Micro Hydro

[rhinorider]

Hello,

I am new to this site but have been lurking here a few times.
I was wondering If anyone here has any experience with micro hydro units? I have a very nice stream that runs through my propertry and I want to put one of these units in to power my home.
I live on top of a mountain and i considered wind power but the wind doesn't alway blow and thew cost would have been roughly $25,000.
The micro hydro units I have been looking at are roughly $5,000 and make power 24/7.
Doers anyone have a micro hydro plant ? If so , how do you like it? thanks.

[Pat]

IF you aren't familiar with "Home Power" magazine, I suggest you procure and read a few. They also have a web presence. They have very informative writeups on various installations including all suppliers and a system diagram. Of course they also cover solar heat, solar electric, and wind as well as biodiesel etc. A very good source of practical information.

Just curious what volume of water do you have and what is the usable head available, worst case?

My only personal experience is mini-micro hydro, just a hobby/toy size project but I have studied a bit with an eye toward a practical sized installation... b u t... alas I found a wonderful property with littel or no hydro potential.

[img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img] Pat [img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[rhinorider]

Pat. I have looked at that website many times. I have around 150-175 gpm for flow and probably around 60 ft of head. I could get more but it would require more penstock($) My flow REALLY shoots up in the spring I would say to around 225-250 but in the summer months it drops to around 75-100.

I have been checking out various sites, microhydropower.net has a low head unit that might work for you. Thnaks for the reply.

[Slamfire]

Goggle the term "Banke Turbine". It would certainly be the easiest to construct. It uses the water twice, but because it isn't a percision machine is only about 80% efficient. The biggest challenge is the speed, which will need to be closely controlled at 60 cycles per second. I don't have one, but worked in some small hydro plants. You'll want to forget little numbers like gallons and learn to think in cubic feet per second. [img]/forums/images/icons/laugh.gif[/img]