108: ALL ABOUT HYDRO POWER GENERATORS

By: Ken Jensen

Why are hydroelectric generators so highly recommended?

Micro-hydro is one of the most efficient forms of electrical power generation.

Lowest Cost per Watt of any other power generation. It is fairly easy to predict what your output would be

year round, which can result in smaller battery sizes.

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What are the basic mechanics of hydroelectric generators?

Water is used and directed into blades called a turbine.The turbine spins and is connected to a shaft which spins a motor, sometimes direct coupled and sometimes using belts for converting low speed high torque inputs to high speed low torque outputs to the motor.

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How is the power converted from the generator to a useable current?

The generator, if bought is usually a DC alternator generator. This is just an AC generator with a one way switch on each phase.If built, the generator is usually AC, but then sent to a rectifier to convert it to DC.The DC is then usable by an inverter/charger which decides to either convert the DC to AC to be used, or to dump it to a battery bank for storage. This same device can convert the stored capacity to AC to be used when generation is down.

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There are other ways to use a basic charge controller and consumer grade inverter as well. It would be a little cheaper if you knew what to look for, but it can be a little more complex.

What would be an easy way to create this system in a long term survival saturation with only the materials you could scavenge?

Probably the best build would not be what you would call “easy.” One of the best builds would be a large waterwheel with a gear-ratio change driven by belts or handmade gears. The awesome thing about waterwheels is that you can couple them up to an alternator or even a mill for grinding grain.

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In our current world, if you wanted to reduce your electric bills by using hydro-electric power, what type of system would you build?

The very first thing I would do it to make my home more efficient first.

Water flow spring, river, waterfall

Is it year round or seasonal How far am I from the source?

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For High flow applications I may go with a permanent magnet alternator

For low flow applications I may go with a basic automobile alternator, requires less break over force

Turbine:

Impulse Typically for micro-hydro because it is easier to work

on Can deal with sand and debris better

Generator:

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Pelton Designed for efficiency (165 degree angle into

buckets, any more will have deflected water interference)

It is usually for higher head applications “above 20m” for micro-applications

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Turgo These turbines are much more difficult to make Run much faster, which allows direct coupling

(efficiency) Works in a wide range of speeds

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Gatta This is a good one for hand building and is very easy

to maintain. Has a low power output A waterwheel with a vertical axis that came out of

Napal.

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Cross flow Squirrel Cage design, like a hamster wheel with

blades Resembles the waterwheel with curved blades

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Centrifugal Pumps (reverse pump turbines) Run water backward through them and they can be

found anywhere. They have poor part-flow efficiency, and poor

performance Others would be the Francis Turbine, Propeller

Turbine

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