Home Brew Hydro:
A small hydroelectric project.
MK I: Early turbine and generator
MK II & III: New alternator and couplers
MK IV: shaft bearing and real world use
Coanda Effect water intake (New Rain Update!)
alt.energy.homepower discussion
The Source
The Destination (100 feet down the hill)
For several years I've been thinking about building a micro-hydro electric generator for supplementing my energy needs here in the boonies of Oregon. Solar panels are well and good for the summer months, but for much of the year the sky is dark and well, its Oregon, so it rains. It rains a LOT.
I looked into making a wind turbine but there aren't any good spots to make a tower where I live, and I was concerned about building a structure that could withstand the high winds we get each year. Its one thing to make a turbine that works in 30 MPH winds, but its another all together to build one that can last through 130 MPH winds.
Looking at the various out of the box turbines like the Hydroelectric Systems and Stream Engine I couldn't justify plopping down two grand on something that looked like I could build myself.
The result! 90 watts at 36PSI from a 1-1/2 inch pipe with roughly 100 feet of head using the fantastic WindBlue Power PM Alternator Not too bad!!
NEW! Bob's Water Wheel Micro-Hydro Project - Pretty dang cool Bob!
** New Penstock & Nozzles Yields Big Improvement & See the Video ***
Here is an account of the various stages the beast went through starting with
MK I: Early turbine and generator
MK II & III: New alternator and couplers
MK IV: shaft bearing and real world use
Discussions from alt.energy.homepower Without these guys I'd never have got it going.