clutch disconnect

[thirteen]

To give a longer life to the altinator on a micro hydro system I was thinking of putting a clutch system inline with a trubine wheel so when I am gone there will not be any need for the system to run when the batteries are charged up. To me it would be benifiacial for extending alt. life. 24/7 is alot of hours per year. 8760 hrs It may be too much of a drag on the shaft for a micro hydro system. Plus with couplings added it my be a maintence headache. I will have only 38 ft of head on a small creek. A larger creek with more volume it may work better. I was wondering if someone else has done this on a micro hydro system. When I searched I found only one system with a clutch type system but this was for a duel system and it was for changing large generators.  Just playing with another idea and don't know.

[juddley]

I have no personal experience with Hydro... However last weekend I saw a "shutoff" installed on a very old Delco System. They had 2" PVC supply from small dam giving about 70-80' of head. They had a "T" valve installed into the line and a chain drive to a Gearhead DC motor...(looked like a Window operator from Auto). The owner was there and I asked why he would want to "Shut it off" and he said "Because the family complained about a high pitched noise when running" So maybe shut off or divert the flow instead of disconnecting?? Just a thought.

Juddley

[spinningmagnets]

Perhaps a sawtooth clutch from a farm equipment parts supply?

http://media.photobucket.com/image/sawtooth%20clutch/nswnotill/sawtoothclutch3.jpg

[dnix71]

I agree with Juddley, shutting off/diverting the water is simpler on a micro site. Either that or put the rig on a pivot and swing it all up out of the water when you're not around.

Having a pivot would make maintenance easier, too.

[Ungrounded Lightning Rod]

Just remember to turn it off s...l...o...w...l...y if you have a significant length of penstock pipe involved.  Shutting it off suddenly can cause a major water hammer that can blow your pipe and fittings.  (Like a hydraulic ram without the air dome and output pipe to limit the output pressure.  Suddenly cut off the outlet for the moving water and the pressure goes arbitrarily high until it stops.))

[juddley]

Good Point Underground Lighting Rod..... I should have made my post clearer. The install I saw was at 4,000+ ft elevation in the Sierra's where they get a Hard Freeze and the install had a "T" or "3-Way" ball valve installed like this.

The unit was motorized and appeared to be Low Voltage, and not Weather Proof, as it looked to be DIY. It Also had a lever Handle on Top to operate manually. Diversion would be the only option in Freezing Climates.

Judd

[thirteen]

I'll have about 650 to 700 feet of pipe but only aroun 38 to 40 ft of fall. Plus low volume during the mid summer to fall months. I will have a solar hydro combo when done. Solar summer, micro hydro winter. Thanks for the info.

[thirteen]

I am at 4000ft elevation also. No sun in the winter but lots of water and no water during late summer without damaging the eco system of the creek when the water is low but I get 5.5 hours of direct sunlight in the summer. Odd but it will work