Revisions for Micro Hydro Basics and Case Study
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| Mon, 11/18/2024 - 11:46am by lizbee | Sat, 01/21/2017 - 2:20pm by user1 | ||
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| - | <p>
| + | <p><strong>Micro Hydro Basics</strong></p> |
| - | <strong>Micro Hydro Basics</strong></p>
| + | <p><strong>Functional Description/approach</strong></p> |
| - | + | <p>Flowing water from a spring or stream can be captured and used to turn a generator to create electricity.<br /> | |
| - | <p>
| + | In a high head (>10ft) situation, the water should be captured in a pipe (penstock) which will build pressure at the generator.<br /> |
| - | <strong>Functional Description/approach</strong></p>
| + | Here is a commercial unit: <a href="http://www.microhydropower.com/our-products/stream-engine/">stream engine</a><br /> |
| - | + | In a low head (2-10ft) situation, the water can be channeled into an open, level sluice which will feed the impeller/generator.<br /> | |
| - | <p>
| + | Here is a commercial unit: <a href="http://www.microhydropower.com/our-products/low-head-stream-engine/">low head stream engine</a><br /> |
| - | Flowing water from a spring or stream can be captured and used to turn a generator to create electricity.<br />
| + | In an open river (no head, but moving water), a floating boat with a paddle wheel can be used.<br /><a href="http://www.lowtechmagazine.com/2010/11/boat-mills-bridge-mills-and-hanging-mills.html">Boat Mills</a></p> |
| - | In a high head (>10ft) situation, the water should be captured in a pipe (penstock) which will build pressure at the generator.<br />
| + | <p>There are lots of resources online, here are a few links to get started:<br /><a href="http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/Hydro/hydro.htm">DIY Hydro Projects on Build it Solar</a><br /><a href="http://www.microhydropower.com/how-it-works/alternative-energy-articles/">Stream Engine resource page</a><br /><a href="http://rockyhydro.com/Getting_Started.php">Rocky Hydro getting started</a><br /><a href="http://www.energyalternatives.ca/content/Categories/MicroHydroInfo.asp">Energy Alternatives Micro Hydro</a></p> |
| - | Here is a commercial unit: <a href="https://www.microhydropower.com/the-stream-engine/">stream engine</a><br />
| + | <p><strong>How to use the tool</strong></p> |
| - | In a low head (2-10ft) situation, the water can be channeled into an open, level sluice which will feed the impeller/generator.<br />
| + | <p><strong>Step 1: Site Survey</strong><br /> |
| - | Here is a commercial unit: <a href="https://www.microhydropower.com/the-lh1000-stream-engine/">low head stream engine</a><br />
| + | Measure Head in feet (elevation drop from highest to lowest point)<br /> |
| - | In an open river (no head, but moving water), a floating boat with a paddle wheel can be used.<br />
| + | Measure Flow rate in gallons per minute (capture all of the water in a 5 gal bucket and measure time to fill bucket)<br /> |
| - | <a href="http://www.lowtechmagazine.com/2010/11/boat-mills-bridge-mills-and-hanging-mills.html">Boat Mills</a></p>
| + | Electrical power generation in Watts= Head (ft) x Flow (gpm) / 10<br /> |
| - | + | Here is a free excel-based calculator <a href="http://www.rockyhydro.com/Free_Micro-Hydro_Calculator.php">Hydro calculator</a><br /> | |
| - | <p>
| + | And another for Windows only <a href="http://www.energyalternatives.ca/Downloads/MicroHydroCalc.exe">Hydro calculator</a></p> |
| - | There are lots of resources online, here are a few links to get started:</p>
| + | <p><strong>Step 2: Build-out</strong></p> |
| - | + | <p>this would be the equivalent of an owners manual, pictures and video are excellent in this section. If the tool has many functions, then these should all be explored here.</p> | |
| - | <ul>
| + | <p><strong>Bill of materials and Sourcing</strong></p> |
| - | <li>
| + | <p>Most of the investment is in the infrastructure (site work, intake structure, pipe, power house, etc).<br /> |
| - | <a href="http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/Hydro/hydro.htm">DIY Hydro Projects on Build it Solar</a></li>
| + | For the water wheel, generator and electrical components, there are a few commercially available, and also look on ebay.<br /> |
| - | <li>
| + | [Energy Systems}(http://www.microhydropower.com/our-products/)<br /><a href="http://rockyhydro.com/">Rocky Hydro</a><br /><a href="http://www.motenergy.com/hydro-power-products.html">Motenergy</a><br /><a href="http://h-hydro.com/index.html">Hartvigsen Hydro</a></p> |
| - | <a href="http://www.microhydropower.com/how-it-works/alternative-energy-articles/">Stream Engine resource page</a> (dead link, archived on the WBM on <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120317233355/www.microhydropower.com/how-it-works/alternative-energy-articles/">2012-03-17</a>)
| + | <p>To build your own from parts:<br /> |
| - | <ul>
| + | Water wheel (pelton or turgo for piped system, or overshot or undershot wheel in an open system)<br /> |
| - | <li>
| + | Generator (this can be any permanent magnet DC motor, or a PMA permanent magnet alternator)<br /> |
| - | <a href="https://www.microhydropower.com/category/articles/">Energy Systems & Design articles page</a> (the updated version of the link above, but with some differences in content)</li>
| + | Blocking diode (so electricity doesn't flow back making the generator a motor)<br /> |
| - | </ul>
| + | Fuse (can be simple auto style)<br /> |
| - | </li>
| + | Charge controller for battery systems (here's a DIY one <a href="http://mdpub.com/555Controller/">555 based charge controller</a><br /> |
| - | <li>
| + | or a grid tie inverter for a grid tied system</p> |
| - | <a href="http://rockyhydro.com/Getting_Started.php">Rocky Hydro getting started</a> (dead link, archived on the WBM on <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120716071800/http://rockyhydro.com/Getting_Started.php">2012-07-16</a>)</li>
| + | <p>this section should include a list of materials, and dimensions and sources for each item when available)</p> |
| - | <li>
| + | <p>Construction/how to build</p> |
| - | <a href="https://www.energyalternatives.ca/content/Categories/MicroHydroInfo.asp">Energy Alternatives Micro Hydro</a></li>
| + | <p>this section should include basic step by step instructions and include supporting documentation like engineering drawings, CAD or CAM files, as well as supporting photos and videos. If an instructables has already been done on it, a link to the instructable would be perfect here)<br /> |
| - | </ul>
| + | Next steps/goals/barriers</p> |
| - | + | <p>This section is to highlight what next steps are needed for documentation or construction to move the project along. This might contain a link to a kickstarter campaign or to a forum discussion of documentation or prototype needs etc.<br /> | |
| - | <p>
| + | Marketplace</p> |
| - | <strong>How to use the tool</strong></p>
| + | <p>this section might link to fabricators of the tool or tool components who are members of the farm hack community. If a fabricator has the item listed on Etsy or similar, a link to that listing would be appropriate here too<br /> |
| - | + | Ongoing projects</p> | |
| - | <p>
| + | <p>this section might link to project threads on the forum - if you are going to build the tool, please start a project thread in the forum, and post lots of pictures!</p> |
| - | <strong>Step 1: Site Survey</strong><br />
| + | |
| - | Measure Head in feet (elevation drop from highest to lowest point)<br />
| + | |
| - | Measure Flow rate in gallons per minute (capture all of the water in a 5 gal bucket and measure time to fill bucket)<br />
| + | |
| - | Electrical power generation in Watts= Head (ft) x Flow (gpm) / 10<br />
| + | |
| - | Here is a free excel-based calculator <a href="http://www.rockyhydro.com/Free_Micro-Hydro_Calculator.php">Hydro calculator</a> (Link dead, archived on the wayback machine <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120711210150/http://www.rockyhydro.com/Free_Micro-Hydro_Calculator.php">2012-07-11</a> including the .xslx file)<br />
| + | |
| - | This <a href="https://www.energyalternatives.ca/SystemDesign/hydro1.html">page</a> on Energy Alternatives walks you through the system design. </p>
| + | |
| - | + | ||
| - | <p>
| + | |
| - | <strong>Step 2: Build-out</strong></p>
| + | |
| - | + | ||
| - | <p>
| + | |
| - | this would be the equivalent of an owners manual, pictures and video are excellent in this section. If the tool has many functions, then these should all be explored here.</p>
| + | |
| - | + | ||
| - | <p>
| + | |
| - | <strong>Bill of materials and Sourcing</strong></p>
| + | |
| - | + | ||
| - | <p>
| + | |
| - | Most of the investment is in the infrastructure (site work, intake structure, pipe, power house, etc).<br />
| + | |
| - | For the water wheel, generator and electrical components, there are a few commercially available, and also look on ebay.<br />
| + | |
| - | <a href="https://www.microhydropower.com/products/">Energy Systems and Design</a><br />
| + | |
| - | <a href="http://rockyhydro.com/">Rocky Hydro</a> (dead link, archived on the WBM on <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120716060836/http://www.rockyhydro.com/Micro-Hydro_HOME.php">2012-07-16</a>)<br />
| + | |
| - | <a href="http://www.motenergy.com/hydro-power-products.html">Motenergy</a><br />
| + | |
| - | <a href="https://h-hydro.com">Hartvigsen Hydro</a></p>
| + | |
| - | + | ||
| - | <p>
| + | |
| - | To build your own from parts:</p>
| + | |
| - | + | ||
| - | <ul>
| + | |
| - | <li>
| + | |
| - | Water wheel (pelton or turgo for piped system, or overshot or undershot wheel in an open system)</li>
| + | |
| - | <li>
| + | |
| - | Generator (this can be any permanent magnet DC motor, or a PMA permanent magnet alternator)</li>
| + | |
| - | <li>
| + | |
| - | Blocking diode (so electricity doesn't flow back making the generator a motor)</li>
| + | |
| - | <li>
| + | |
| - | Fuse (can be simple auto style)</li>
| + | |
| - | <li>
| + | |
| - | Charge controller for battery systems (here's a DIY one <a href="http://mdpub.com/555Controller/">555 based charge controller</a></li>
| + | |
| - | <li>
| + | |
| - | or a grid tie inverter for a grid tied system</li>
| + | |
| - | </ul>
| + | |
| - | + | ||
Current revision: