So I researched Micro hydro for probably 10 years and finally decided to pull the trigger on it since the political climate isn’t very promising and I retired and needed A project.
I did post a about this a few months ago on another thread but Inthought I’d start my own and show my progress.
My system measurements are 500+ gpm flow 990 feet of 8” penstock and 60 ft of head. I have two turgo turbines custom made my Spencer at Langston Alternative Power. A Growatt split phase 12k inverter going into six Lifepo4 Lithium Phosphate batteries. Along with 20 230w solar panels that will be installed in the spring.
I guess I’ll start at the beginning. I hand built the weir from rocks on my property.(pic#1) This took WAY longer than expected and was very time consuming. I’m talking over 100 bags of motar/ concrete used. I also poured the concrete box that the coanda screen sits on. (Pic#2)This saved my about 6k verses buying a prefabbed stainless steel one sized to my system.
I then buried the 8” penstock in the Very rocky ground just beside the creek. (pic#3) My Ford 555 backhoe didn’t miss a beat in the rocky soil.
990 ft later ( and about 4 months..lol ) I got to the end of the penstock run and installed the turbines. (Pic 4,5) Due to the huge rocks down off this hill, I couldn’t get the powerhouse floor and the penstock completely square but I got it workable and close enough.
I am now working on burying the wire 360ft up to my house and to the inverter and battery bank.
I have done this project 100% solo so far. I ran into some pretty good roadblocks along the way. The huge rocks were an issue. I had to buy an electric jack hammer to break up some of the absolute huge rocks I couldnt dig out with the backhoe and just cut a wedge out of them to allow the pipe to sit properly.one rock took me about 6 hours of constant hammering. Not fun at all.
then getting my backhoe back out of the thicket / woods because the pipe wasn’t buried yet and a snowstorm was coming took two full days of cutting trees brush. I finally got it back home safe and sound.
once I get the line to the house buried it’s on to installing a sub panel. This is the part that I may have to recruit an electrician friend to at least look over once I’m done installing.
So that is my progress so far. Any advice and or questions are always welcomed.
I did post a about this a few months ago on another thread but Inthought I’d start my own and show my progress.
My system measurements are 500+ gpm flow 990 feet of 8” penstock and 60 ft of head. I have two turgo turbines custom made my Spencer at Langston Alternative Power. A Growatt split phase 12k inverter going into six Lifepo4 Lithium Phosphate batteries. Along with 20 230w solar panels that will be installed in the spring.
I guess I’ll start at the beginning. I hand built the weir from rocks on my property.(pic#1) This took WAY longer than expected and was very time consuming. I’m talking over 100 bags of motar/ concrete used. I also poured the concrete box that the coanda screen sits on. (Pic#2)This saved my about 6k verses buying a prefabbed stainless steel one sized to my system.
I then buried the 8” penstock in the Very rocky ground just beside the creek. (pic#3) My Ford 555 backhoe didn’t miss a beat in the rocky soil.
990 ft later ( and about 4 months..lol ) I got to the end of the penstock run and installed the turbines. (Pic 4,5) Due to the huge rocks down off this hill, I couldn’t get the powerhouse floor and the penstock completely square but I got it workable and close enough.
I am now working on burying the wire 360ft up to my house and to the inverter and battery bank.
I have done this project 100% solo so far. I ran into some pretty good roadblocks along the way. The huge rocks were an issue. I had to buy an electric jack hammer to break up some of the absolute huge rocks I couldnt dig out with the backhoe and just cut a wedge out of them to allow the pipe to sit properly.one rock took me about 6 hours of constant hammering. Not fun at all.
then getting my backhoe back out of the thicket / woods because the pipe wasn’t buried yet and a snowstorm was coming took two full days of cutting trees brush. I finally got it back home safe and sound.
once I get the line to the house buried it’s on to installing a sub panel. This is the part that I may have to recruit an electrician friend to at least look over once I’m done installing.
So that is my progress so far. Any advice and or questions are always welcomed.
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