Post by Admin on Aug 3, 2020 23:56:11 GMT
In a world dominated by technology, people tend to take for granted that all they need to do is simply flip a switch and things happen. What happens when that switch does nothing? Do you just sit there and panic? Do you sit there on your computer or phone? Or, do you take action now before something fails? What can I do, now that I have become so reliant on modern technology?
Digging in for the long term on your property.
Water. The lifeblood of any homestead. Without it, you can't drink, cook, bathe, water your garden, and keep your livestock hydrated.
Typically, a home on the grid is fed by a water tower.
How does this work?
Water is brought in from a source, typically a holding tank after a treatment facility.
1. It enters a pump house or lift station, where massive pumps move the water to an elevated storage facility.
2. The water fills a reservoir high above the landscape and buildings it will be servicing. Gravity then takes over doing the heavy lifting. Since water always seeks its own level, it travels down the pipes underground, with the weight of all that water overhead pushing behind it.
3. All of that pressurized water can now go into your home's plumbing, even going uphill (to a point) to service many stories. Of course as the water is pushed up, pressure may be lost as it gets closer to the height of the tower. Further pumps may be used for higher structures. A good example of how this works is in a highrise apartment. The water pressure towards the ground floors may be greater than those near the top. Modern technology has helped with this with the incorporation of pumps and pressure tanks. These systems can run a long time before water pressure is lost due to power failure from the grid, and more often than not, your township has failsafes in place by way of a diesel or natural gas powered generator, to ensure the water continues to flow without interruption.
In a more rural area, or an area without a huge munincipality, the well is still employed.
How does it work?
A well is dug, and a pump is submerged into the water beneath the ground, pumping water to the surface. From the pump head, water travels through a pipe into the home, where it enters a pressure tank. The tank contains a rubber bladder that has air in it. As the tank fills, the bladder is compressed and begins to push against the water generating pressure (kinetic energy) only to be released when a valve is opened somewhere within the home. Before the tank, there is a one-way valve that prevents the water going back into the ground. In other words, the water only gets to go towards the house. Inside the tank is a pressure switch, which shuts off the pump at a certain point, and activates it again when the water pressure drops below a pre-determined threshold.
Power was lost, now what?
There's options, don't worry. There's the old standby, a pitcher pump.
How does it work? Manpower. A pipe is dropped beneath the surface down to the water. Inside the pump are a couple of flaps (also one-way valves) that allow water to only go one way, up. On the down stroke, a piston pulls a negative pressure (just like you when you suck on a drinking straw. The up stroke allows water through a flap in the piston, now putting water on top of the piston. The down stroke, the piston draws water from below, and the water above the piston is now forced out through the top of the pump. The next up stroke pushes the piston down into the water trapped by the lower flap, back on top of the piston, only to be forced out on the next down stroke as the bottom of the pump fills yet again. This repeated tens, hundreds, and even thousands of times will provide water reliably, and has for hundreds of years. This system is good for filling pails, not providing whole house pressure.
That's just not going to work. I need a shower, I have grown accustomed to a certain lifestyle, what now?
There's still options, fear not.
1. Invest thousands in an emergency backup generator and switching panel for when your power is lost.
2. Add a windmill to your pitcher pump, let mother nature do some of the heavy lifting.
Alright wiseguy, how's that work?
High above the ground on a tower is a wheel or rotor, which consists of vanes that grabs the wind turning it into rotational force. On the backside of the rotor would be a wheel with a connecting rod attached to the outer edge of the wheel, changing rotational movement into reciprocating (up and down) movement. The other end of the connecting rod would be attached to an in-ground pump or, the handle of a pitcher pump, moving it up and down drawing water to the surface. This pump then could fill an above ground reservoir, that could feed the home if it is tall enough*. Think of it as your own personal water tower. Advantage? Absolutely, wind is free. Disadvantage? No wind, no water. Work around? Large storage tank to make up for the lack of pumped water. The storage tank should have an overflow, allowing excess water out of the tank. Attention should be paid, so water isn't wasted. Once water clears the overflow and starts hitting the ground, someone shuld operate a brake, stopping the windmill from pumping. Also, in extreme wind conditions, the brake may be used to prevent damage to the pump and windmill. Some windmills are equipped with a centrifugal clutch which applies the brake automatically if the rotor spins too rapidly.
*If a tower is outside of your ability, simply placing your tank on a hill (if possible) woud work.
Digging in for the long term on your property.
Water. The lifeblood of any homestead. Without it, you can't drink, cook, bathe, water your garden, and keep your livestock hydrated.
Typically, a home on the grid is fed by a water tower.
How does this work?
Water is brought in from a source, typically a holding tank after a treatment facility.
1. It enters a pump house or lift station, where massive pumps move the water to an elevated storage facility.
2. The water fills a reservoir high above the landscape and buildings it will be servicing. Gravity then takes over doing the heavy lifting. Since water always seeks its own level, it travels down the pipes underground, with the weight of all that water overhead pushing behind it.
3. All of that pressurized water can now go into your home's plumbing, even going uphill (to a point) to service many stories. Of course as the water is pushed up, pressure may be lost as it gets closer to the height of the tower. Further pumps may be used for higher structures. A good example of how this works is in a highrise apartment. The water pressure towards the ground floors may be greater than those near the top. Modern technology has helped with this with the incorporation of pumps and pressure tanks. These systems can run a long time before water pressure is lost due to power failure from the grid, and more often than not, your township has failsafes in place by way of a diesel or natural gas powered generator, to ensure the water continues to flow without interruption.
In a more rural area, or an area without a huge munincipality, the well is still employed.
How does it work?
A well is dug, and a pump is submerged into the water beneath the ground, pumping water to the surface. From the pump head, water travels through a pipe into the home, where it enters a pressure tank. The tank contains a rubber bladder that has air in it. As the tank fills, the bladder is compressed and begins to push against the water generating pressure (kinetic energy) only to be released when a valve is opened somewhere within the home. Before the tank, there is a one-way valve that prevents the water going back into the ground. In other words, the water only gets to go towards the house. Inside the tank is a pressure switch, which shuts off the pump at a certain point, and activates it again when the water pressure drops below a pre-determined threshold.
Power was lost, now what?
There's options, don't worry. There's the old standby, a pitcher pump.
How does it work? Manpower. A pipe is dropped beneath the surface down to the water. Inside the pump are a couple of flaps (also one-way valves) that allow water to only go one way, up. On the down stroke, a piston pulls a negative pressure (just like you when you suck on a drinking straw. The up stroke allows water through a flap in the piston, now putting water on top of the piston. The down stroke, the piston draws water from below, and the water above the piston is now forced out through the top of the pump. The next up stroke pushes the piston down into the water trapped by the lower flap, back on top of the piston, only to be forced out on the next down stroke as the bottom of the pump fills yet again. This repeated tens, hundreds, and even thousands of times will provide water reliably, and has for hundreds of years. This system is good for filling pails, not providing whole house pressure.
That's just not going to work. I need a shower, I have grown accustomed to a certain lifestyle, what now?
There's still options, fear not.
1. Invest thousands in an emergency backup generator and switching panel for when your power is lost.
2. Add a windmill to your pitcher pump, let mother nature do some of the heavy lifting.
Alright wiseguy, how's that work?
High above the ground on a tower is a wheel or rotor, which consists of vanes that grabs the wind turning it into rotational force. On the backside of the rotor would be a wheel with a connecting rod attached to the outer edge of the wheel, changing rotational movement into reciprocating (up and down) movement. The other end of the connecting rod would be attached to an in-ground pump or, the handle of a pitcher pump, moving it up and down drawing water to the surface. This pump then could fill an above ground reservoir, that could feed the home if it is tall enough*. Think of it as your own personal water tower. Advantage? Absolutely, wind is free. Disadvantage? No wind, no water. Work around? Large storage tank to make up for the lack of pumped water. The storage tank should have an overflow, allowing excess water out of the tank. Attention should be paid, so water isn't wasted. Once water clears the overflow and starts hitting the ground, someone shuld operate a brake, stopping the windmill from pumping. Also, in extreme wind conditions, the brake may be used to prevent damage to the pump and windmill. Some windmills are equipped with a centrifugal clutch which applies the brake automatically if the rotor spins too rapidly.
*If a tower is outside of your ability, simply placing your tank on a hill (if possible) woud work.