See the first win
A first Workshop on one sample invention, a solar float that keeps a rainwater tank fresh. Six pieces, in the order they are made. On a paid plan this is day one: your packet builds as you grow.
Step 1 of 5 · Invention write-up
Solar Circulating Aerator Float
Built from the inventor’s notes and a short conversation.
Title
Solar-Powered Circulating Aerator for Rainwater Storage
Field
Water storage and quality; small-scale, renewable-powered water treatment.
Problem
Rainwater held in static storage tanks is exposed to sunlight and sits undisturbed, so it grows algae and goes stagnant, wasting a captured resource.
Solution
A buoyant unit floats on the stored water. A small photovoltaic panel on top powers a low-draw pump and an air stone that continuously circulate and oxygenate the water during daylight. Because the same sunlight that would drive algal growth instead powers the circulation, the water stays moving and oxygen-rich, which suppresses algae without mains power or wiring.
Key Features
- Self-powered: a palm-size photovoltaic panel runs the whole unit, with no wiring or grid connection
- Self-contained float: sits on the surface and needs no change to the tank
- Low-draw DC pump sized to turn the stored volume over several times per sunlit day
- Air stone diffuser that raises dissolved oxygen alongside the circulation
- Daylight-matched operation: circulation is strongest in the bright, warm hours when algae grow fastest, with no timer or sensor
- Removable intake screen for easy cleaning
Key Parts
- Buoyant housing / float
- Photovoltaic panel (palm-size)
- Low-draw DC pump
- Air stone / diffuser
- Intake screen
Initial Risks
- Sizing: the pump and panel may be under-sized for a large or heavily sunlit tank. Confirm with a before-and-after clarity check on the target tank.
- Cloudy days: circulation drops when the sun does. A small battery can carry gentle circulation through short cloudy spells.
- Durability: continuous sun and water exposure wear the panel and pump. Use an ultraviolet-stabilized float and a sealed, marine-rated pump that can be swapped.
- Fouling: debris can clog the intake. The removable screen handles this with periodic cleaning.
Billie
Here is your write-up: the problem, how your float solves it, what makes it work, and what could go wrong. Every step after this builds on it.