power outages

[Chin_Lee]

this low-head power generator has got me thinking about our overflows and my overflow pipes from my tank upstairs into my basement sump - that would generate a lot of electricity with 13 foot drop

Originally Posted by andresont

Ian Gilmartin, 60, has invented a mini water wheel capable of supplying enough electricity to power a house - for free.

http://news.scotsman.com/scotland.cfm?id=5492007

[Reefer Rob]

LOL We could just put the thing outside here and there would be enough water to power it!

[andresont]

Originally Posted by Chin_Lee

this low-head power generator has got me thinking about our overflows and my overflow pipes from my tank upstairs into my basement sump - that would generate a lot of electricity with 13 foot drop

i always liked your thinking Chin !

[midgetwaiter]

Originally Posted by Chin_Lee

this low-head power generator has got me thinking about our overflows and my overflow pipes from my tank upstairs into my basement sump - that would generate a lot of electricity with 13 foot drop

I don't know how serious you were about that but if you think carefully it could never work. The 13ft drop might generate quite a bit of juice but for it to be enough you'd need a perfect generator and pump. You need to get it 13ft back up after all.

[tranvictor]

Originally Posted by midgetwaiter

I don't know how serious you were about that but if you think carefully it could never work. The 13ft drop might generate quite a bit of juice but for it to be enough you'd need a perfect generator and pump. You need to get it 13ft back up after all.

Do you think it would work with just a 4 foot return? I mean even if it generates enough juice to kill some of the power bills that would be enough for me. I wonder how much flow it would require passing through the generator?

[fishface]

if you guys are really serious about this idea i'm pretty sure it's been beaten to death on RC somewhere. i believe the results weren't worth the effort after all the numbers had been crunched.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...te+electricity