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DIY Hydro Turbine

Hydroelectric turbine systems are an easy, sustainable way to generate power. The concept has been used for centuries and the technology, although more advanced, still works on the same fundamental principles. Hydroelectric systems are in use all over the world, where ever there is a source of running water, especially in rural areas. Their sizes can be as large as the turbines on Niagara Falls, generating power for people in many cities, or small for personal home electric generation.

Things You'll Need

Propeller
Shaft
Alternator
Diverter
Battery storage system

Instructions

- 1
  
  This stream has a low head but a relatively high flow.
  
  Determine what system to use based on the water source at the location. The water source is a function of its head and flow. The flow refers to how fast and what volume of water is moving, typically measured in gallons per minute. The head refers to the distance of vertical drop the water flows over, as in a waterfall. Even a short fall can produce high pressure if the flow is significant. Some factors to consider before installing a hydroelectric turbine include not only the head and flow, but also whether the water source freezes in the winter or dries up in the summer.
- 2
  
  Water is brought from above and concentrated into a stream to turn the wheel.
  
  Choose the appropriate hydroelectric system. There are to basic systems available for personal use: impulse and reactive. An impulse turbine shoots water in a directed, pressurized stream, like a hose. It shoots water at a propeller to make it spin. This type is best used with a low flow or low head water source. A reactive turbine us submerged into the water sources and moves as the water flows by, or over, the propeller. This type of system is best used with a water source demonstrating high head or flow, that remains a continuous volume and speed.
- 3
  
  A car alternator is suitable to generate electric for a home.
  
  Install the various components of the system. A hydroelectric turbine system is relatively simple. A propeller is used to harness the water flow. It is connected to a shaft which spins with the motion of the propeller or wheel. The shaft is then connected to an alternator. For a home system, a car alternator is an applicable choice. As the alternator spins, a coil passes up and down through an electrical current which generates electricity. The alternator is connected to a battery storage system, or it can be directly linked to home lines through the use of an inverter to send power directly to household appliances.
- 4
  
  Excess energy can be diverted to high-energy-use appliances, such as a water heater.
  
  Install a diverter. A hydroelectric system can generate more electric than a battery system can hold. When the battery storage reaches a certain level, the excess energy must be routed somewhere else to prevent the batteries from overloading. A diverter harnesses the extra power and sends it to another outlet, such as directly to a home appliance.

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