rigid polymer elements; tubular chambers. With valves at either end. Chambers connected and laid end to end on gentle gradient (eg 2-3% depending on available solar energy)*

(solar)heated air inside expands and this forces water through the valve upwards to the next chamber.

Raising this water stores potential energy; But this is secondary to the use of simply moving water over distance in a "set and forget" fashion.

Dimensions to suit available sunlight and water needs.

ps im in australia, so sunlight here is like oil in the gulf.

It could pump water from the sea to flood inland channels or large basins such as the planned *Finlayson Basin idea for flooding Lake Eyre (salt) in South Australia.
-- peter2, Nov 27 2006

salt so what http://forum.online....asp?discussion=134
this is the way [peter2, Nov 27 2006]

Previous thermal pumping idea Pumped_20storage_20of_20thermal_20energy
I'll test you on it, later [Ling, Nov 28 2006]

Duke Euphoria's Take on this idea (scroll down for a bit) http://www.junkpile...20Irrigation%20Pump
I remembered thinking this was a particularly good idea after spotting it on a page linked to my Midge Laser idea. [zen_tom, Nov 28 2006]

solar fluidyne pump http://www.engin.sw...0Proposal/FK_AO.pdf
[nomocrow, Nov 28 2006]

another solar fluidyne pump http://www.iedu.com...tirlingProject.html
yeah, it says engine, but it's really just a pump [nomocrow, Nov 28 2006]

The Australian Sea The_20Australian_20sea
see discussions re salt. [ConsulFlaminicus, Mar 10 2008]

a very slow and inefficient way to do this to be very sure.
-- jhomrighaus, Nov 27 2006


[jhomrighaus] I don't see this being inefficient at all - as the only energy input is 'free' solar energy. It's got an organic gentleness to it - and cost wise, it would be cheaper to move water up a gradient and over a distance like this than it would be to pump or drive it over a distance. Sure, the throughput for a single pipe isn't going to be a great deal - but you can just lay multiple pipes - in addition, the system draws more water when it's needed i.e. when there is more sunlight to power the system. That's about as efficient as it gets.
-- zen_tom, Nov 28 2006


puuurrrrffect
-- peter2, Mar 09 2008


That's possibly the most shameless bump I've ever seen.

Anyway, I don't get how the pump continues to work. The air forces some water out of the tube, then what?

The earliest steam engines were pumps to remove water from mines. Their design lends its elf to solar pumping.
-- marklar, Mar 10 2008


//It could pump water from the sea to flood inland channels or large basins such as the planned *Finlayson Basin idea for flooding Lake Eyre (salt) in South Australia.//

The 'Inland Sea' idea has been deleted from the 'Bakery I notice. The 'Australian Sea' idea is still there [link]. Suggest you read through that one [peter2]
-- ConsulFlaminicus, Mar 10 2008



halfbakery