Anyone have a small hydro electric system?

[dirttoys]

To the damn it’s only about 150’…to where I’d have 20’ of head it’s closer to 400

Could be worse, but, wire (everything) is expensive right now.

 

[plowhog]

I'm certainly not an expert, but I have looked into these previously and will implement something at some point in the future at my location.

My environment has about 97 feet of head, which produces about 42psi where a turbine will go. But I only have 20-60 gpm, depending on season. So that's 3,600 gph, tops. Compared to your site, more head but less flow.

Best I can recall, my environment could produce about 800 watts of power at the mid-range point of 45gpm. You have more water flow, but substantially less head. At 20 feet of head, your looking at 8.6psi at a turbine. Not enough to run a pelton wheel or similar turbine system. So you are likely limited to low head hydro systems, which I know little about.

800 watts isn't very much, but it *is* something, and it's somewhat free after installation. 2 or 3 solar panels can produce the same output with reasonable cost and simple installation; however, hydro works 24/hrs a day and solar does not.

If you do it right, you also need a federal permit, which I believe is free, takes a year or two to get.

Finally, there is the cost of transmitting power. 400 feet to the turbine is similar to my environment. Last I recall it was better to spin a high voltage turbine (220V or even "wild AC") since there is less voltage drop over 400 feet of wire than a DC current system.

The systems are pretty simple, but given the multiple factors involved it can also get complex quickly.

 

[ponytug]

Potential energy goes as mass x gravity x height, but being able to move to a pelton turbine increases the efficiency from a low speed wheel (doubles it).

To move the electricity a long distance, high voltage is your friend. Power losses go as current squared times the resistance, and since voltage is current times resistance, higher voltage lowers the current, which lowers the loss.

I have always wanted to generate my own hydropower, but never owned a property where it was possible.

All the best,

Peter

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I have the property to get hydro power from the water right by my home...

But when I pencil out the cost and divide that by what power cost here, I won't live long enough to ever see a return! And that's not even considering the maintenance PITA to keep it all going.

So, I never put it in, even though it sounds cool, to have it.

SR

 

[MossRoad]

Maintenance would concern me as well. We hike a lot in state and national parks. Many of them have old homesteads that had small dams and water wheels. A few had/have small hydroelectric setups. Almost always, there's a dam (requires maintenance) with a spillway for overflow (requires maintenance) way up the hill (requires a strenuous walk for old people), some sort of trough or pipe to direct the water that has an inlet (that requires maintenance for leaves, sticks, mud, critters, ice), that leads to a small house (requires maintenance) that has a water wheel (requires maintenance) with a generator/alternator, converters, batteries, etc. Did I mention maintenance?

If I was a young man it wouldn't concern me, or if I was in a place where running power lines to the house were costly, it would certainly be a good way to get power. But if I were looking at retirement and living my life out in that location, I'd certainly take those maintenance items into consideration.

 

[plowhog]

I'm told most microhydro maintenance is nozzle jets in the turbine clogging from debris. So if you keep the water clean, your system maintenance should be limited to cleaning the intake screens or making nozzle adjustments as flow changes. Or changing a bearing on the turbo unit every few years.

I screen all irrigation water, as debris also clogs irrigation valves and sprinkler heads. First a large mesh self-cleaning screen. Then 3 progressively finer mesh screens. The last screen is about the density of fabric of a sliding screen door. I clean the screens monthly.

Even with screening, I did somehow get a frog into the pipe last year. I found him when I pulled apart a sprinkler valve that wasn't working!

 

[gsganzer]

I've read that micro-hydro is the best bang for the buck. Like others have said, it's 24/7, so I suspect you avoid some of the battery storage requirements. In my mind, the maintenance can't be that bad, compared to a windmill. How involved can it be, an intake screen, PVC pipe for the penstock and a micro-turbine. (I'm joking and overly simplifying it, but probably not far from the truth)

400' is not that far. Most of us have an electrical service line that's greater than that distance.

I'm interested to follow what you do. Please keep us posted.

 

[Jstpssng]

A slightly different (more expensive) approach... the camp owners of a pond I used to work near had an 8" water main running from the pond downstream to where the drop was adequate to generate their power needs. I don't know that much about it, I just was driving past the site for a few days so had to stop and take a look.

 

[muskieken]

this might help, he built a small power station on a small creek, a really small creek

 

[LittleBill21]

this might help, he built a small power station on a small creek, a really small creek

this guy is amazing, he pretty much has a full workshop at this point off of hydro,solar, and electric.