Micro-Hydro electricity

[Christ]

Supposed to be 10 to 100 times better at producing electricity than solar or wind (separately), because streams tend to flow year round, no matter day or night.

Just wondering if anyone here has actually put a system together, and what the results were?

There is a (very) small stream near my house plot that I planned on using some water from (it's an artesian - cold) for supplemental cooling in my home, by running it through a radiator with a blower fan behind it, so that it would act as a water-air intercooler of sorts.

I then thought that since I'm only allowing a grid-connection to hopefully make the electric company pay me a yearly benefit for my over-generation (and for backup, I guess), I should consider ALL the options, and see if I can't use the stream for some power generation, as well.

[Bicycle Bob]

I've seen running setups. You can buy a little pelton wheel with options for between one and four nozzles. Home Power magazine should have a few systems advertised. This probably belongs at Eco Renovator, though.

[Christ]

I bet it does, I just haven't created a new account over there yet, and didn't want to do it tonite.. I'll do it tomorrow night, probably.

[Daox]

We just had a user sign up on ER looking to do some water power. His application was a bit different though as he wanted to put a big wheel on a slow moving body of water.

[Christ]

Originally Posted by Daox

We just had a user sign up on ER looking to do some water power. His application was a bit different though as he wanted to put a big wheel on a slow moving body of water.

I'll sign up over there and cross post this thread.

My water is a fairly fast moving stream, more like a brook, really. It originates from somewhere under ground, as can be seen here.

My plot of land is directly in line with the stream, but adjacent to Ketchum RD.

EDIT: If you look closely, there is a car parked across the road from the house. That's my driveway (will be.)

[alohaspirit]

a small stream is fine


dam it up and stick a small waterwheel on the opening

[Christ]

Originally Posted by alohaspirit

a small stream is fine


dam it up and stick a small waterwheel on the opening

I can't legally dam it, because of the presence of state-sponsored wetlands. I have to allow the water to flow freely. I can't legally redirect any part of the stream, as I'm told.

What I can do, is use it for a "water supply" for anything I need. I can, of couse, dig a well right there in the middle of the stream, if I felt so inclined. I actually intended to go up as far on my Father's property as I can, and pipe off some of the water in two pipes, flow it down the length of the stream to my piece of land, so that it can gain as much head as possible, and have it then turning a water turbine of some sort connected to a generator, with the water exhaust flowing back into the stream. This doesn't count as redirection, as the water is just being taken from one place and being reintroduced somewhere else in the same pathway.

I have to look into whether or not I can dig a pond into it, or bring the water level up to the cut banks around the stream. If I can do either, that will give me a reason to dam it legally. I have to speak w/ the game commission about this, though, and it will require the use of a concrete culvert to keep water from flowing onto the road that the stream crosses under.

The piping idea is cheaper/easier, but the dam/culvert idea will (obviously) be able to produce more electricity.

[alohaspirit]

you could naturally dam it up
(toss sticks and rocks to shape the flow)

then trench the middle and stick the waterwheel on

[Christ]

Sure, I could hire a beaver as well

Actually, there are plenty of them around that dam up the creek that runs through the wetland... thus, making it more wet.

[alohaspirit]

dont laugh, i almost linked a beaver dam photo


legally "you" cant dam it

but if you go further up and "beaver dam" it

(maybe even using pieces from an actual beaver dam)


hey, might work