Micro hydro power

[BigAir]

Anyone know anything about micro hydro power generation? My dad is wanting to buy a system to provide power for our cabin. Any suggestions on who to talk to or websites to look at? Thanks.

 

[EricW]

I moved this turbine up the Columbia from Grand Coulee Dam to Revelstoke, BC. The owner said he felt hydro power was a very good thing. $20,000,000. for the turine only plus freight from Brazil to Revy (I was very reasonable on this) and then there is dam construction and some other incidentals. How micro are you thinking? lol. Just Kidding.

Might take a look and post a few questions at this site Micro Hydro Power Forum Good luck. EW

 

[BigAir]

Thanks Eric, but I don't think that is quite big enough. We need something that has enough power to run our heater and microwave at the same time.

 

[Dam Dave]

I have just a little bit of experience with Hydro Power hmm, I wonder if thats why thay call me Dam Dave!

Do you have a stream, do you have rights to the water?, need at least 5 feet of fall to get much real power, but some of these micro units might work for run of the stream, and you could combine it with batteries and solor power too. the DNR may not like you disturbing the fish so see if you need a permit from them.

http://www.microhydropower.com/

http://homepower.com/basics/hydro/


.

 

[BigAir]

Dave,

We have a spring piped into the cabin for water. The excess water will be used to run the hydro. We should always have at least 7 gpm extra flow and about 57 psi pressure by my calculations (1500 ft. of 1 inch and 175 feet of fall).

 

[Dam Dave]

you should have plenty of power to supply a cabin, I would still go with batteries to store

just follow those links

http://www.microhydropower.com/

 

[Mjunkie]

Maybe this is a stupid idea but our family has talked a lot about using hydro-power at our cabin here in Utah, and what we have been thinking about is just a hose with a nozzle spraying at a fan (turbine) that is connected to a car alternator that charges some 12 volt batteries and then have a power inverter to get the 110. We already have outdoor plumbing and 3 hoses that we just let run all summer long. We haven't tried running them in the winter but have been thinking of trying it. It seems it would work just like in a car. Sorry to hijack a little but I think it is on topic.

 

[Mjunkie]

I guess that's basically what the web sites show. My bad, I should have looked at the sites first and read them.

 

[Pedersen]

this one prodoce 3kw 230V 50Hz (what we have here in Norway)
cost around 4000$ plus tax, but if produced elsewhere i guess it would be cheaperfor you to buy.
need 18 liters a sec. (4,76 gallons)and a fall of 60 feet.