> Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2005 19:30:10 -0000 > From: "danieldykim" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: AC vs. DC microhydro > >For our stream: > approx head is 120ft > flow is probably 70-80GPM (1 gps) > probably looking at a 500w system > creek is about 800ft away from the residence > maybe have the AC come up from the creek, and then convert it to DC > (using the inverter/charger) at the residence to charge the batteries. > this is a weekend-high-usage situation Daniel - Keep It Simple.... Your plan is for a battery bank; one side is energy in from various sources including hydro, the other side is to the weekend cabin via an inverter to convert battery DC to 120VAC. Think of these as two separate systems. Your questions are how to charge the battery bank from a water wheel 800 feet distant since DC does not travel distance well. The stream you describe is not going to produce a lot of power; but, it will over time adequately charge up and keep charged your battery bank depending on your weekend usage. Rather than a fancy expensive hydro generator; figure out what water wheel you want, use either direct drive (less power loss) or pulley wheels and belt to reach the best RPM, and connect it to a standard inexpensive off the shelf car alternator. Place the batteries say above the flood water line near the waterwheel/alternator for a direct connection. The standard inexpensive off the shelf voltage regulator can be for 12, or buy/adjust to 24V, etc. regulation to reach the voltage of the battery bank. This voltage is the same as needed for the selected inverter you will be using. Now, also place the inverter by the battery/alternator/regulator/waterwheel installation. Then you will have the 120VAC from the creek reaching the cabin using properly sized standard outdoor wiring. You can run some control wires to turn things on and off from the cabin; but, this is a weekend thing and a simple trip to the power house to start the inverter and back to turn it off when leaving may suffice. The alternator is automatically self-adjusting from full charging to max rated output (with sufficient water) of a low battery to trickle charging of a fully charged battery bank. You might want to put in some sort of waterwheel mechanical overspeed slow down device since a fully charged battery will mean the alternator load on the wheel will become nominal. Also remember that deep charge lead acid batteries are typically used and these are designed to only be discharged to 50% before their long life starts to be dramatically degraded. Keep it simple with well proven and inexpensive automotive components. The pelton wheel is best with high pressure low volume systems of which your site qualifies; now having 4 nozzles is probably more nozzles than optimum. You can have fun experimenting if you stay to using inexpensive components in your application. You can also build the water delivery system first, measure the water to size/purchase/install an appropriate water wheel second, measure the brake horsepower to size/purchase/install an appropriate alternator and batterybank third, and while doing all this to compute the size of inverter you will need for your projected weekend cabin usage. If you have a genset like off an RV, you can hook up a 120VAC electric utility meter and experience just how much you use in a typical weekend while watching what your "peak" usage is. That "peak" will be need to be within the capacity of the inverter you purchase. Have fun for it sounds like for a few bucks you can have your own electricity for your weekend cabin.... [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> What would our lives be like without music, dance, and theater? Donate or volunteer in the arts today at Network for Good! http://us.click.yahoo.com/TzSHvD/SOnJAA/79vVAA/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/
