Pump turbine, an engineering masterpiece from the 12th century AD

Abstract

Aljazzari is one of the most famous Iranian scientists through the centuries. He was a capable mechanical engineer whose works are still fascinating even to engineers. He specialized in different branches of mechanical engineering such as fluid mechanics, machine design and robotics. As a matter of fact he may be regarded as the father of today's robotics. Among his works, fountains, pumps, and water clocks are the most outstanding. Pump turbine is one of his master pieces which was selected as a subject of research project at the Mechanical Engineering Research Center of the Iranian Research Organization for Science & Technology (IROST). This machine consists of a water wheel which run by the flow of a stream or a river. It drives a pump which actually consists of a pair of gears to transfer power from the turbine and drive a quick return slider mechanism for activating a pair of reciprocating piston pumps. The machine was designed and manufactured according to the design details, presented in his book " Kitáb fí ma'rifat al-hiyal al-handasiyya" and was also tested accordingly. Tests on the machine proved the pumping capability of the pump turbine according to the book.

Keywords

• pump turbine al jazzari historic pumping mechanism