tubes. Each tube is sized to be equal
to the volume of the water (assumed to remain constant and equal to one half the total volume of
the first coil) plus that of the air. Since the air is compressible, the total volume of each
respective tube would decrease as the center of the wheel is approached. Another assumption is
that within the first coil and all the other coils, the head within each coil is assumed to be equal
to the diameter of that coil. Actually, the maximum head in a given coil extends from the upper
wall of the pipe at the bottom of the coil to the lower wall of the pipe at the top of the coil.
However, this assumption would give less than a 5% error.

Boyle's pressure-volume law, P1V1= PnVn

P1= Patm + D

Pn = Patm + H Where, h = atmospheric head

Patm = g h n = number of coil

2 2
d d
(h + D) 4 D = (h+ H) hn hn = head in n-th coil
4

(h+ D) D
hn = = density of water
h+ H
3
=1000 kg /m

H = delivery head

n(h+ D)
H= 2 , D = wheel diameter

2 H
n= h n+ D d = pipe diameter
Note: The pipe diameter, d, cancels out in the above equations. Once the wheel diameter is
estimated and the head in the n-th coil is obtained for a given demanded discharge to provide a
given pressure head, a suitable number of coils must determine to form the coils of the spiral
pump efficient with the selected pipe size.

OBJECTIVE
Main objective
The main objective of this project is to design an appropriate, economical, ecofriendly, energy
free and locally (home) made spiral water wheel pump for irrigation and other applications.
3
Which have the capacity to pump 150 m of water per hour for 24 hours to the required head.

Specific objectives
The specific objectives of this project are;

To address or introduce such types of alternative technologies for rural community.

To select pipe material and pipe size for a given discharge.
To determine a wheel diameter for the required head.
To determine number of coils for the required head.
To estimate dimensions of paddles.
To select bearing.
To make a detail drawing.

METHODOLOGY
WORK PROCEDURE FOR THE DESIGN PROCESS
In order for one to undertake the procedure involved in the design of a raw water pumping
system, a case study is necessary to help in understanding the general applications required. This
would give a practical demand of water that would be used to calculate the discharge flow rate
and the time over which the pump would be operated to give the required supply. This demand
flow rate would thus be used with the head losses to be overcome by the pump and analysis of
the piping system thereby giving the pump characteristics. The following steps performed in
designing a spiral water wheel pump.

Good literature review

A good literature Survey was conducted in the chapter 4 about the performance, the capacity of
pumping, the working principle and the effectiveness of the existing spiral water wheel pumps.
All about the principle of the spiral pump, how it can be designed was also surveyed.

Design concepta case study for small rural area near Abay basin (near Bahir Dar)
This case study was carried out to provide the data that would be used to give a practical
approach to the design aspect of this project.

The area has an average temperature of 20c and has an altitude of 2100 meter above sea level.

DEMAND
3
The community requires a daily supply of 3600 m /day of water. This gives a daily discharge

3
requirement of 150 m per h our.This is based on the following requirements;

Most of their demand is for irrigation.

For livestock demand
For home and other applications.

Pump operation time

Pump operation time is normally based on different aspects. The discharge that is to be met
within a specified time frame and the need for pump maintenance are some of the major factors
to be considered. In a water supply system, the pumping operation should match the time
required for the treatment works. This pump have the ability to pump water for 24 hours.

Schematic Layout of the selected water supply system

The analysis of this supply system was done to determine pumping concept in terms of the
following pre- determined pumping elements,
- The river water source level.

- The location of the pump.

- The location of the delivery reservoir.

- The location of the pipeline.

These aspects would then be used to select the pipe and the dimensions pump to suit the
predetermined conditions.

The static head Hs should also pre-determined based on the location of the pump with respect to
the source water level and the reservoir level. The total static head to be overcome by the
pumping system is the difference between the river level water source, and the elevation of the
delivery point at the reservoir and which is not less than practical suction head as mentioned in
table2 with 2100m elevation above sea level. This needs the addition of above 3meters height to
make the pump very efficient. This was surveyed and determined to be 6 meters as shown in
schematic layout in Fig.
Suction
head

Water flow
The pipeline route, from the raw water source at the lake to the delivery point at the reservoir
was also surveyed and determined to be 600metres as shown in the schematic representation.

Select the suitable pipe material and determine its proper diameter
To achieve this the following parameters can be used,

Use the required amount of water per hour, discharge Q.

The flow velocity of water V in the pipe.
Determine the diameter d.
Select tee suitable pipe material.
Obtain the surface roughness K.
Calculate the relative roughness

Determine head or pressure losses due to fluid friction in pipeline Hf

To achieve this the following parameters must be considered and calculated.

Surface roughness K and relative roughness of the pipe material.

Reynolds number of the pipe flow Re.
Coefficient of fluid Friction,

Determine the total head H overcome by the spiral pump

The total head is a necessary feature to determine the dimension of the wheel and the number of
coils and the spiral diameter since the capacity of the pump is dependent on head.

Total head loss, H = Hs + Hf

Determine the proper dimensions of the spiral pump

The following dimensions of the pump can be determined,

Estimate diameter of the wheel D for the required head.

The head at the n-th coil hn.
Number of coil n.
Estimate the number of paddles and its dimension.

Note; the value of all the above parameters depends on the needed total head H developed and
the atmospheric pressure head Patm.

Detail drawing of the spiral water wheel pump.

 COMPONENT DESIGN
Preliminary pipe size
Diameter of the pipe d,

The diameter of the pipe depends on the required amount of water in cubic meter per hour that is
discharge and the velocity of flow of fluid in the pipe.

Discharge = Mean velocity of flow Area of cross section of pipe

d 2 3
Q = V 4 Q = 150 m per hour

3
= 0.04166 m per second

V = 1.5 meter per second

d= 4 Q
v

d= 4 0.04166
1.5

d = 0.188m

Since this is the theoretical pipe size given the discharge and the guideline velocity of flow
through the pipe, a practical or preliminary size of the pipe was to be made using the data of the
pipe size that are available in the market.

Pipe size selection

The pipes that are available in the market have been made according to standard specifications. It
is therefore necessary when selecting pipe material and size to choose from the available items.
Having determined the pipe material and the theoretical pipe size, these values were used to
select the pipe size from the available pipe standards. For seamless or welded steel pipes the
available pipe standards are as shown in Table 4 according to the BS or ISO standards.
From the available pipe standards, steel pipes are selected based on the theoretical pipe size to
deliver the required amount of water. The choice was made between pipes of nominal diameters
150mm and 200mm.

From the Dercy-Weisbach equation it was seen that the pipe size is inversely proportional to the
frictional losses in the pipeline. Therefore this implies that selecting a larger pipe would reduce
the frictional losses and thus require small number of coil that would reduce the overall cost. Due
to this reason the pipe of nominal diameter of 200mm was chosen.

Therefore the Internal (nominal) diameter of the chosen pipe, d = 200mm

Properties of piping material and water

Properties of water

The properties of water were taken at a mean temperature of 20 . Under this condition the

6
density of water, 1000 Kg/m3, and the kinematic viscosity, 1 10 m/s.

Relative roughness of pipe material

Steel with a surface roughness of, k = 1.0mm and given an internal diameter of the pipe,
d = 0.20m

= K/d

1 103 m
= 0.2 m

3
= 5 10

Determination of Head loss due to Fluid Friction Hf

L V2
Hf =
d 2g
 Reynolds Number for pipe flow, Re

The Reynolds number for pipe flow was obtained from the relation

V d 1.5 .2
Re = v = 1 106

5
= 3 10

Coefficient of fluid friction,

The coefficient of fluid friction, was determined from the moody diagram. From
the moody diagram the value of coefficient of fluid friction was determined from the value of
Relative roughness , and the Reynolds number, Re

= 5 103

5
Re = 3 10

Coefficient of fluid friction, = 2.5 102

From the Darcy-Weisbarch equation pressure loss due to fluid friction Hf,

L V2 6 00 1.52
Hf = = 2.5 102
d 2g 0.2 2 9.8

= 8.62m

Total Head loss to be overcome in the pipeline H,

Having obtained the static Head, Hs as 6m and the pressure loss due to friction in the pipeline, Hf
being 8.62m, the Total Head loss,

Total head loss, H = Hs + Hf

Thus,

H = 6m + 8.6m = 14.62m
Thus the total head loss in meters of water to be overcome by the spiral pump in the pipeline was
obtained as 14.62meters.

Determine the proper dimensions of the spiral pump

Wheel and paddles design
The dimension of the wheel is mainly depend on the required head developed and in making the
number coils of effective. As the wheel diameter increase the number of coils decrease. But the
size of the wheel should not be huge in order to make the pump light. As the weight of the pump
is low the water easily rotates the wheel and it also achieves long working life. So, hear a
engineering estimations are the key factor for the pump performance.

Wheel diameter D

For 15m head the diameter of the wheel approximated to be 4meters in order to make it not to
large, heavy and costly. The required head can be achieved by calculating the number of coils
with respect to this wheel diameter D. This part holds the paddles and the coils of the spiral
pump so, it have 8 spokes bolted to the paddles, coils and the hubs of the axel.

Paddles

The wheel attain its rotation when the paddles are pushed by the flowing water. This paddles acts
as a combustion chamber for the spiral pump. Its number depends on the number of spokes in the
wheel so, 8 number of paddles are used. Which have a rectangular crossection open at the top
side, in order to maintain their strength by decreasing the applied load on it. When they have a
rectangular crossection they became ready to take a gulp of water from the stream when they
attain the final rotation that gulp of water helps the wheel rotation when it backs to its rotation.
The paddle should also be strong.

Dimensions of the paddles.

Width = 0.6m

Length = 0.5m

Height = 0.4m

Thickness = 8 mm

The rectangular crossection provides more strength than a flat crossection.

Coil design
Atmospheric pressure head h,
 2
Atmospheric pressure = g h =Patm Patm= 101325 N /m

Patm
h= = 1000 kg /m3
g

h = 10.32m g = 9.81 m/s 2

Head at the n-th coil hn,

(h+ D) D
hn = h+ H D = 4m

= 3.92m H = 14.62m

Note; the head at the n-th coil is approximately equal to the wheel diameter.

Number of coils n,

2 H
n= h n+ D

2 14.62
= 4 +4

= 3.656

When designing a spiral pump, a 20% margin should be added to the determined coil number.
This margin will help account for different pipe diameters and other variables.

20 3.656
n = n + 20%n = 3.656 + 100

n = 4.3872 coils

A maximum of 5 number of coils are used to pump water at a height of 14.62m by using this
spiral pump.

Bearing selection,
A steel axle pipe should be inserted in a suitable bearing at the middle of the rotating wheel to
attain a rotation as the water flows. So, the selection of suitable bearing is based on the diameter
of the external delivery pipe.

For a 200mm bore diameter,

Possible outside diameters are 230mm, 260mm and 290mm. 230mm is selected in
order to have a light weight.

Possible widths are 32mm, 45mm, 55mm. 32mm is selected in order to have a
light weight and to have a proper dimension with the outer diameter.

Mounting the wheel