Thermofluidics receives Wellcome Trust Translation Award to develop innovative irrigation pump

PRLog (Press Release) - Oct. 9, 2012 - The solar-powered water pump is based on entirely new technology, is easy to maintain and can be manufactured from inexpensive materials using low cost production methods. It has numerous other health-related applications including water pumping for drinking and sanitation, solar hot water provision, refrigeration, and oxygen enrichment of air.

Where irrigation currently exists in the developing world, it usually requires several hours of hard manual labour per day, diverting time away from other tasks and increasing nutritional needs. An unexpected illness can lead to the loss of an entire harvest.

Thermofluidics’ pump uses heat generated by a solar panel to drive periodic boiling and condensing to create an oscillating flow of liquid. These fluid oscillations can then be harnessed to generate shock waves that draw water from up to 100 metres below ground and pressurise it at the surface. Unlike traditional treadle pumps, it doesn’t have moving parts and so is easier to maintain.

Mark Bryant and Tom Smith will lead the project, which aims to deliver a functioning pump suitable for a smallholder that delivers demonstrably superior performance to a treadle pump. The project will also address key aspects of the smallholder adoption process, including installation skills, pump construction materials and techniques for manufacturing.

Mark Bryant said: “Our intention is that Thermofluidics’ pump will ultimately improve crop yields, income and health outcomes for up to 550 million malnourished smallholders across the developing world.”

Richard Seabrook, Head of Business Development at the Wellcome Trust, said: “Supporting initiatives that address the global threat of food security and access to nutrition is one of our core strategic research challenges. Beyond the obvious benefits of being able to grow food crops, access to clean water and sanitation has an enormous impact on public health and we are pleased to support the development of this innovative water pump.”