The Brazilian-made ZM MAXXI windmill supplies water at optimum cost. It’s designed and built to withstand the most severe wind conditions with minimum maintenance.
The rotor is directly connected to the turbine shaft with a bearing mount. This means it works without a gearbox or the need for lubrication, which makes maintenance at the top of the tower unnecessary.
The ZM Maxxi pumps work by capturing wind energy and transferring it to the pumping unit mounted at ground level. It can pump water from 6m deep to a height of 190m, in the rated version. When deeper suction is needed a surface and a depth pump are needed, both available in 51mm and 76mm. The double-action piston pumps water in both directions – to top dead centre and to bottom dead centre – in effect doubling pumping efficiency. Carefully selecting the best materials available for the components, contributes to the performance and longevity of ZM Maxxi windmills.
The pumping capacity depends on the pump mode, the pumping stroke and the piston diameter, as well as on-site wind characteristics.
These factors determine the manometric pressure – the vertical height from the suction point to the reservoir inlet, including the friction losses distributed along the pipeline – that can be delivered, as well as flow volume. The volume of water pumped depends on wind velocity, with start-up at 9km/ h, and a rated speed of 24 km/h. The system must preferably be installed in a “clean” area. This means a radius of about 150m should be clear of trees or buildings to increase wind energy collection.
To calculate the correct pump – type, displacement and piston – for the required water delivery, certain basic information is needed: wind velocity and variation; daily water requirements; the height of the tower and how “clean” the area is.
The pump’s valve system, with a spring-return valve, is constructed of AISI304 stainless steel. The bearings are leather and the cylinder is brass, while the cylinder cap is GG25 grey cast iron. The triangular tower consists of three SAE1020 steel legs with fixing and support elements of SAE1045 dichromated steel. It’s available in 6m, 9m and 12m-high versions. The horizontal-axis wind turbine is composed of 18 blades of SAE 1020 steel, with a central shaft. The coupling shaft is SAE 1045 steel. Bearing mounts for the axial and radial-load bearings are GG25 gray cast iron.
In the control system, a spring mechanism in the central axis regulates blade pitch to provide high-wind protection. The yawing mechanism is a tail vane and a shaft of SAE 1020 steel in the force transfer connection.
To prevent mechanical stress the desired parameters shouldn’t be exceeded. Water use: Cattle, 50â„“; Pigs, 15â„“; Smallstock, 8â„“; Horses, 45â„“; Poultry, 0,25â„“; Home use, 450â„“ to 700â„“.ZM South Africa supplies technical backup for choosing the correct components. Costs range between R35 500 and R65 000, depending on the components. |fw
