Re: building microwind and microhydro generators

On Mon, 29 Dec 2008 11:58:23 -0500, "Michael A. Terrell"
<mike.terrell@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:


John Larkin wrote:

On Mon, 29 Dec 2008 15:13:37 +0100, Dominic-Luc Webb <dlwebb@xxxxxxxx>
wrote:


Looking for some tips on homemade microwind and
microhydro generators.

I have a site near the top of a mountain far from any
power utilities. It is intended for camping trips and
will end up with either a quite small cabin or
small motorhome. It is hard to predict what my power
needs will be, but much less than a typical home. I
am guessing 1-10 kW*hr generation is my goal with
intermittant use, like only on weekends.

The wind can be very strong, but variable. There is
a creek running through the property. I am told the
flow is 144 miner's inches per second, and that this
is roughly 1 cubic foot per second.

Here are some questions:

1. My understanding is that an induction generator
would be a good choice as long as I make sure I build
up sufficient RPM. Assuming I have access to junk and
scrap yards, what is a good source?

2. Assuming induction generator is good choice, are
planetary gear or belt drive arrangements used with
these to maintain high RPM?

3. Assuming total electric need is not great, I have
heard of using water pumps. Anyone know if the pump
from an old washer machine would work? Seems to me
that in their usual config, they pump a lot of water,
so I wonder if running water through this would generate
enough current to charge, for instance, a couple marine
batteries. I do not have sufficient specs handy to make
a sane guess.

4. As for the wind generator, are the powerful neodymium
magnetics found in hardware stores a good choice?

5. Schematics? Anyone know websites with reliable
instructions on how to build either of these from
scratch on a micro scale?

Dominic


I'm pretty sure that neither are feasible, certainly at the 1 KW power
level.

You can calculate the power possible from 1 cf/sec water flow, but you
have to know the head (pressure) available. I knew a guy who had a
stream on a hillside; he built a small dam uphill and ran a pipe from
there down to his house, diverting part of the stream's flow, and ran
a pump backwards, spinning an alternator. He had over 200 feet of
vertical drop, so got close to 100 psi pressure to work with. I don't
think it was worth the effort, and you'd probably have to divert your
entire stream to get useful output. Figure under 50% efficiency for a
good water-wheel and a good generator, much less if you use makeshift
stuff.

If you can't do the calculations, I wouldn't attempt the project.

Pack in propane.

John


Someone is finally selling fuel cells. What a joke. :)

http://www.powerstream.com/methanol-fuel-cell.htm

That's nothing new. Fuel cells have been a joke for 50 years at least.

John

.

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