From: ham789@netzero.net   
      
   On 11/22/2012 9:18 PM, Jim Rojas wrote:   
   > mike wrote:   
   >> On 11/22/2012 10:40 AM, Jim Rojas wrote:   
   >> .   
   >>>   
   >>> My system uses running water to provide the DC power.   
   >> I'd like to hear more about the running water.   
   >> Florida is pretty flat. How did you obtain   
   >> a water supply with some head.   
   >> Legal issues getting permissions to divert it etc.?   
   >> What kinds of systems did you use to convert the head   
   >> to rotational energy? Volumes/velocities/efficiencies etc?   
   >>   
   >> My impression is, that here in Oregon, even if you have   
   >> a stream running thru the middle of your property, you're   
   >> not allowed to spit within 10 feet of it, much less divert it for power   
   >> generation.   
   >   
   > My aboveground swimming pool is the only water source.   
   >   
   > 2 alternating 1.5HP 220V pool pumps drives the entire setup. They each   
   > take turns every 4 hours.   
   >   
   > There are 2 freshwater pumps in series. The internal impeller was   
   > replaced with a pelton style wheel for maximum force. This pump is   
   > readily available at Northern Tools. The pelton wheel was purchased on   
   > ebay for $249 each.   
   >   
   > The freshwater pumps are turning a 20" cast iron wheel from an old   
   > diesel generator. 2 belts then drives the alternators.   
   >   
   > So for every single turn of the 20" wheel, the alternator spins about 10   
   > times. So if the 20" wheel is spinning at say 100RPM, the alternators   
   > are running at roughly idle speed.   
   >   
   > 2 manual water valves control the water flow, one is a bypass valve, the   
   > other is the valve going to the freshwater pumps. I could have installed   
   > a governor, but I wanted to keep the system as simple as possible. If I   
   > need more RPM, I slowly close the bypass valve in relation to the pump   
   > feed to achieve this easily.   
   >   
   > This system by no means is perfect. It requires daily inspection, and it   
   > does require grid power to run. But the point is to reduce my overall   
   > electric usage by using a my pool pump that needs to run anyway. If for   
   > any reason my system shuts down, I receive a text message on my cell phone.   
   >   
   > Water pressure, gravity, centrifugal force play an important part here.   
   > At first I had the fresh water pumps working great. But once the sand   
   > filter started getting clogged, the entire system would come to a   
   > screeching halt. Because the system runs 24/7, the sand filter needs to   
   > be backwashed once a week. When the pool is not in use, I put a screen   
   > cover to keep the leaves and other debris from getting into the pool. A   
   > screen room would be nice, but it is not in the allowable budget at this   
   > time. To solve this issue for now, I installed a second sand filter in   
   > parallel. I installed a manual valve on the input side of the sand   
   > filter. This now allows backwashing without having to turn off the pumps   
   > whatsoever.   
   >   
   > By county code, I am allowed to generate up to 5KW of usable power with   
   > no permits of any kind needed. Anything above that just requires a   
   > permit which runs about $15 a year, with no annual official inspections.   
   >   
   It gets interestinger and interestinger...   
   Can you disclose the numbers?   
   How much real power are you using to run the pump?   
   How much continuous real power can you get out of the inverter?   
   How much real power would it take to run a high efficiency pool   
   filter system without the power generation?   
   If you take net power consumption and subtracted from the   
   high-efficiency filter   
   system power, what's the payback period on the investment for the power   
   generation component?   
      
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