MOTHER's MICROHYDROELECTRIC PLANT REVISITED

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THE BOTTOM LINE

We've been able to boost the output of our hydroplant from 1,800 watts to 2,100 watts, largely because of the much more efficient control system. The net efficiency of the system is now between 55 and 60%, a typical range for well-executed microhydroelectric plants. By using a Prony brake (a sort of makeshift dynamometer), we've been able to determine that the turbine is operating at roughly 70% efficiency. That's less than many commercial turbines achieve that operate at higher heads. For a homemade device running with only 12.5 feet of head, however, it's a pretty respectable figure.

Though we've spent quite a bit of money refining our system over the last five years, the plant could be duplicated (with the benefit of 20/20 hindsight) roughly as follows:

Hired labor would obviously boost this total considerably . . . but even if the price doubled, the plant would only cost about $2.75 per watt of installed capacity. And in a year's time it could conceivably produce almost 18,000 kwh, or about $1,250 worth of power at our prevailing retail rates. (Selling to the utility, which we have opted not to do, would bring only about one-third of the retail rate.)

After five years of polishing, our little hydroplant is undoubtedly one of the most refined pieces of alternative energy hardware at Eco-Village. Now we're just waiting for the first successful variable-flow turbine to be demonstrated.

EDITOR'S NOTE: To order complete plans for building our fixed-nozzle crossflow turbine.

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