Site evaluation - help wanted
(a folder by that name has been created for reference)
Given this site, whats easist design to install and maintain?
An Engineering problem:
(I had posted this previously but got minimal response.
I hope I simplified the description enough for more feedback.)
I have a good site, but not enough knowledge/experience to use it.
My concerns are less to do with the electronics than with the site
'engineering'.
How best to select the proper turbine, place it and channel flow to
it.
How to do it in a low impact, low cost and best ROI way with long life
and low maintenance.
Once that's more clear to me I can focus on the wiring issues.
This would serve a rural/suburban home about 100 yards away which
currently uses about 1000 KWH per month. Would prefer to 'offset or
feed the grid' at first and consider batteries at a later date.
DESCRIPTION: (in Northern Ct., USA)
A one acre manmade (1960s) pond, 17 ft at deepest, fed by two
streams,
which outlets through a vertical concrete wier on the dam side.
The dam is earthen, the wier is built like a fireplace/chimney
structure standing about 14 feet into pond from the dam base,
which is about 12' deep water at that point. (pics in folder)
Water flows in at the top through trash rack and exits from the base
thorugh a 24" concrete pipe running out of the dam base.
The 30"x24" trash grate at the top has a perimieter of 108".
All flow goes through that , nearly year round.
Flow over this varies from zero(some, not all Augusts) to 3" most
winters.
I have used wier calculations and the 108" pereimeter to find the
flow varies from 0 to 1700 GPM.
Lets say it averages 600 over a year.
There is a 10' drop inside the concrete structure.
This is the maximum head I can achieve on my property.
Here are my primary questions:
- is my math right? I am not sure the standard 'wier' calculations I
see, all illustrated as a board in a stream, apply here.
I.e. do I calculate flow potential correctly?
(see folder's excel file 'Hydrocalc.xls')
In that file I calculate between 600 to 3200 watts/sec (gross)
at low (300 GPM) to maximum(1700 GPM) flows.
- which turbine type and placement gains most from this setup?
Optimum solutions avoid draining the pond for installation,
but that's not out of the question.
-do I construct a flow diversion to concentrate woter flow over
a pelton turbine installed in bottom of wier to gain the most
available head, or
-do I mount a flow through turbine at top, or
-do I adapt the outlet pipe to take power from the concentrated
flow there.
-do I drill a pipe through base of wier to feed nozzle(s) against
a pelton wheel installed down there with the force applied by
1 acre of pond surface 10 ' above.
-do I increase pressure and gained energy output by channeling
the 108" of flow through a pipe or sluice to the turbine?
or does channeling only help me attain the maximum potential of
the calculations?
Besides obvious differences in installation logistics are there
major tradeoffs in achieved output?
I think those are the most important issues for me to begin with.
thanks to all in advance.
Feel free to send directed reply ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) if you dont wish
to do broadcast posting.
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