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Using river flow to pump water uphill (for later power generation) | 23 comments (23 topical, editorial)

Re: Using river flow to pump water uphill (for lat (3.00 / 0) (#20)
by kipcole9 on Sun Sep 28th, 2008 at 03:06:33 PM MST
(User Info)

Thanks everybody for the pointers and suggestions. Lots to digest and consider.

I am looking at whether I can do solar/wind on top of the bluff behind me. I know technically thats easier - but I suspect that planning permission may be a little challenging :-)

The river is tidal - I get about 1m rise/fall. I'm about 15kms from the sea - the tidal effect can be measured at least another 60kms farther up. So I guess that means that I have bi-directional flow. Faster flowing when the tide is going out; slow flowing when the tide is coming in. I mean, since I have a tidal effect, the flow must by definition reverse, no?

I really appreciate all the thoughts and ideas. I'll report back when I make some progress.

Cheers, --Kip

Re: Using river flow to pump water uphill (for lat (3.00 / 0) (#21)
by TomW on Sun Sep 28th, 2008 at 04:36:20 PM MST
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Kip;

Have you considered a floating weight that you let the tidal rise lift a a pontoon or something, then use that weight to drive a generator / alternator?

similar to how some docks ride up and down on poles with rings around them to keep it in place over various water levels?

Could even "disguise" it as a common dock? Might be less hassle to do as you only use power of the elevating water not flow. Seems you could extract energy both rising and falling and 2X every day?

Just an idea I didn't follow thru on too far as to "how".

Should be easy to calculate the amount of energy in X pounds lowering Y feet in Z time, too.

Tom

"Education consists mainly of what we have unlearned."--Mark Twain
[ Parent ]

Re: Using river flow to pump water uphill (for lat (3.00 / 0) (#22)
by MattM on Mon Sep 29th, 2008 at 06:56:59 PM MST
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A tidal flow is not usually reversed flow. Not to say it cannot be, but that is the exception. It can be in something like a channel through a sound, where there is a structured flow cutting below the top water like a rip tide. I suspect your general water flow rate is lessened in the high tide as the water doesn't have as much potential energy; its less elevation at that point relative to the sea/ocean. You probably have a little reverse flow along the top of the water as high tide moves in, but it should be negligible. The more troublesome issue would be turbulence in the flow as the water backs up during high tide. It is harder to extract energy from a turbulent flow.

It may just end up being entirely not worth your while to use the current's energy during high tide's ebb if you cannot reach the structured flow (the channel?) since the overall water flow is slower. You will still have flow somewhere in the river. Its more than likely that flow is out there in the channel rather than on the surface.
----------------------------- Go Huskers!
[ Parent ]

Using river flow to pump water uphill (for later power generation) | 23 comments (23 topical, 0 editorial)

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