As a follow up to Sean’s post onMicro Hydro Essentials, I thought I would share an overview of my system, which has powered my home for over 13 years. We are fortunate to live on rural mountain property in Northern California with a creek that is not seasonal, although the volume of water does drop significantly during the arid months of summer.
水力发电的美妙之处在于,它一天24小时都在发电,而且不依赖于天气模式,比如太阳和风。缺点是必须通过清洗进气和处理不同的小溪流量来维护系统。
17 years ago, my alternative power system consisted of one solar panel, one golf cart battery, one DC light, and one DC car stereo. Today, I live in a modern off-the-grid home complete with many large energy-using electrical appliances, such as a washing machine, air conditioner, refrigerator, vacuum cleaner, dishwasher, and baseboard heaters.
Using these appliances off-the-grid is only possible by limiting their usage to one at a time, with the exception of the refrigerator (which remains on 24 hours a day). Unlike grid-connected homes, where it is common to see multiple large loads running simultaneously, most people living-off-the grid cannot run their washing machine while vacuuming, their heaters while washing dishes, etc.
Alternative home energy systems are limited to the amount of power stored in the battery bank and what is being currently produced via wind, water, and/or sun for available power. Since hydro systems provide power continuously, the battery bank does not need to be as large as with other alternative energy systems.
Our system consists of approximately 2500 feet of two-inch PVC pipe from intake to turbine. We “borrow” water from our creek which is diverted back to the creek after running through the turbine. At the bottom of the pipe, we have 230 PSI for our static water pressure (valve closed, not running). Our dynamic pressure (running pressure) changes to 185 PSI from pipe friction loss. A four-inch pipe would greatly reduce this friction loss; however, the cost is prohibitive for us.
We run aturgo wheelcoupled to a three-phase induction motor that produces 220 volts, unregulated, “wild” AC power, which is sent long distance (1500 feet) from the creek to our power shed. This power cannot be used directly in appliances because it is unregulated, but it can be used for baseboard heaters and diversion loads, such as a hot water heating element. Our system differs from most micro hydro systems which produce DC power requiring the turbine be located close to the home because of line loss and cable size needed for direct current. To get the most head (vertical fall from intake to turbine), our wheel has to be located at the bottom of our property or else we would make very little power using a traditional DC micro-hydro system close to our home (200 watts). With micro-hydro systems, a high head is more important than water flow for producing maximum power. Low head, high flow is hard to harness.
一旦“狂野”的电力到达我们的电源棚,它就会被转换并整流成直流电池电压,并像典型的替代能源系统一样存储在我们的电池中。然后,我们通过逆变器将电力转换回可调节的交流电,用于我们的家中。当电池充满时,多余的电力在冬天被转移到室内的踢脚板加热器,在夏天被转移到电源棚的散热器。
We make about 2 KWH continuously with our micro-hydro system. This is ample power for a family of four using CFLs, energy-saving appliances, etc.; however, there are times when our power is down: large winter storms that fill the creek with leaves, and push the intake out of the water; creek levels drop in the summer and the dam needs rebuilding, etc.
One thing that is nice about having your own power system is that when it is down, it is within your own power to go and fix. You don’t have to wait for the power company to rescue you, but this often means you are standing waist deep in freezing water during a storm. This whole micro-hydro system costs approximately $11,000, including pipe, wire, inverter, batteries, etc., but we haven’t paid a bill to a power company in over 17 years!
Mike Kingsays
Very cool system. I love the idea of hydro and only wish more people had it as an option for their power generation.
Petersays
Jennifer,
Could you perhaps provide more detail on the system, and post it at appropedia.com? You would be able to make the design ‘open’, meaning it’s available to anyone to use without worrying about patent or copyright issues, and it becomes available to all humankind.
Christophersays
Jennifer,
Thanks for posting – nice description of a nice system. Can you confirm one or two points?
230 psi static = ca. 16 atmospheres pressure = about 530 ft of drop from your creek intact through the 2 in PVC to the turbine half a mile away, correct?
And your generation of about 2 kWh was daily (24hr) production, right?
Mariussays
“We make about 2 KWH with our micro-hydro system. ”
In how many hours?
Jennifer Lancesays
KWH refers to Kilowatt hours. We make that amount continuously, not in a day. Another way to look at it is we are making 70 amps multiplied by 26. 8 volts (float voltage on batteries), so it is 1.88 KW (amps x volts=watts). 1.88 KWH x 24 hours is 45.12 KW for a day on our system.
PSI on the static pressure is multiplied by 2.31 to obtain vertical drop. For our system that means 531 feet of vertical drop (head). Yes, that is correct. We run about half a mile of pipe, but the turbine is about 1500 feet from our house.
Raysays
抱歉,你说反了。千瓦指的是你的能源生产速率(功率是用一段时间内的能量单位来衡量的,或者P=E/T)。千瓦时指的是在给定时间内产生的总能量(E=PT,考虑之前关系的倒数)。在电力系统中,瓦=伏特X安培,这告诉你系统在任何给定的时间输出了多少电力。因此,您的系统产生了1.88 KW。您的总日能量输出是1.88 KW X 24 H = 45.12 KWH。如果只考虑所涉及的单位(KW的单位不包括时间,但KWH的单位包含时间),这可能会更清楚一些,因此KWH = Kilowatt-HOURS。请不要认为这个评论是粗鲁的尝试,但这真的需要澄清,以避免任何混淆。不错的系统。我希望我的房子里也有这样的小溪。
Noorainisays
Hi Ray
I can’t understand the difference between kWh and KW. If you produce say, 5MW of electricity, how many kilowatt hours would that give you?
Tonyasays
Each hour that passes would yield 5MW of power or 500 kW. In one hour you would produce 500 kWH or energy. Power (Watts) is the amount of energy (Joules) per second. The number of Joules of energy produced in an hour is very large, so a more reasonable unit for energy (kWH) is used when referring to general production and consumption.
Davesays
Correct in principle, but you’re out by a factor of 10. A 5MW generator running for an hour will produce 5MWh or 5,000kWh.
Kilowatts is a measure of power. Kilowatt-hours are a measure of energy, which is power x time.
举个例子,一个电池储存固定数量的千瓦时能量。它消耗的速度取决于你对它的需求——一个大的负载会消耗大量的电力,很快就会把电池压扁。一个10kWh的电池阵列可以提供10千瓦的电能,或10小时提供1千瓦的电能。
Jennifer Lancesays
Also, if you want more details, there is a great chart for sizing your wheel to the speed of the motor at Hartvisgen-Hydro (target rpm pdf files).
https://h-hydro.com/
David - green thoughtssays
Very well described, including the standing in freezing water during a storm. Overall it sounds so trouble free and low-cost. I wonder where I can find a stream in New York City…..
Timsays
Great write up. It definitely sounds like a nice setup. Have you had any major problems with it?
Jennifer Lancesays
Tim, the biggest problem we had was when a forest fire burned up all the pipe and wire. Luckily, our home owner’s insurance covered the costs. There has also been a tree that fell on the pipe before and broke it, and it was a little unnerving seeing a mountain lion chewed up deer carcass near the creek once. There is ongoing maintenance, and our biggest problem is when the creek is too large and dangerous to go into for maintenance during a big storm (I’m talking 11 inches of rain in a day). We are actually going to put a second smaller hydro in off of a smaller creek that feeds our pond for back up during these times. My biggest problem is poison oak.
michelesays
Have you tried to get a goat to eat the poison oak? We borrow our neigbors goat to eat ours, but I still get it because we are trying to make some of our 5 acres in So Oregon farm ready.
hipArriffFampsays
Great site this blitransfer.wpengine.com and I am really pleased to see you have what I am actually looking for here and this this post is exactly what I am interested in. I shall be pleased to become a regular visitor
Stihysays
Looks good, i’m fan of this types of projects, few questions:
1.What kind of converter do you use for ac conversion
2.Do you use some sort of battery packs to level consumption
3.Do you plan to use some sort of automated sistem, like to charge batteries and then when for instance batteries are on more then 75% shut of turbine…
Also this could be used with solar panels (for hot water).
Jennifer Lancesays
Stihy,
1. We use an old Trace inverter 4024.
2. We have batteries to store excess power
3. It is automated. The turbine doesn’t shut off, but our Enermaxer (heat shunt) burns off excess power when the batteries are full until we need it (running a heavy load, Enermaxer turns off).
billsays
nice set up
i live at the end of canal in Florida that drains about 72 sq miles the water is always flowing it is a saltwater canal that leads into the gulf sometimes the water goes the other way because of tides.
do you have any ideas for a set up for me
thank you
snookfisher@gmail.com
Corysays
I like what you have going but poly vinyl chloride pipes are hazardous when they are used without the water first going through a filtering system before reuse.Have you considered replacing them with something that doesn’t have the potential to give fish in the stream( that I am sure is fished0a cancer causing new body chemistry.Watch blue vinyl a documentary about the dangers of pvc and it’s effects from manufacturing to distribution all the way through to its disposal and it;s effects on the food chain.I am not chastising you but most people do not know about PVC and it’s effects.If you care about the water supply in your area or the fish and animals who eat the fish it is worth learning about.I live 35 miles from the nations biggest supplier and manufacturers of PVC and you should see our cancer rates.I only mentioned this because you are telling other people how they can do this to which I applaud but PVC used in this fashion by many would be devastating.
Jennifer Lancesays
Cory, I know PVC is nasty, but what are the alternatives? The poly pipe is not much better, and there is now way we could afford to use that much steel, nor would it bend as needed down the creek. I hope you have a suggestion as to a better pipe material.
Ryansays
KWH is a unit of power. KW is the unit for the rate.
you have about 2KW constantly for a total of 45.12 KWH per day.
just clarifying. neat system.
Leesays
Not quite. kWh is a unit of energy (1 kWh = 3600 kJ). kW is a unit of power…the rate of energy is generated, consumed, converted,etc. (kW = kJ/s)
Buz Watkinssays
Hi. Thats a nice runner you have> I have a system using a reverse centrifugal pump thats actually heating my house at the moment. I am norteast of you in Cape Breton N.S. Canada. My system is producing 5 kw at the moment, direct AC no batteries. I wanted to tell you about my intake which needs no cleaning. It is called a coanda screen and it works like a charm for leaves and debris. Google coanda screen or hydro screen. I think you will find it. I sent for mine from CO. about 10 years ago…Buz
Stevesays
Hi Buz,
How is your site going?
Can you provide me with further details of your 5 kw system.
Regards,
Steve
Melbourne
Australia
Buz Watkinssays
HI想做一个网站叫。微型水力发电的冠军,我已经做了将近30年了。如果你对你的摄入还有问题,我有解决办法。Would you like to be involved, we are elite………Buz
stevensays
Hi, Just wondering how many rpm you will produce by your turbine that at the end,runs the shaft of generatore?Thank you
lisasays
hi thanks for sharing ! We’re in Buncombe county, in a watershed, do you think its legal to do this?
Jennifer Lancesays
丽莎,这取决于你是否有用水权。我的一些邻居得到了林务局的许可,可以在公共土地上的小溪里取水。
Donaldsays
你知道我会尽我所能尽快脱离这个世界。我和我妻子挣的钱不多。我知道开始巩绿是昂贵的。为什么不开始帮忙呢?它会自食其力。无脑。哦,是的,他们不会从大石油公司那里得到回扣。we are fucked
Mike N.says
Hi Jennifer,
非常好的信息。我只是获得所有的组件,以建立我们的第一个微型水力系统。我们目前有1200 ' 2″pvc管埋地,静压75 psi。
Do you or anybody else in the group have any information or dealings with suppliers of high powered magnets to install in a SI 10 / 12 delco alternator rotors?
Thanks, Mike
Jennifersays
我们不用交流发电机,所以很抱歉我帮不上忙。
Petesays
Mike n….
Alternators, at least all common alternators, do not have magnets. They use electro-magnets. This makes them easy to regulate, and no commutator, just slip rings. Well technically a generator is an alternator but the commutator converts the ac to dc.
汽车交流发电机在没有电源连接的情况下不会开始发电,通常是通过alt灯/油灯电路。如果“inst light”保险丝坏了,不收费。一旦启动,它就会充电。在紧急情况下,你可以试着尖叫引擎一秒。剩余的磁力可能会启动alt走,但我想.....
Benjamin Koshkinsays
真正需要的是一个恒定水平的移动水源,不幸的是,唯一想到的地方是水电站的排水管道。
Benjamin Koshkin
Affordable Solar Power Kitssays
Wow! That is so cool. It would be nice to have a micro hydro resource nearby … so much for living in the burbs
Nivekiansays
Just thought some of you wold like to take a look at this…https://www.creativeboom.co.uk/news/waste-not-want-not-with-dmu-students-electric-idea/
No streams needed, perfect for urban areas.
TheDanimalsays
What if you were to store the water between two tanks. Then durning the day solar and wind would pump water up the hill and store the water!! Then, whne you need power on still/cloudy/snowy days you could use the water. Closed system. Power stored suring the day, Power released qt night.!
Thomas | Electric Carsays
Great device and the freedom from electric suppliers and rsing energy costs is one of the most attractice facts!
Michelesays
I love the idea of this. We live in Southern Oregon on the CA border and I am covered with poison oak right now!! My daughter saw the pic of your kids near the giant redwood in Parents magazine and she was wondering if it is in the trails we have been to off hwy 199 in CA near the Smith River. We might almost be neighbors!! I think what you are doing in wonderful. Many folks near us here in this part of OR also live off the grid.
Jennifer Lancesays
It was on the Trillium Falls trail in Prairie Creek off 101
christian guerinsays
I suspect that you have very pressure drop through your 2 in pipe and you may increase a lot your electricity production, if you need. by a 4 inches but cost is prohibitive.
Felicitation for your 17 years.
I intend to start a project(Montreal neighbourhood) for a secondary home with windturbines but storing energy is ambiguous.
With wind i may store in a tank(3 m head)pumping water or having a creek like you with water turbine., or photovoltaic panels
Sylvia Habersays
我们还有一个水力供水系统。运行大多数项目,除了。水泥搅拌机有一个电容器。我的小冰箱运行正常(没有电容器),但我现在想增加一个冰箱。我将不得不添加一个继电器过载启动电容为一个小冰箱(5安瓿启动),如果我得到一个更大的冰箱,那么可能也需要运行电容连接。你有什么类型的冰箱,有没有添加电容器?我在看太阳霜,有人有吗?
Brent Mayersays
你每小时用多少加仑来转动涡轮机?你知道轮子的转速是多少吗?
Bearsays
Thank You!
Cool System.
我正在考虑在北加州安装一个单元,因为火灾损失。网上也没什么好说的了。很好奇这是怎么回事。在低流量时,我每分钟有60个女孩,但在一年的大部分时间里,这个数字要多得多。只是重新开始。我在阿拉斯加住了很多年,现在又回到了加州。
Allan Drummondsays
Hi…great info. I also have a dual nozzle Turgo wheel at my off grid house. Currently I have a resistor style heat dump that is in the power house. I would like to be able to do what you are doing, and that is divert the heat to the house from the heat dump in winter or when it is colder, and in summer just have the dump load switched to the power house. Are you using some sort of switch to re-route the energy to the base board heaters?
DAVID B JOHNSONsays
我有一个有趣的情况-弹簧大约在离房子200英尺的高度。在泉水库里每分钟溢出大约6加仑水。房子里不受限制的流量是每分钟20加仑。A turbine on the house side could handle +-10 gal a min constantly without damaging the eco system downstream of the reservoir
Incidentally the pipe from the reservoir was put underground (under 2 creeks) back in the early 70’s.
我需要一个能安装在离房子10英尺外的水龙头上的涡轮。
我希望你还在看这个博客。
Thanks,
David – Mtns of Madison County NC
djohnsonjwp@gmail.com