Homebuilt Micro Hydro Turbine

MINI-HYDRO. GOING WITH THE FLOW.

Andrew Cannard, Andrew Gonzales, Candace Kaiser

CRITICAL QUESTIONS

Questions about rain water runoff: Is there enough runoff water to produce

energy? Can we make a low cost turbine with re-

purposed materials? Will this homemade turbine produce any

energy?

BENEFITS OF OUR OUR RAINY SEASON

Rainwater is an abundant natural resource in our area and can be used to produce energy.

http://www.dropyourenergybill.com/archives/1546

BENEFITS OF OUR OUR RAINY SEASON

Rainwater is an abundant natural resource in our area and can be used to produce energy.

Harnessing rainwater runoff has almost no environmental impact!

http://www.dropyourenergybill.com/archives/1546

HOW CAN WE TEST OUR TURBINE?

Calculate ideal energy production from a given water source on campus (roof top).

http://www.renewcanada.com http://www.renewablesfirst.co.uk

HOW CAN WE TEST OUR TURBINE?

Calculate ideal energy production from a given water source on campus (roof top).

Compare prices of commercially available turbines with our homebuilt turbine.

http://www.renewcanada.com http://www.renewablesfirst.co.uk

HOW CAN WE TEST OUR TURBINE?

Calculate ideal energy production from a given water source on campus (roof top).

Compare prices of commercially available turbines with our homebuilt turbine.

Measure energy production with our homebuilt turbine.

http://www.renewcanada.com http://www.renewablesfirst.co.uk

HOW CAN WE TEST OUR TURBINE?

Calculate ideal energy production from a given water source on campus (roof top).

Compare prices of commercially available turbines with our homebuilt turbine.

Measure energy production with our homebuilt turbine.

Compare values from calculations and measurements.

http://www.renewcanada.com http://www.renewablesfirst.co.uk

CAMPUS SUSTAINABILITY GOALS Promoting Education and Research for the

Future Laying the groundwork Future students would have a resource as to the

effectiveness of on campus micro-hydro

CAMPUS SUSTAINABILITY GOALS Promoting Education and Research for the

Future Laying the groundwork Future students would have a resource as to the

effectiveness of on campus micro-hydro

100% of Electricity at Evergreen is BOUGHT from renewable energy sources While this is better then not using renewable

energy sources, could that money be spent elsewhere?

Successful Micro-Hydro projects could help produce energy on campus

BUDGET

CEC awarded us $100 on 12-19-2011

CEC awarded us $440 on 02-01-2012 With certain stipulations Long term plan for use of the alternator Required permission for location use.

REAL COSTS…

Our costs.

1 x Renegade 7 Magnet Wind Turbine Permanent Magnet Alternator (7MAGPMA)  =$249.98+shipping

7 magnet PMA • 12v charging • comes w rectifier

800 watt rating

1 x Wind Turbine PMA Mounting Bracket (MWMB)  = $59.00

2x4, brackets, nuts, screws, pvc pipes, , alligator clips and miscellaneous = $40.00

Turbine wheel = free from bike shop

Competitors costs.

500W Low-Head Kaplan Hydro Turbine= $3,875.00

This Kaplan micro hydro turbine can produce power with as little as 2ft of water head level. At 10ft of head the turbine will produce 500 watts of power.

Harris Pelton Turbines 4 nozzles =$1,400.00

Head range: 20 to 600 feet • Flow Range: 4 to 250 GPM • Maximum 12 Volt Power: 700 Watts • Maximum 24 Volt Power: 1400 Watts • Maximum 48 Volt Power: 2500 Watts (with additional fan)

JUMPING THROUGH HOOPS

Challenges Delays with grant approval process

JUMPING THROUGH HOOPS

Challenges Delays with grant approval process Finding and ordering appropriate alternator

JUMPING THROUGH HOOPS

Challenges Delays with grant approval process Finding and ordering appropriate alternator Cant successfully design frame until the

purchase of the main parts

JUMPING THROUGH HOOPS

Challenges Delays with grant approval process Finding and ordering appropriate alternator Cant successfully design frame until the

purchase of the main parts Faulty used bicycle parts

JUMPING THROUGH HOOPS

Challenges Delays with grant approval process Finding and ordering appropriate alternator Cant successfully design frame until the

purchase of the main parts Faulty used bicycle parts Lack of rainfall during testing

PREDICTIONS FOR MINI-MICRO HYDRO SYSTEM FROM RAINWATER RUNOFF

Wheel 3/Alternator:

Diameter = 7 inches or 17cm

Wheel 1/Bicycle Wheel:

Outer diameter = 31 inches or 78 cm

Wheel 2/Sprocket:

Inner diameter = 3.5 inches or 8.9 cm

Rough Sketch of our system

Rough Sketch

OLYMPIA RAINFALL

According to an article from the Staff Meteorologist from the Olympia KOMO news team, 1.54 inches in 24hours is considered an abnormally wet day. 1.54in converts to 3.9cm , which is only .9 cm higher then what was estimated in the example we used.

OLYMPIA RAINFALL

According to an article from the Staff Meteorologist from the Olympia KOMO news team, 1.54 inches in 24hours is considered an abnormally wet day. 1.54in converts to 3.9cm , which is only .9 cm higher then what was estimated in the example we used.

This indicates that our predictions for power output are probably on the high end of things for most days in Olympia.

OUR MEASUREMENTS

3 gallon bucket=25lbs 25lbs=11.33kg 25lbs/14sec 8ft height=2.43m

= 11.33kg/14sec =0.095kg/sec 0.095kg/

sec(9.8m/s2)(2.43m)=2.26watts

• Volts

• (v1) 15 seconds 0.36 Volts

• (v2) 13 seconds 0.44 Volts

• (v3) 13 seconds 0.48 Volts

• Amps

• (a1) 0 Amps

• (a2) 0 Amps

• watts=(volts)(amps)

• (0.36 Volts)(0Amps)=0watts

• (0.44 Volts)(0Amps)=0watts

Predictions from our control.Data from our Control

IMPROVEMENTS….MORE DESIGN IDEAS

Smaller alternator

Better gear ratio

Better cup design

Utilizing water catchment

CONCLUSIONS

Micro hydro is not generally effective for energy production from individual rooftops

Most components are very affordable and available as recycled or repurposed products

The alternator is the only significantly expensive component

A system like ours could be practical for higher volume water flows but it simply isn't cost effective for household use

THANK YOU TO…

Clean Energy Committee for providing funding for this project

The Evergreen State College Longhouse staff for allowing us to test at their facilities (even though we didn’t end up testing there)

BIBLIOGRAPHY

http://www.mwands.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=7&products_id=482

http://www.utilityfree.com/hydro/

http://www.aurorapower.net/products/categoryid/8/list/1/level/a/productid/235.aspx

http://olympia.komonews.com/content/wet-weekend-try-record-rainfall-0