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Green Building Bible, Fourth Edition
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Green Living: Power generation from stream

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  1.  
    • CommentAuthorBluray
    • CommentTimeSep 29th 2008
     
    Hi,

    I have a stream on my land and it has a weir with a drop of approx 18" with a very strong flow over it.

    I am looking to produce my own electricity supply from this and done some research on the internet but there doesnt seem to be anything suitable in the UK - can someone perhaps point me in the right direction or make a suggestion please!
    • CommentAuthortony
    • CommentTimeSep 29th 2008
     
    we need the know the flow rate as this multiplied by the drop available = power available.

    Don't get too excited as it may well not be worth doing

    Flow can be calculated by utilising a vee board or divert a known portion of the flow and see how fast it fills a container.
  3.  
    • CommentAuthorBluray
    • CommentTimeSep 30th 2008
     
    I would say the flow rate is approx 300 gallons per minute (this is probably an underestimation) and the drop having measured it is 25 inches.
    • CommentAuthorCWatters
    • CommentTimeSep 30th 2008
     
    Converting to metric gives 22 L/S and 0.6 meters.
    So I make the power available... 22 x 9.8 x 0.65 Joules/Second = 130W
    Someone check my sums.
    • CommentAuthorEd Davies
    • CommentTimeSep 30th 2008
     
    Sums look right to me.
    • CommentAuthortony
    • CommentTimeSep 30th 2008
     
    like I said disappointing but 130W x 24h x 365 /1000 = 1138kWh x12p = £ 136
    • CommentAuthorbillt
    • CommentTimeSep 30th 2008
     
    Can you increase the drop? If the stream continues downward for some distance from the weir on your land you could pipe the water to a turbine placed at the farthest point.
    • CommentAuthorCWatters
    • CommentTimeSep 30th 2008
     
    or dam it up if it slopes before it get to the wier?
    • CommentAuthorjoe.e
    • CommentTimeSep 30th 2008
     
    What's the drop from where it enters your land to where it leaves?
    • CommentAuthorCWatters
    • CommentTimeSep 30th 2008 edited
     
    • CommentAuthorBluray
    • CommentTimeSep 30th 2008
     
    OK so that doesnt look very promising! One item I did look at was on the following website, are his claims incorrect then??

    http://www.reuk.co.uk/Low-Head-Waterwheel-Invention.htm
    • CommentAuthorCWatters
    • CommentTimeSep 30th 2008
     
    Which claim do you mean? His calculator gives same answer as I got.

    http://www.reuk.co.uk/Calculation-of-Hydro-Power.htm

    The picture here..
    http://www.reuk.co.uk/OtherImages/bob-gilmartin-waterwheel.jpg
    ..could be of his "Mickle Beck" prototype not the 1-2KW model being tested near Windermere.
    • CommentAuthorCWatters
    • CommentTimeSep 30th 2008
     
    The main problem is that gravity is a weak force... A cheap magnet can totally overpower the gravitational pull of the earth.

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