A micro hydro system diverts water from its source at an elevated portion of the property. The water, filtered through a screen to keep out debris, In an AC system, this power goes directly to the loads. In a battery-based system, the power is stored in batteries which feed the loads as needed. Controllers may be required to regulate the system. Benefits of the Turbine System Although a variety of waterwheels have been used for centuries, they're generally unsuitable for generating electricity - they're large, heavy and turn at low speeds. Waterwheels also require complex gearing to reach speeds necessary to run an electric generator and in colder climates, they tend to have icing problems. Conversely, water turbines rotate at higher speeds, they're lighter and more compact, and are usually much more efficient. There are two kinds of turbines: impulse and reaction. Impulse machines use a nozzle at the end of the pipeline that converts water under pressure into a fast moving jet. This jet is then directed at the turbine wheel (also called the runner) which is designed to convert the jet's kinetic energy into shaft power. Common impulse turbines are Pelton, Turgo and Cross-Flow. In reaction turbines, the energy of the water is converted from pressure to velocity within the guide vanes and the turbine wheel itself. Some lawn sprinklers are reaction turbines; they spin themselves around as a reaction to the water squirting from the nozzles, in the arm of the rotor. Other examples of reaction turbines are Propeller and Francis turbines. Utilizing Micro Hydro Power As previously mentioned, power can be harnessed by a micro hydro system in two ways: battery-based and alternating current (AC). A battery-based system has great flexibility in that it can be combined with other energy sources, such as wind generators and solar-electric arrays. Batteries have the advantage of being able to supply larger amounts of power than is being generated, as well as being able to store excess power during times of low demand. Also, with a micro hydro based system, the batteries are rarely discharged because the water is constantly flowing, unlike solar or wind systems where the batteries are discharged in times devoid of sun or wind. Less discharging results in longer battery life. However, additional equipment is required with a battery-based system. You'll need a battery overcharge controller and a DC to AC inverter. An AC system features a turbine generator that produces alternating current at 120 or 240 volts, which can be sent directly to standard household loads. In an AC system, there is no battery storage, so the generator must be capable of supplying large amounts of power, on demand. |
The AC micro hydro system requires a faster moving body of water than a battery-based system because it has to turn a bigger generator. The biggest drawback to AC is that when the system is down during repairs or maintenance, your electricity will be out, too. A well-designed micro hydro system is easy to operate and maintain through even decades of use. And, users agree that it's almost always more cost-effective than any other form of renewable power. But, the best part of the micro hydro system is that, as long as the water's running, it's producing electricity 24 hours a day.
Companies selling the components needed to build a micro hydro system:
To see a micro hydro system in action, check out this YouTube video:
Additional micro hydro video links: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ool1HfYWClM |
|
| Living Off the Grid with Russell Phillips |
||
Phillips' vision of being completely free of utility companies, corporations and mortgages began with the purchase of five acres in Arizona's desert. His philosophy: "Build as you go, own as you build," will be put into practice as he constructs his self-sustained, research facility on the land. He admits to an arduous journey of hard-work, inconvenience and slow pay-off, but his big picture thinking and long-term goals start with small decisive steps and practical use of resources. "Right now, there are very good deals to be had on motor-homes and 5th wheel trailers," Phillips explains. "We're talking as little as $2,000 for a beater and $5,000-$6,000 for a decent one." He intends to live in his, parked on the property, until construction is complete. Instead of paying a monthly mortgage, he'll apply his earnings to building his dream. "Think about it," Phillips says, "if you were to apply a monthly mortgage payment of $1,000 towards building your house, on your own property, and you were willing to do most of the labor yourself, you'd have the house paid for in seven-and-a-half years!" For Phillips, eight years is a short stint for a home/facility that is both paid for and off the grid.
So far, Phillips has hit some snags centered around flood zone issues, but the project continues! You can follow his journey and view some of his sustainable living videos on YouTube. Or, you can check back in with us, as we'll be covering Phillips' sustainable living project and some of the unique technologies he'll be employing, in upcoming issues of the Garage Report. Here's Phillips' sustainable living, introductory video:
Read on to learn more about aerobic digesters as a means to deal with waste while producing fertilizer and fuel.
|
Good for Digestion Off the grid guru, Russell Phillips, will be relying on an anaerobic digester as part of his sustainable living project. By recycling his sewage and organic waste, Phillips will be able to produce a biogas mixture of methane and carbon dioxide to generate electricity, as well as fertilizer for his plants. In Phillips' case, an anaerobic digester will be used in place of a septic tank. Into it, he will place all organic waste, including: animal and human waste, plant clippings, food scraps, etc. This organic material begins the decomposition process with the help of microorganisms in the digester. These organisms break down the raw materials to form organic acids. Methane-producing anaerobic bacteria utilize the acids to complete the process. "Once you start to wrap your head around this solution and you realize how excellent it is," Phillips explains, "you start saying 'hey this isn't a problem, this is a solution!' You start asking, 'where can I get more sewage?'" Anaerobic digesters come in all shapes and sizes, in a variety of materials: concrete, steel, brick or plastic. They can be placed under or above ground but must be kept at a consistent temperature; rapid changes upset bacterial activity. All digester designs incorporate the same basic components: There are two types of digesters: Batch and Continuous. Batch-type are easiest to build, and operate when needed, while the Continuous-type are constantly fed and produce biogas without interruption. This type of continuously fed digester is typically used in larger operations like Dairy Farms, where for years they've been harnessing the biogas that powers the farms. Videos of homemade anaerobic digesters can be found on YouTube in different configurations. One popular design incorporates a 55-gallon drum fitted with PVC pipe and standard faucet drains. More complex versions feature digestion tanks that are buried under ground with a separate pre-mixing area that drains into the digestion tank. To see a digester in action, check out this YouTube video: Additional digester video links: |
|
EBN now Offering Electronics Components |
||
Designed for electronics enthusiasts interested in creating interactive environments and objects, EBN's Arduino Duemilanove (Italian for "2009") is a microcontroller board based on ATmega328. Its programming language is an implementation of Wiring, a similar physical computing platform, which is based on the Processing multimedia programming environment. The Arduino Duemilanove can be powered either by an external power supply or via the USB connection on your computer. Projects can be stand-alone or they can communicate with software running on your computer (e.g. Flash). Once enabled, the Arduino Duemilanove is a cool tool that senses and interprets environmental factors and information, allowing the user to control the physical world and its surroundings by controlling lights, motors and other actuators. Programming scripts for the board, referred to as "sketches," are widely available online; a variety of which can be found on EBN's site written for those interested in monitoring and controlling results within the HHO testing environment.
|
• Arduino Duemilanove Easy to use and install, the Arduino Duemilanove and add-ons enhance your testing and monitoring capabilities, as well as provide precision control of your HHO and other electronics projects. |
|
A Few Minutes with Ozzie Freedom |
||
Q. So, what's been going on with your e-book? |
Q. What are your thoughts on the open source nature of HHO? |
|
The structure, which will consist of five, used cargo containers and powered by a combination of solar panels and solar Stirling engines, will be completely self-sustained. Heating and cooling will be handled by using ground exchange panels, enabling Phillips to heat and cool his lab for the cost of running a small pump and a barrel fan. His water will be supplied by a well, and sewage and organic waste will be handled by an anaerobic digester or bio reactor. Methane gas, one by-product of the digester, will be used as fuel for another Stirling engine, generating even more electricity.
Other EBN electronics offerings include a variety of Arduino enhancing "shield" components. Shields are boards used in conjunction with the Arduino to extend its capabilities. Depending on your needs, shields can act as power regulators and drivers, providing greater testing accuracy and easing complexity by plugging-in to sensors that read environmental conditions. 
will serve to educate the public, as well as silencing some of the skepticism. On that note, I have also written a whole new chapter for HHO enthusiasts on how to handle the skeptics.
onboard generator running on HHO.*