|
Micro-Hydro Power |
|
SENEA’s current work with micro-hydro power is designed to run in conjunction with a water filtration system. Two project sites have flowing water available for micro-hydro power, but only one site has needs that can be well fulfilled by the current small scale micro-hydro design. Micro-hydro power is useful for producing a small amount of electrical or mechanical power. An organization outside of the University of Tulsa, Living Waters for the World, operates in third world countries by teaching the people there how to build village sized water filtration systems. A relatively small amount of energy is needed to power the filtration center, and the water flowing from a stream or river into the filtration system has enough energy to power this. Micro hydro turbines are similar to other hydro power sources except that they are for small amounts of head (height the water flows down from) or small flow rates. There are several types of hydro turbines, ranging from impellers to those resembling water wheels. Based on the head and flow rate of the project site for the water filter, a Turgo turbine is being designed. A Turgo turbine is identifiable in that it has spoons around a runner which drives a generator. Multiple (from one to four) nozzles spray water collected from a river at the spoons, thus turning the runner to then generate power. This power will run directly to a Living Waters type filtration system. In order to maintain the reproducibility and affordability of the turbine, dining spoons are cut and welded around a runner to form the Turgo turbine shape. Once this design is tested and proven to be sufficient in generating adequate power, it will be a practical system for people in third world countries to build and operate. As a comparison, online low end runners cost over $240, while the runner design SENEA is working on costs less than $30 and can be made by someone without skilled labor abilities. Ideally, a community using this design would have access to old car motors as they can be used to save additional money. The micro-hydro turbine is currently in the fabrication process and has yet to be tested. The estimated implementation date and location for this project is Summer 2010 in rural Haiti. Once built, the turbine will be extensively tested before SENEA members travel to build one abroad as well as set up a Living Water filtering system. To learn more about Living Waters for the World, visit their website at:
|
|
To contact us: |
|
Email: SENEA@utulsa.edu |
|
The University of Tulsa |
|
Sustainable Energy for North East Asia |
