Homestead mailing list

[Bill Jones <billj AT harborside.com>]

Gene GeRue wrote:

> > Is there anything to be gained  
> > from
> > using the ram to raise the water to a spot that's more  
> > accommodating to
> > a hydro-electric generator, I wonder?
> >    
>
>
>
> Your last sentence baffles me. Any generator powered by water would  
> be more efficient if the water source was at a higher elevation.
>  
Well, the amount of slope is what it is here, of course, for the ram or 
for direct generation.  I was just thinking, for the first time, as a 
half-baked idea, that it could just be more convenient for siting the 
generator.  The only other way I can see to obtain a straight vertical 
drop is by channeling the water through a long, gently sloping pipe, 
with a sudden drop at the end.  It would sure beat this, since the 
latter would surely be in the way!  At least the ram intake line can be 
on the ground.

I'm not sure if I'm getting the most out of a generator-turbine system, 
if I place it right in the stream bed, even though the water seems fast 
moving, the reason being that it's not moving any faster near the bottom 
of the property where it exits.  I guess that's because the flow rate 
already reflects the equilibrium between gravity and friction at 
terminal velocity.

I don't know of a way to combine the very fast flow rate that I already 
have at the top with the potential energy gain available on my own 
slope.  Maybe I could have one generator at the top that just works on 
the given flow, feeding a ram intake that feeds a second generator 
located further down.

Bill
S. Oregon coast