S
[email protected]
- Jan 1, 1970
- 0
OK, so it looks like I can have multiple alternators without damage.
Now for the next part of my crazy scheme.
Looks like the property I'm buying will have a decent year-round
stream at the lowest level, with about a 25' drop across the property.
The land also has a steep gully leading into the stream that begs for
damming, and I may be able to make a nearby significant (50,000+ gal )
pumped storage pond at the top of the gully with a 60'+ drop.
I'm considering variations of the following.
Dam the stream with a small 5' dam (with a driveway on top) at the
high end of the stream to create a minimal pond that won't be
objectionable to the upstream neighbors. The area is currently
undeveloped woods and I plan to go no higher than the normal flood
stage with the pond, even though I could probably go another 20' high
without seriously affecting use of the land other than drowning some
trees.
Run a 4" pipe from the dam, buried alongside the stream for about 350'
to get the 25' drop for the normal constant powering of a small
turbine (4" pelton available for $200?) and alternator.
Run a second 2" pipe parallel that goes to a ram or hydraulic pump
that constantly fills the pumped storage pond at a slow rate. This
avoids any hammering in the first pipe.
Run another 4" pipe from the storage pond to the low spot of the
stream.
Install two 1000 watt alternators on two independent turbines.
Alternator 1 is powered by turbine 1, which has 4 jets that use the
normal run-of-stream water. Two of the jets can be valved off for
low water conditions.
Alternator 2 also has 4 jets, with two valved, but the intake can also
be valved between the stream or storage pond as needed.
Both alternators feed a small bank of six Trojan 105s. The battery
bank powers 2 2KW inverters (begin to notice the redundancy?) which
feed the house.
Now comes the fun part.
The system has electric valves that are computer controlled, a water
level sensor for both dams, metering of the batteries, alternator
outputs, usage history, and whatever other inputs are needed to
provide information to a controller program.
I can write the software that controls all of this, with the intention
of optimizing the system and reducing the strain on the batteries.
For example:
1) Normal summer day with low flow. Two jets on the main alternator
power the minimal loads and keep the batteries charged. The ram works
at filling the storage pond, and the water is allowed to build in the
stream pond. Some solar augments the system to keep the charge up in
the unlikely event that the stream goes dry.
2) Nighttime comes and the lights and tv go on. The stream alternator
goes to 4 jets to make up the increased current drain, using the
stored water at the stream pond.
3) The electric dishwasher goes on and powers on the heating element.
The second alternator kicks in as needed from the stream flow.
4) The next day, the day gets too hot for passive cooling techniques,
and an air conditioner kicks in. The second alternator then switches
the water from the storage pond instead of the stream to balance the
load. If the storage pond reaches a low water level, a warning is
given, the flow valved off, and a gasoline or biofuel powered
alternator takes over, with excess power used to pump the upper
storage pond back full during the day. At night, the gas generator
shuts down during quiet hours.
The purpose of all this is to maximize the energy extraction from the
stream, and reduce the size of the battery bank to a minimum by using
the pumped storage as a water battery.
The expense of the extra turbine/alternator and valving is offset by
reduced battery costs.
Comments?
Now for the next part of my crazy scheme.
Looks like the property I'm buying will have a decent year-round
stream at the lowest level, with about a 25' drop across the property.
The land also has a steep gully leading into the stream that begs for
damming, and I may be able to make a nearby significant (50,000+ gal )
pumped storage pond at the top of the gully with a 60'+ drop.
I'm considering variations of the following.
Dam the stream with a small 5' dam (with a driveway on top) at the
high end of the stream to create a minimal pond that won't be
objectionable to the upstream neighbors. The area is currently
undeveloped woods and I plan to go no higher than the normal flood
stage with the pond, even though I could probably go another 20' high
without seriously affecting use of the land other than drowning some
trees.
Run a 4" pipe from the dam, buried alongside the stream for about 350'
to get the 25' drop for the normal constant powering of a small
turbine (4" pelton available for $200?) and alternator.
Run a second 2" pipe parallel that goes to a ram or hydraulic pump
that constantly fills the pumped storage pond at a slow rate. This
avoids any hammering in the first pipe.
Run another 4" pipe from the storage pond to the low spot of the
stream.
Install two 1000 watt alternators on two independent turbines.
Alternator 1 is powered by turbine 1, which has 4 jets that use the
normal run-of-stream water. Two of the jets can be valved off for
low water conditions.
Alternator 2 also has 4 jets, with two valved, but the intake can also
be valved between the stream or storage pond as needed.
Both alternators feed a small bank of six Trojan 105s. The battery
bank powers 2 2KW inverters (begin to notice the redundancy?) which
feed the house.
Now comes the fun part.
The system has electric valves that are computer controlled, a water
level sensor for both dams, metering of the batteries, alternator
outputs, usage history, and whatever other inputs are needed to
provide information to a controller program.
I can write the software that controls all of this, with the intention
of optimizing the system and reducing the strain on the batteries.
For example:
1) Normal summer day with low flow. Two jets on the main alternator
power the minimal loads and keep the batteries charged. The ram works
at filling the storage pond, and the water is allowed to build in the
stream pond. Some solar augments the system to keep the charge up in
the unlikely event that the stream goes dry.
2) Nighttime comes and the lights and tv go on. The stream alternator
goes to 4 jets to make up the increased current drain, using the
stored water at the stream pond.
3) The electric dishwasher goes on and powers on the heating element.
The second alternator kicks in as needed from the stream flow.
4) The next day, the day gets too hot for passive cooling techniques,
and an air conditioner kicks in. The second alternator then switches
the water from the storage pond instead of the stream to balance the
load. If the storage pond reaches a low water level, a warning is
given, the flow valved off, and a gasoline or biofuel powered
alternator takes over, with excess power used to pump the upper
storage pond back full during the day. At night, the gas generator
shuts down during quiet hours.
The purpose of all this is to maximize the energy extraction from the
stream, and reduce the size of the battery bank to a minimum by using
the pumped storage as a water battery.
The expense of the extra turbine/alternator and valving is offset by
reduced battery costs.
Comments?