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Smart Drive Oil Barrel Undershot Waterwheel
bmannz:
Thanks for the replies, yes the target output wattage is tiny, I really only need this to negate some parasitic loads like my vantage control system, cameras, wifi and gate controller to protect my batteries as we are 100% off grid here.
The excellent resources available online from Mike Lawley at Eco Innovations (powerspout) are brilliant for predicting what you will get and I am fully in the white "dont waste your time" area below
I was lucky enough to study under Mike at one of his two day alternative energy courses in Taranaki here in NZ. Can't speak highly enough of Mike and his work with smart drives & just a lovely guy
I have to say I came very close to purchasing one of his LH Turbines and may we'll still do so if the wheel winds up washed out to sea!
I fully expect there will be many times the wheel just doesn't turn at all during summer but at these times the solar will more than pick up the slack.
I hadn't thought about a screw, but that's an interesting idea, I have seen a submersible impeller that's definitely on the cards if / when the wheel becomes more hassle than it's worth.
Hopefully someone has a bright idea about the mounting, at the moment I see my options as
Poles under each side of the wheel (issue is axle will likely be underwater in extreme flows risking losing the wheel)
Floats to lift the wheel to safety (breaks the KISS rule and will be hard to align it exactly back with the flume in normal flows)
Pivot to lift the wheel clear (same KISS rule problem)
Streamside mount with articulated truss (ugly and same KISS problem)
Stick it on floats like the hydrocat (my wheel is super heavy tho & flume re-alignment will be tough)
Thanks for the feedback and tips, if anyone's got any bright ideas I'm all ears :)
frackers:
Your first diagram in "Reply #6" strikes me as being the most stable - the trailing arm approach is self aligning in one plane, maybe a parallel motion arrangement to stop it twisting.
Wish I had a stream like you have - down here on the South Island we have more wind than we can use and no water!!
frackers:
Spoke too soon - several paddocks are under water!!
Pigs can swim can't they?
tanner0441:
Hi
I had a pig once I don't know about swim but they can wallow very happily. The only creature that can turn a wet field into mud faster than a pig is DUCKS.
Brian.
george65:
According to the forecast where I am on the " North Island" , I wouldn't have to worry.
It will be solid ice tomorrow!
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