|
>Home
>>Tips 'n Tales >>Tips on Mini Hydro
Systems |
|
| |
|
|
 |
|
Mini Hydro Solutions for Riverfront
Property |
|
|
|
|
|
One of the hottest sectors of the
recreational market is riverfront
property. Those property owners have
another option open to them when looking
at alternative energy sources for their
vacation home- hydro! No, we’re not
talking about building large dams on
your property. Instead, we’re
considering
micro-hydro solutions which can be an
inexpensive source of power. |
|
|
|
While there are many types of turbines
for the different types of water sources
that you may have on your property, they
all work in the same way. A propeller is
attached to a shaft which operates an
alternator. Power is produced when running water falls through a collector
and turns the propeller. Turbines can
either be submersed in a stream or river
or water can be diverted through a
more complex turbine system.
The amount of power generated by a
micro-hydro system depends on two
factors. |
|
|
|
|
|
First, consider the steepness of the terrain
over which the water travels. Steeper terrain,
such as a hill or a waterfall will produce more
energy. Secondly, the amount of water which
falls through the turbine affects the amount of
power your micro hydro system will produce. More
water flowing through the turbine equals more
power.
There are three different styles of water
turbines. Impulse Water Turbines are
ideal for sites where a small amount of water
flows down a steep hill, such as a hillside
stream or small waterfall. Reaction Water
Turbines are used on sites where the land is
fairly flat, but there is a great deal of it,
such as a large, slow moving river.
Submersible Propeller Water Turbines
are used mostly with fast moving, deep streams
or rivers, or for boats.
A micro-hydro solution is a perpetual power
generator. As long as the propeller is turning,
power is being generated. This power can be
supplied to the household in one of two ways. A
battery system can be installed, where power is
generated to meet the average demand of the
household. The excess energy produced is stored. If there is enough energy being
produced by the water, an AC direct solution can
generate power directly to the house. Since this
requires a higher power level to function, most consumers use the battery
solution. |
|
Regulation and Costs:
In British Columbia, due to water and
environmental regulations, landowners must
have a water license for their property to
divert water from a river or stream. With
very few exceptions, it is illegal to take
water from a stream without obtaining this
license. Contact the Ministry for
Agriculture and Lands for more information
on the process.
Once you purchase all the components, a
micro-hydro solution can start at about
$5000. While this may seem expensive, the
power that a micro-hydro solution can
generate will compensate for the initial
costs. Compared to a gasoline powered
generator, a hydro solution is cheaper (as
you are not tied to the rising prices of
gasoline), cleaner (due to the lack of
emissions), and quieter. Once installed, most
systems will last between 20 to 25 years |
|
|
|
|
|
Another point to take into consideration is the
electrical load of your property. Micro-hydro
systems generally don’t supply enough power for
heating loads, such as a stove or dryer.
However, if you are looking for a solution for
your lighting, or even up to the power loads of
a new refrigerator or freezer, a micro- hydro
system should be able to provide you with the
energy that you need.
While the power output compares favorably to
solar and wind solutions, you must take into
account that in Northern provinces or states,
your water source may freeze over. While you can
leave your turbine system in place over the
winter, it is
recommended that you remove the turbine during
the initial freezing and thawing stages of your
water source to protect the turbine’s assembly.
Like most other alternate energy sources we’ve
described, these micro-hydro solutions are
emissions-free and very low-impact on the
environment. If you have a river, creek or
stream on your
property, take a look at a micro-hydro solution
for inexpensive green power. |
|
|
