Anyone considered making a stream generator?

[IGBT]

I was toying with the idea of building a generator to plop into a stream when boondocking to generate 100 to 500 watts of power 24/7.&nbsp; I have some brushless E-bike hub motors I picked up on sale for $50 each that produce about 10 amps at 50V (estimate).<br /><br />If I could waterproof them and attach some sort of vanes and a partial shroud, I could make a type of horizontal paddlewheel generator.&nbsp; Rectifying the 3 phase and building a switching regulator to charge batteries or boost to 115VAC would be the easy part (electrical engineering background).<br /><br />What do you think?&nbsp; The only thing that really concerns me is the legality of using this on BLM land.&nbsp; It could be built stealthy though...<br />&nbsp;

 

[thinker]

i figure you're good if it isn't 'mounted' to the land.<br /><br />'axel' from the bank.<br />make sure it's on the surface of the water and nothing is submerged.&nbsp;<br />for the sake of technicality, avoid driving anything into the ground. if your genny doesnt weigh enough, weigh it down with stones or sandbags if you don't care about weight in your vehicle. speaking of your vehicle, see the article here on a wind gen to help spitball other linkage mounting ideas like your tire over a plate or your hitch.<br />(you'll see what i mean when you read the article.<br /><br />let us know how it goes. it sounds awesome.<br /><br />

 

[thinker]

see also<br /><br /><a href="http://inhabitat.com/hydro-electric-barrel/">http://inhabitat.com/hydro-electric-barrel/</a>

 

[offroad]

The hydro floating barrel is so cool. But the price to return on the cost of it just might not pay you back.&nbsp;<br /><br />Would rather find some kind of cooling system to use stream water to cool the RV nearby.<br /><br />This article looks promising<br /><br />http://www.boat-project.com/mech/proj-13.htm<br /><br />

 

[Les H]

Two of the properties that i lived at had streams on them. Ive often thought about doing something like this, even as simple as a small paddlewheel "barge"( or boat (2-3 ft long) hooked to an altanator (sp?) via a fan or serpitine belt. Tie it to the shore so no permanant mounts or moori.gs. Not tons of power, but low tech and low budget. The trick is having enough water flow ( fall) check out micro or nano hydro on google for all kinds of ideas. good luck, and let us know how it goes!

 

[stude53]

Sounds like you plan to "live in a van down by the water!!!!"&nbsp; <img src="/images/boards/smilies/rolleyes.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" /><img src="/images/boards/smilies/rofl.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" /><img src="/images/boards/smilies/rofl.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" /><img src="/images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" /><img src="/images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" /><img src="/images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" /><br /><br />Seriously, any creative way to create electricity is worth trying, as electric power = comfortable vandweller living.<br /><br />Good luck,<br />Bob

 

[IGBT]

The device I had in mind would look more like a paddlewheel placed flat in the water, with a shroud over half the wheel so water is forced to move the paddles.&nbsp; There is a website somewhere with a commercial version of this but it is huge and generates 10s of kilowatts.&nbsp; It would have a central spike that you drive into the riverbed, and could operate in moderate flow moderate depth streams.&nbsp; The reason I think it would work is I have felt the force of 3 feet of water on my legs when trying to cross a mountain stream while gold panning.&nbsp; Imagine that water pressure pushing on 1 foot wide by 3 feet long paddles in a device that is 2.5 feet diameter and 3 feet long.<br /><br />I think this type of generator would work better in large volume but slower water than something like a pelton wheel or prop based generator...but I am an electrical engineer, not mechanical, so could be wrong.<br /><br />Maybe I will build a&nbsp;scale model, say 1 foot diameter 2 feet long and see if I can get a few 10s of watts from it.

 

[IGBT]

Found the website:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.absak.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/33_89_90/products_id/1098">http://www.absak.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/33_89_90/products_id/1098</a><br /><br /><br /><form action="http://www.absak.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/33_89_90/products_id/1098/action/add_products" method="post" name="cart_quantity">5KW in-stream vertical turbine $28,000<br /><br />I should be able to make a 500 watt version for about $200.</form>

 

[josephusminimus]

Strikes me as a relatively simple project some backyard tinkerer could put together with a weekend to work on it and a few simple tools.&nbsp; An EE without an ME subtitle might require longer, but it sounds doable.

 

[Willy]

Okay, it took a while, but I finally found it. This is an easy to build, high efficiency alternative to a Pelton wheel generator.&nbsp; http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PNAAP285.pdf

 

[stude53]

Neat Article, Willy! <img src="/images/boards/smilies/idea.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" /><br /><br />Thanks,<br />Bob