Looking for information on trompes

Hi,

<<Not sure this is the correct forum - I figure that this is the best place for a "wooly" question.

I am looking for any information I can get on Trompes - gravity assisted water "pumps" and/or gravity assisted aerators.

I understand the concept in general - looking for specific designs and mechanisms - for once google seems a bit lacking - I wonder if there are alternative names?

Hi, Steve. I added your thread to the hydro and alternative energy forums, which are places that trompes have gotten discussion here in the past. Although I don't have any good answers for you, I also groomed the "similar threads" listing at the bottom of this thread so that it links some of the previous trompe discussions here on Permies. I hope this helps you find what you are looking for!

You have probably already seen the YouTube clip of Bill Mollison explaining at the blackboard what a trompe is, but just in case not:

Old School Version
http://www.sudburyminingsolutions.com/prof-aims-to-revive-ragged-chute-technology.html
"Plant supplied 29 or 30 mines, cost almost nothing to operate and had no moving parts"

"Since it was built in 1910, Ragged Chute practically ran itself"
http://cobalt.ca/ragged-chutes/