Micro-Hydro Water Turbines for Home Power

Not everyone is lucky enough to have a source of running water near their homes. But for those with river-side homes or live-on boats, small water generators (micro-hydro turbines) are the most reliable source of renewable energy available. One relatively small water turbine will produce power non-stop, as long as running water is available, no matter what the weather.

We're pleased to introduce a comprehensive line of micro-hydro water turbines, including LVM's AquaGen and Ampair's Aquair UW submersible propeller turbines, Harris Pelton and Stream Engine impulse turbines, and a comprehensive line of small reaction turbines including the LH1000, Nautilus, Neptune, Niade and Power Pal micro-hydro power systems.

For people with a good source of year-round running water, one or two water turbines may be all they need to power their homes. However, for those with seasonal, winter-only streams available, a small water generator may be the perfect back up for a solar system's off-peak season.

If you think a home water power system may work for you, browse our site for more information, or contact us for help putting together a microhydro system to meet your needs.

Micro-Hydro Water Turbines for Home Power | Alternative & Renewable Energy - ABS Alaskan, Inc.

Osprey Turbine Exploit Sea River power

A small team of engineers in Cornwall has made a breakthrough with the development of a turbine that they claim could solve the commercial viability of tidal power.

The Osprey turbine can be used to create electricity offshore at sea or in tidal rivers and inland waterways. Following successful testing of a model rotor, a reduced-scale model prototype has been developed to assist in the design of a full-scale prototype.

Research and development consultants in renewable energy, FreeFlow 69, conceived the turbine concept while working on design and development work for its offshore Ocean Hydro Electricity Generator (OHEG), a concept using tidal energy to create electricity 24 hours a day.

The Osprey turbine is a vertical axis free flow device which produces power independently or as part of a larger system. Power output is expected to be from 1kW up to 5MW in a multiple system.

Parts for the prototype model were pre-fabricated in stainless steel by associate company Able Engineering of Swadlincote, Derbyshire and assembled in Fowey.

With the significant advantage that the gearbox and generator are above the water level, it operates effectively in variable depths to maximise the efficiency of the power available through the tidal cycle, or in differing river heights.

It is also environmentally friendly and will not interfere with marine or river life, can be mounted on the sea bed or suspended on pontoons, is bi-directional and will turn the same way in a flooding or ebbing tide.

Due to its modular design, a bank of Osprey turbines can be built up and added to in order to generate more power.

"We already have a patent application in place and plan to build a full size prototype by the Autumn," said Mr Cooke. "If this is successful, as we are confident it will be, we intend to manufacture a range of small units for river applications, followed by a range of cross flow turbines for conventional micro hydro plants."

A prototype for an Archimedes screw type version turbine will also be produced for rivers where a weir or leat is available, such as old mill sites.

Electromagnetics - Alternators Design

flat pack disc alternator


An alternator based on a disc design for easy assembly and disassembly. 24 magnets, 24 coils, 4 discs, 12 bolts, 12 nuts, an axle, a bearing. This design is based on similar designs for windmills.

Single Phase Parallel Winding High Amperage

Single Phase Series Winding High Voltage

Three Phase Parallel Winding High Amperage

Three Phase Series Winding High Voltage

Efficient wind turbine design for low velocity air flow

United States Patent 4427343 is a Efficient wind turbine design for low velocity air flow.
Abstract: Six rows of radial blades, arranged to extend in a spiral (in the direction of axial rotation) covering 55 degrees of arc about a hollow support section, constitute an optimum blade arrangement for maximum efficiency in low velocity airflows. Each blade in the rows is contoured to receive both direct flow pressure as well as airfoil lift in order to provide maximum energy transfers from low velocity airflows.

Wind Funnel Technology to Enhance Efficiency of Low Wind Turbines

The main complication of a Wind Funnel is to turn the entire thing into the wind. Bernoulli and his Physics are very useful in search of a ratio of mouth to throat area with acceptable air flow.

 

A small aerodynamically perfect wind turbine design is easy to build. The turbine would rotate fairly fast.

 

Wind Funnel Technology to Enhance Efficiency of Low Wind Turbines

The main complication of a Wind Funnel is to turn the entire thing into the
wind. Bernoulli and his Physics are very useful in search of a ratio of
mouth to throat area with acceptable air flow.

A small aerodynamically perfect wind turbine design is easy to build. The
turbine would rotate fairly fast.

Savonius Type Vertical Axis Wind Turbine

Two types of vertical axis wind turbines, Savonius and Darius, are mostly used. The Savonius wind turbine was invented by Sigrid Savonius of Finland. Although, the Savonius type of vertical axis windmill less efficient than a conventional design but it does not need to be kept in a single direction. With simple junk like oil drums, car alternator or dynamo, you can build wind generator. This is wind generator will charge 200 watts battery.

Characteristics of Savonius Wind Turbines

Savonius wind turbines are not needed to be installed on high towers and polarity or direction of the wind turbine does not change with the direction of wind and over the land surface and Roof-top installation is normally used. Materials and construction cost is much lower than horizontal axis wind turbines. Split a barrel into half and putting together these two vertically split halves to a vertical axis. This creates a low speed high torque unit that can be utilized for driving water and through a gearing mechanism, generate electricity.

This design works on "magnus principal", an aerodynamic effect. The most everywhere usage of the Savonius wind turbine is the Flettner Ventilator. It employs the design of Savonius wind turbine to drive an extractor fan.