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Home » Archimedes Water Screw

Archimedes Water Screw

By Janice VanCleave

A screw is an inclined plane wrapped to form a helix (spiral). These are simple machines.

The inventor of the first water screw is not known, but it is believed to have been used in ancient Egypt. Archimedes (287?-212 B.C.) is believed to have made improvement on the idea, thus the device is commonly called Archimedes’ Screw; it is still used to lift loose materials, such as grains as well as water.

We all know the traditional application of the Archimedean screw pump where water is pumped up from a lower to a higher level. The reversal of its function provides an efficient means of saving energy. The main advantage of a screw pump is that it is tailor made to the specific installation and therefore extremely efficient for a wide range.

The new range of the Landustrie screw pump covers the hydropower screw. An efficient use of water power is already achieved at a level difference of 1 meter and a capacity of 500 l/sec. The largest capacity and level difference for hydropower screws is as much as 15000 l/sec. at 10 meter.

How the Water Screw Works:  As the helix revolves, small amounts of water are slowly raised in wells formed by the side of the cylinder and the surfaces of the helix. The Archimedes’ screw was developed in ancient Egypt and, it is believed, improved by Archimedes (287?-212 B.C.); it is still used occasionally in the Middle East. The device can also be used to lift loose materials, such as grains.

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Filed Under: Physics Tagged With: helix, screw, water screw

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