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Hydro Electric Power As a Viable Alternative?

Johnny

Hi Guys,

Nice to find a gem out there on the web such as you guys. I was wondering if anyone out there is using hydro electric power, or has heard of anyone using hydro electric power for consumer use? I understand the concept for dams and other major construction initiatives, but I was wondering if anything exists on a smaller scale that can be used for consumers? I assume that you'd have to have your own major source of running water, but perhaps there's a way to leverage hydro power more economically and more towards the individual or home use.

Thanks,
Jonathan

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Submitted by Johnny on Thu, 04/12/2007 - 10:07.

ctyankee
Re: Hydro Electric Power As a Viable Alternative?

Hi Linda,

  I hate to dampen your entheusiasm, but there is not a lot of energy in the rainwater even from the top of the roof...

  The potential energy is given by the equation Ep = MGH.  So to light a 100W lightbulb you'd need 100J / second

we'll solve for water flow... M = Ep/GH 

Ep = 100J/sec (where J = kg*m)

H =  10 meters or 30 ft (the peak of a 2 story colonial)

G = 9.8m/sec^2 (we'll say 10)

M = 1.02 kg/sec (~> 1 liter/second or 16.1 gal/min)

16 gal/min falling from the rooftop... that's a lot of water for just one 100W lightbulb! That's why dams are as tall as they are, and the pipes are tens of feet in diameter...

  Now if you get a tiny little "grain of wheat" or even smaller "grain of rice" lightbulb, or an even more efficient LED, you can probably do a nice demonstration for the science fair.   Or you can drive a "solar" electric motor...

Good luck with tyour project!  It's great that you're teaching some of the real principles of energy at such a young age.  :-)  So many kids are completely ignorant to the reality...  They've never hauled firewood, never seen a gas stove, barely see the heating elements in an electric, and the microwave is just a magic box with a pushbutton.


Mon, 02/25/2008 - 10:46

linda2005
Re: Hydro Electric Power As a Viable Alternative?

Hi!

I was working with my daughter (8 years old) in building a generator, that would light up at least a bulb, in showing we could make electricity with water in the household.  We wanted to use the engineering principles of hydroelectric power plants.  After two weeks of testing we came up with a model that would feed on running water.  Of course, the basic observations expressed frustration since keeping running water from the faucet in to the turbine would turn out as a non cost effective way of creating electricity.  Then, my daughter reacted.  What if we could make a reservoir of water, like hydroelectric plants do? 

In the conclusions, we suggested the use of rain as water source.  To make it short the rain would be captured in the house roof.  This storage would have a system that would move the water inside a draining tube (a running stream) captured by a turbine.  The turbine of the generator would make the rotor spin thus creating electricity to power a home.  If I am not mistaken roof reservoirs already exist, they are used to spray plants, discharge toilets and for car wash.


Sun, 02/24/2008 - 07:32

jstack6
jstack6's picture
Re: Hydro Electric Power As a Viable Alternative?

Also just look at Seattle Washington. It gets over 84% of it's power from hydro. They have some of the lowest electric rates in the country. You can charge as many electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids as you could fit in the state off peak and still have extra energy, and all clean.

Just imagine if we all used the best resources we have in our state like Texas with wind, Arizona with Solar and Washington state with hydro. If only we could harness the hot air in Wash DC !

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solar stacks


Thu, 08/09/2007 - 20:50

boblesch
Re: Hydro Electric Power As a Viable Alternative?

as a small grower in northern new mexico, i (and most of my neighbors) get to take advantage of one of the most reliable of energy sources - gravity. our irregation system of over 1000 acequias (remember roman aquaducts ?)  brings us water from high elevation snow melt. without getting into the particulars of our 300 year old system - i'll just say that many of us are looking for small generators we could use to power our farms and ranches by taking advantage of water flowing over short vertical drops in the system. it would translate into cleaner air, food and yes water as well as inspiration to keep people producing food locally. now the big question - are such hydro-generators available?

bob lesch 


Sat, 10/13/2007 - 08:39

ctyankee
Re: Hydro Electric Power As a Viable Alternative?

The first two questions are how big are the vertical drops, and how much water falls over them?  That'll tell you how much evergy is available. 

The third question is how much energy do you consume?  With those answered you can compute whether or not the project makes economic sense to undertake. 

If the idea appeals to you as a hobby or just plain fun then the ROI could be measured in centuries, and I'd still say have a good time.  Kinda like asking what's the ROI on a ski trip, or a concert??? Well it's negative of course, but we still do those things for the fun it.

To determine is there's a solution available, you have to see a ROI that's measurable in years or months, then someone might be doing it for real.


Fri, 12/14/2007 - 13:03

jstack6
jstack6's picture
Re: Hydro Electric Power As a Viable Alternative?

I just read a very good book from the library. It was (The Citizen-Powered Energy handbook) . There were many good facts in it. The most amazing one I read was there are over 80,000 hydro dams in the USA but only 2,400 are used for power. Why not start using more of them for power. It seems many used to produce power but large utilities didn't want to be bothered with the small ones.

I wonder if they would lease them to some smaller enterprising companies that may want to bother. I'd love to have a home near one of these too small to bother with locations. Maybe it could only provide energy for a few hundred homes. That could be very green and pay for itself.

the solar stacks

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solar stacks


Wed, 08/08/2007 - 11:45

jstack6
jstack6's picture
Re: Hydro Electric Power As a Viable Alternative?

I forgot to mention all the small hydro in Europe. They are very smart and can use the same water over and over as it travels down a large mountain. That sure seems smarter than just climbing the mountain with support people and leaving trash behind like many climbers do. We just have to be smarter.

solar stacks

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solar stacks


Wed, 07/04/2007 - 20:42

jstack6
jstack6's picture
Re: Hydro Electric Power As a Viable Alternative?

Just check out Arizona Falls, sure it's not Niagara Falls but it does make clean energy in a desert. Also check out Roosevelt dam , lake Suarguro and many other hydro sources in AZ. If AZ can do it anyone can.

For small home hydro all you need is a small stream. Read home power and see many examples of people who use it and companies that make small hydro systems.

solar stacks

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solar stacks


Sat, 05/26/2007 - 19:52

AndrewG
How About a Waterwheel

Remember chap that you don't have to have Niagra falls in your backyard to take advantage of water power. Yes, if you live in urban society then your choices will be severely limited. If you are out in the country and have a stream source near you then you can definitely take advantage. Here's an example that I found which illustrates using water power nicely:

Thought this might be of interest

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z900AKfwC5Y


Thu, 04/12/2007 - 17:41

Kona
Re: How About a Waterwheel

I watched the video - that is very cool! I would love to know if there is a commercial product out there that would be simlar to the Vertile wind turbine that is advertised on the site - if not, probably would be a good idea as the video reveals, not a lot of water is need to generate enough power to turn some gears - probably more power than in a sustained wind of 10mpg... Just a thought.

Aloha!
Kona


Wed, 08/08/2007 - 19:13