--- In [EMAIL PROTECTED], "Bob Boyce" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I currently have a small (1.2 KW) PV solar array, and I am wanting to > add a homebrew microhydroelectric installation on my property. > > For a test, I laid about 80 feet of 2" PVC pipe in the creekbed with > a small rock dam at the head to collect water, and at the end I have > a 90 ell with a couple of feet of pipe sticking straight up to give a > bit of back pressure. I need to figure out how to deal with the > problem of leaves and twigs and such from plugging up the inlet. If > the weather is nice, it lasts a long time between cleanouts, but any > strong wind or hard rain and it plugs up rather quickly. During the > fall it was getting plugged up almost daily. I tried making a large > coarse screen bubble out of lathe mesh to filter the larger stuff > while allowing the smaller particles to pass, since they do not plug > the pipe, but the screen gets all plastered with leaves and blocks > the flow. I was hoping that the flow of the creek past this inlet > screen would keep it washed clear, but the pipe suction is so strong > that it does not work that way. Does anyone have any suggestions on > how to solve this issue. I have not decided yet which is the best > homebrew approach to take in order to extract energy from this moving > water. I do not have a lot of head to work with so it will have to be > something that can work with lower pressure, and won't cost a lot to > build. > > > Bob
Bob, This is why they use a penstock(A kind of settling pond)on larger hydroplants. In your case I would recommend you build a small enclosure with a volume at least large enough to let small stuff that passes through the screen and an opening, say 5-10 times the size of your pipe, nearly perpendicular to your stream flow and screen that. The flow should keep the screen cleared off. Putting a cover over the top to prevent debris from falling might be a good idea as well. Dan ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Make a clean sweep of pop-up ads. Yahoo! Companion Toolbar. Now with Pop-Up Blocker. Get it for free! http://us.click.yahoo.com/L5YrjA/eSIIAA/yQLSAA/FGYolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Does your company feature in the microhydro business directory at http://microhydropower.net/directory ? If not, please register free of charge and be exposed to the microhydro community world wide! NOTE: The advertisements in this email are added by Yahoogroups who provides us with free email group services. The microhydro-group does not endorse products or support the advertisements in any way. More information on micro hydropower at http://microhydropower.net To unsubscribe: send empty message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/microhydro/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
