Over the past 2 years, I have wanted to get my mini hydro system going. For a refresher, I will list what I have. Lack of LOTS of water IS my biggest liability.
I will have a total head of 26'
I will have a varying water supply of 20 -60 GPM and 60-150 GPM, ++ in heavy rains/runoff. THIS requires planning. There will be a bypass for what water I can't utilize.
At the weir, I will make a dustpan shaped inlet that sits in a cutout of the top of the weir. This is so I can screen off debris with the water running over the top and have a "Roof Peak/tent shaped" type screening system. AS water runs over the pan/inlet, it will push debris on over the screening, where it will drop off on both sloping sides down into the stream bed. This is all inside a jungle type setting, but, MOST debris is limbs, leaves and mud/sand.
Biggest problem will be screening out sand. The Coanda Screen Website is not functional and is for sale.
Need to design something.
There will be 2--4" PVC pipes fastened to the water inlet, side X side. There will be "Drop outs" in the pipes, to purge sand mud, etc., that gets past the screening. The 2 pipes will run 140' at a 24" down slope, to where they pass through a cut in a hill, and start the 20%(24') drop, 100' to the turbine area. Near the bottom of the drop, probably a few feet from the turbine, I will run both the 4" pipes into a "Y" fitting, and then a single 4"into a bell reducer setup to get to the nozzle of 3/8" - 7/16" opening. Then, water strikes the Pelton Wheel.
There is no chance of obtaining a larger dia pipe, so, I go with what I can get. This should get me decent water supply/force at the nozzle.
I bought an Italian "Plastic-resin fibre reinforced Pelton Wheel off Ebay. It is 4¼" Dia, and has 14 spoons. I will build the adapter for the alt.
I have a 20A Denso Automotive alternator that I will build a magnet rotor for. This will be done within the next 2 weeks, as I go to Fl and use my sons Metal Lathe. I can also rewind the stator if needed. I have plenty of winding copper, and time is not important, but, money is tight. I'm doing this a piece at a time.
I will run 3 phase direct to the battery area, from the Alt, then install the rectifier, and Ghurd Controller at the battery area.
The set up will be similar to a Harris physical design. They are just to expensive for me, at this time. Once the system is set up, it will give me plenty of info about what I can expect, IF I were to buy a Harris, in the future.
If anyone has any suggestions,or requires additional info, please advise now. I know this is an iffy project, but, this year, we have had VERY decent rains, and, LOTS of water has passed us by. My battery supply is meager, but, once I have things set up, I can start gathering batteries. I have 3--12V car-truck batteries to play with, and, our Aquaponics green house will be run off batteries. So far, that draws 5A at 12V, 24 hrs a day. The whole system is 12V pumps, LED Lighting. Better batteries will be obtained as money permits.
OK,shoot me down.