pumpehjulet

Pumpehjulet, also known as the "pump wheel" or "pump organ," is a type of water pump used in the 19th and early 20th centuries to raise water from a lower to a higher level. It was commonly used in rural areas and small communities where electricity was not yet available. The pump wheel consists of a large wooden wheel with a series of buckets attached to its circumference. The wheel is driven by a water source, such as a stream or river, and as it rotates, the buckets fill with water from the lower level and then empty into a higher reservoir or irrigation system.

The pump wheel operates on the principle of centrifugal force, where the rotation of the wheel causes the water to be thrown outward, filling the buckets. As the wheel continues to rotate, the buckets empty their contents into the higher reservoir. The design of the pump wheel is relatively simple, making it a cost-effective solution for water pumping in areas with sufficient water flow.

Pumpehjulet played a crucial role in agricultural development by providing a reliable source of water for irrigation, which was essential for crop cultivation. It also facilitated the transportation of goods and people by enabling the construction of bridges and roads over water bodies. However, with the advent of electricity and modern pumping technologies, the use of pump wheels has declined significantly. Today, pumpehjulet can be found in historical sites and museums as a testament to the ingenuity of early engineering solutions.