Updated and re-edited video showing installation of a pico-hydropower generator to power the instruments measuring sediment transport in the Porter Creek Project.
The video shows the tail-end of installation of a pico-hydropower generator to supply power for the Porter Creek Project by Jon Sanfilippo (MS student in Water Resources Engineering) and Stephen Lancaster (Assoc. Prof., College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences), both of Oregon State University. Supporters of the Porter Creek Project include the Siuslaw National Forest, the National Science Foundation, and OSU’s Institute for Water and Watersheds.
In the Porter Creek Project, we are studying hydraulics and sediment transport in a gravel-bed stream in the Oregon Coast Range. Like any field study site, the location is off the grid. Some of the instrumentation can run just fine for a year or more on its own internal batteries, but other instruments draw a relatively large amount of power. In particular, we have an antenna array for detecting the movement of gravel embedded with passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags, and these antennas draw about 1/2 amp at 12 volts. Okay, that’s less than 10 watts, but it adds up. We have been powering the array with 12-volt deep-cycle batteries and visiting the site every two weeks to recharge them with a gasoline-powered generator. This system has two big problems. First, our not-so-smart charger has to be continually reset about every 10 minutes, and the constant babysitting of the recharging process makes getting any other work done nearly impossible. Second, even deep-cycle batteries don’t hold up well to repeated draw-down, and the batteries have stopped holding a charge.
Many remote data collection stations use solar panels. While we’re not absolutely sure that wouldn’t work at our site, the site is at the bottom of a deep, steep-walled valley in the Oregon Coast Range, in a seasonal rain forest. The most important times for data collection are when it’s raining the hardest, and rainy conditions can last for weeks at a time. These do not seem like ideal conditions for solar power. However, there is a steep perennial stream next to the site, and this stream provides abundant energy. We discovered a “recipe” online (http://www.five-gallon-bucket-hydroelectric.org/) for a generator specifically designed to be relatively cheap and well suited for relatively small power demands (less than 1 kilowatt) and available power in the form of streams or canals. In our case, the stream is so steep that we required relatively little piping to get enough head to power the generator, roughly 120 meters of piping to get 40 m of head. The most expensive single item is the permanent magnet alternator, a little over $200.
Update: We went back to the site to install fuses and bypass switches (to be sure the batteries won’t explode) and also to take some measurements with a real ammeter (one that encircles the wire without making conductive contact). It’s producing 0.7 to 0.8 amps. Another problem: we need another generator to power the two logging multiplexers, because they interfere with one another when connected to the same power source. The plan is to stick a Y- or T-joint onto the 2-inch pipe and have the two generators side by side. If we can get around the same amount of current from each of two generators as we’re getting from one now, then that should be ample. Otherwise, there are things we could do to improve the efficiency. For example, rough calculations indicate the ratio of turbine velocity and jet velocity is 0.6, and optimum is 0.46. To get there with the current setup, we’d need to reduce the diameter of the nozzles to increase the jet velocity, but that might actually result in a loss in total power, because smaller-diameter nozzles would produce less flow, and ultimately the power produced is proportional to the flow rate. Alternatively, if we could somehow increase the load, that would increase the resistance felt by the rotor and decrease the turbine velocity. How to do that? Short the circuit to ground!
See the old version: http://youtu.be/6rkqo06V9Ck
New video about “system 2.0”: https://youtu.be/O-TAt6ekFck
thats sexy ima build one
How is the alternator not soaked?
Too much talking….. yammering on…..
I don't understand why someone would go through all that trouble to develop such a big, expensive, failure-prone Rube Goldberg device, when a cheap, simple and reliable water wheel would easily provide enough power.
http://youtu.be/BULXLaM4NmE
http://youtu.be/OOmPNLLSVgY
for radio frequency interference, and 'well connected on three, 3-phase AC generator,
3 x 250 volt 4.7uF capacitors (MKT or MKP) in star connection and connect the central ground
also improves cosfj generator and removes noise that irk transmitters
You're dropping a lot of voltage there. Maybe put your batteries closer, and up your voltage to compensate for the loss to your equipment.
otherwise know how many volts at 60 Hz:
for example:
24 volt turbine vacuum at 60 Hz: okay a transformer 110 volt 60 Hz input to the turbine 24 volt output side 110 volts
works even if input 120 volt 48 Hz and 230 volts without burning out
n case of interference problems, use two chargers econimici type
http://www.autoworksracing.com/ctek%20battery%20charger%20page.htm
each for a battery if the vacuum turbine is 65 volts minimum and maximum 320volt (model 230 volts) I do not know 110 volts, maybe half '
http://www.oregon.gov/energy/renew/hydro/docs/microhydroguide.pdf
this is correct system for 4 or 6 input
http://www.gugler.com/english/pro_mikro.htm
hi
under these conditions, it does not work the mppt:
you have 60 volts to charge four batteries (56Volt) and its performance and will be '10%
for max performance with 4 batteries, it takes 110 volts dc vacuum, where the point of maximum power and 'about half' volts (60)
better to just 24 volts (series / parallel) with mppt EPSOLAR 12A ($ 50)
with pelton smallest diameter (more laps, more volts, more efficiency)
with my partner, we have more than 200 picopelton installed in Switzerland
(From 50 watts up to 6 kW)
good work
with a mppt, you'll see that gains a good 30% more power
in that, as well as now, the turbine must be adapted to the battery voltage
for example: a vacuum is 60 volts dc (THEN THE MILE POINT OF WORK AND 'A 30 VOLT), but if you connect the battery to 12 volts, from 60 vacuum drops to 13 volts and you only have a quarter of power
while mppt, and 'Micro going to seek his maximum power point to put in the battery, whether 12 or 24 volts
the algorithm calculates every 10 seconds and where 'the great
Indeed feels the turbine often change a few turns, due to the variation of the battery voltage
are several years that I use for my mppt picopelton fully successful
then more metttere after the bridge rectifier, a good electrolytic capacitor, especially if the generator is not 'three stages !!!
too big ripple, breaks the mppt (has capacitors inside, but calculated for dc solar)
i liked the video,,,,and yes,,,please let me know when you do updates,,,,see they match mine….will post mine in may for my sluice setup
Spit that dick out of your mouth and quit acting like your god's gift to science and what you say might just make some sense.
As I've mentioned in some of my replies, we've got a new system, and I'm working on an update video that also addresses some of the issues implicit in this video, like getting only 10 watts out of a potential 220 W. Better plumbing, adjustable, tapered nozzles, factory-made turbines, and higher voltages on the output all lead to big improvements. We have limited measurements so far, but we're now operating with about 20 W at 12 volts (nominal). At 48 V (nominal), we could get about 50 W, but we're kind of stuck with the electronics at this point. Once we get the resources for help from an electrician, we should be able to increase power output dramatically.
amazing resourcefulness fellas , im shocked at how well you configured this thing, looks like you have almost 180 degree flow angle on your blades LOVE IT …
Get out of the stream with pvc glue you jackass. And get your fuckin pvc pipes out of the pristene wilderness of Oregon. All this for what a few watts? You'll never pay off the energy it took to make the pipe or the bucket. Huge waste.
Other thought: Could something like this be used to connect to public water supply and power a few items in a house during an outage??? Would waste a lot of water…but so what.
Power would be greater if they used an enclosed impeller for greater efficiency (like used on automobiles to circulate coolant). Eliminate the 90 degree bends. And start with larger pipe narrowing to small pipe to gain water speed
Cool stuff… I have one suggestion for Stephen Lancaster, though:
watch?v=Bt9zSfinwFA
Save your time and money and just buy this for $33 http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/36V-Micro-Hydro-Generator-Pro-p-1280.html?gclid=Cj0KEQiAlISlBRDHpIekkMGiiskBEiQAh-0KQAlUEzNj6KYU46BH34drWr7GTNnbjRUSZPgT46sJedQaAnuk8P8HAQ
If you use smoother transitions Ie curved pipes instead of 90 degree. You will get much better pressure and flow.
+geomorphdog with the hydroelectric generator apparatus you assembled, what kind of output do you receive? Meaning, for what types of electronic devices can you provide power/for how long? Also, would it be possible to theoretically generate electricity from this device to charge batteries for later use (provided the batteries are stored correctly)?
Sure had a lot of footage that should have been edited out, leading up to not a lot of details..
he said 7:42 it produces .7amps how many KWPH that is?
what is expected run time on one of these with zero maintenance? a day?
I like how well made it appears to be, and that it uses cheap plastic parts. Besides the antenna array and the other experiment, the only costly part i can see is the alternator.
You can increase the pressure and efficiency by starting with a large 6" pipe and stepping it down to a 1" or 2" pipe as you get closer to the generator. This is how NYC generates pressure for the water system.