Building A Hydro Generator
Author: taamiv
A hydro generator is basically a machine and its function is to generate electricity through water power. In fact it is quite easy to build a mini hydro generator, one will definitely feel proud of having the ability to produce power from nature. This is a fairly common method that is used in some households and this is also similar to the use of convertible solar energy.
Some of the materials needed for this project are motor generator, garden pipe, wire coils, water wheel and light-emitting-diode (LED). This project uses a similar system which is used in bigger hydro generators that transmit electric supply to homes and commercial locations.
Procedure
Following is a step by step procedure to build a hydro generator.
1- The major priority id water source, it should be obtained from a reservoir or river located close. The hydroelectric potential of the source has to be determined before constructing anything else. Generally, the flow or movement of water generates electric power. This explains the reason why waterfalls or powerful gushing rivers are good sources. The running of water rotates the blades.
2- The rotating wheel is then connected to AC generator. This helps the rotor to spin. The rotor is connected to powerful magnets inside the wire coils. The spinning of magnets cause electricity to flow through wires set up earlier. This factually shows that the fast movement of water is converted into electrical energy. The energy source can be used for various purposes. Soon, one will pay less for electricity and will be able to enjoy this new found electric source.
3- For testing the efficiency level of the generator, LED is used. It will show a light when electricity is generated. These small generators are very useful for small environments. Water dams are constructed for the very same purpose for converting water energy into electrical energy.
The operating cost of this type of generator is very cheap than using non-renewable sources like fuel, gas or coal. Another benefit is that the electric supply can be spread to places that are far away using complicated wiring system. Some common steps are listed here to build a hydro generator. Other ways are also available to build such a device, some use easy-to-find household products. A similar building method is also used by many science projects although it is not too much complex in nature. It is a good exposure for students because they can now build their own electricity generator.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/technology-articles/building-a-hydro-generator-1996537.html
About the Author
You might also want to know how to build a hydro generator and how to build a home theater
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Diesel generator, hydro electric generator, or steam generator, is best to produce electricity?
A) what are the pros & cons of each system?
B)Also what are the operational loss in each case?
Would it be possible to create a small hydro electric generator for a creek?
what rate of water flow is needed to create enough electricity to power a house either a estimate or a formula to be used. Also what type of converter is need to change the kinetic energy into electricity. Would it be actually possible to do using a contractor or family or self done job.my goal is to create a home that is self sufficient for electricity, as well maybe as well as system that can create fresh or clean water from the creek.
also the fact that the area will be about 10 acres or so
Hydro-electric generators in high rise buildings?
Do you think it is plausible for us to install hydro-electric generators in the water piping in high rise buildings as an alternative electrical energy source? As an example, lets say there’s a person washing his hands on the 30th floor of a building, using a 50g mass of water. The gravitational potential energy of this mass of water, assuming that the height of the building is (30 stories x 2.5m) = 75m, would be MGH = 50g x 9.81ms^-1 x 75m = 36787.5 J. Assuming that no energy would be lost when the water is traveling down the piping to the generator which is at ground level (Height = 0) and the generator is 100% efficient, Kinetic Energy = Gravitation Potential Energy, the energy transferred from the moving water to the generator at the bottom would be = Gravitational Potential Energy at the top of the building = 36787.5 J. Assuming that the water passes through the generator within 2 secs, Power = 36787.5J/2 Secs = 18393.75Js^-1 = 18393.75 Watts. And if there is 100 people doing this once a day for a year, 671371873 Watts = 6.7 x 10^8 Watts would be generated!!!! That’s a huge amount of energy.
is there a name for the generators found in hydro electric powerplants?
is there different types classes and names for generators (Of course) but what are they or at least the ones used in hydro electric powerplants. i need to know its stats like what torque is needed to spin at a certain rpm and how much wattage is generated @ a given Rpm. but the question im asking you is about the the type found in hydro electric dams, not its stats ill find that once i get the name. thanks in advance.
Does anybody know about micro-hydro electric generators?
Professional services blog.
The generators used in hydroelectric power plants are synchronous alternating current generators. All synchronous generators are fundamentally the same but the speeds, mechanical configurations and other details for hydroelectric generators are different from steam turbine, gas turbine and diesel engine generators. Therefore, the generators used in hydroelectric plants are often called “hydroelectric generators.”
your math has several major errors in it. 50g = 0.05 kg
correctly, it is MGH = 0.05kg x 9.81m/s² x 75m = 36 J
and power is 18 watts.
you are getting power and energy confused.
x100 people, that is 3600 J
x365 days that is 1.3e6 J
that converts to 0.36 kW-hrs.
Yes, you can capture that with a lot of expense, but all you get is 0.36 kW-hrs, which you can buy from your power company for 4¢
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Just google it…there is lots on it.
I get a subscription to “mother earth news” magazine and they have several articles a year on this subject. A lot of them are archived on their online site.
There also is a lot of how- to books on amazon.com that you can purchase to get specifics
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_2_8?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=micro+hydro+generator&sprefix=micro+hy
Hydro electric is cheaper, cleaner and most cost effective. There is no operational loss because the “fuel” (flowing water) is free>
The rate of water flow is somewhat important, however the height difference between the inlet and outlet to your turbine or wheel is crucial, as well. The greater the available height, the less water flow you need. You may have to experiment to see how much torque and what speed the set-up can deliver.
The converter of mechanical to electrical energy is a generator. You would have to size it for the power you expect to produce and see if you have enough energy from your creek source.
Those are the technical issues. If you live in the US, the regulatory issues are another story. I just read a news article today that said many people want to build small hydro plants but are stalled because the regulations require environmental studies that are way too expensive for small hydro projects. Also, you may want to consider your neighbors may get upset it you create a pond or other impoundment upstream, water rights can cause disputes. And if you are trying to do this without an impoundment you won’t get much power.