Mills and power from water

Until pumps and mill wheels were invented to make use of water energy, it was difficult to transport water – especially if you did not have an ox or donkey to hand. Go back in time and learn more about mills and water power.

The noria wheel – water supply like in Ancient Egypt

The noria wheel has been used to pump water since the days of the Ancient Egyptians, and is still used in some parts of the world today. The principle is simple: as the river’s current turns the wheel, scoops on the wheel are filled with water and transported upwards. The scoops are positioned in such a way that they empty when they reach the top, allowing the water to run into aqueducts or water channels.

The horizontal mill

Mills with horizontal wheels can be traced back to Ancient Greece. The horizontal mill works slowly and only has a small effect, but does not require much water to work.

The mill wheel – use of the water energy from below

The vertical undershot wheel, where the water drives the mill from below, can still be found around Denmark in old water mills. It is made of wood and has been used since antiquity. A vertical mill wheel can capture 40 – 70% of the energy from the water.

Overshot wheel – more effective utilisation from above

The overshot wheel is also vertical but here, the water falls onto the top of the wheel and drives it round. This is more effective than the normal vertical mill wheel and can make greater use of the water energy, approximately 60 – 80%.