7 megawatts is typical for a small scale hydroplant in Vermont USA...
Source- Winnoski VT USA Hydroplant
Adrian Stott <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
"trainfinder22"
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>Here in New York we have done quite well with power produced by our
>canal system.Most of the power is produced at locks. However our canal
>is about 20 feet deep and 70 feet wide and in some places as much as 60
>feet of water is behind the lock walls so there is plenty of force
>there to push turbines. Wih british canals being smaller is there such
>a thing as Mini-Hydro Power to Generate Electricity....And by the way
>the USA Exports Coal to Great Britain..I know because See the trains go
>thru onthe way to the port.
This is common on the larger waterways in mainland Europe (e.g. the
Canal du Centre and the Brussels-Charleroi Canal in Belgium).
However, I believe the power is generated only when the lock is filled
or emptied, not constantly via bywashes (unless there is a significant
natural, i.e. not pumped, supply of water to the upper pound, I
guess).
No reason not to do it for domestic purposes using a bywash on a river
navigation IMHO, though, as long as you don't try to take more flow
from the upper pound than the river is putting into it (i.e. would
otherwise go over the weir). The small-capacity plant required is
relatively inexpensive.
The large (two-wheel overshot) water mill near my mooring, now
demolished, used to be of about 70 kW power, I believe, but it used
the flow of a dammed (and quite small) tributary of the Lea not that
of the river itself, and a head of about 6 m. I don't know, though,
how many hours/year it ran.
Two neighbouring and foresight-challenged houseowners have filled in
lengths of the leat (between the pond and the mill site) where it runs
through their properties, to provide lawn (on the north side of their
houses). If it were still usable, they could turn their grid
connection(s) into a profit-making venture.
Although there is a rumour that the current owner of the mill site is
considering just that, as he (may) have acquired the miller's rights
with the property. Perhaps his neighbours had better get their
shovels ready.
Apparently, a number of water mills are now being used for this, and
the restoration of quite a few more is under consideration for the
same purpose.
Adrian
Adrian Stott
07956-299966
---------------------------------
Now that's room service! Choose from over 150,000 hotels
in 45,000 destinations on Yahoo! Travel to find your fit.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
