Dear Duncan, Your problem of starting the siphon can probably be solved by the solutions proposed in the article:
GARRETT, Roger E.. 1991. Principles of Siphons. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society, 22(1): 1-9. March 1991. According to Garrett, "the simple siphon is convenient for some applications, but it does not lend itself to automatic cycling operations". For that he describes the "covered standpipe" and the "trapped-outlet" siphon designs. In case you have difficulty in obtaining the article, I may scan it and and send it to you. Regards, Ricardo Y. Tsukamoto Sao Paulo, Brazil hwmdu wrote: >Hi, >thanks for comments, >I think efficency is rather low. The banki is perhaps not the best >and I am using an old car alternator. Also cable loss. I live above >header tank. >However its enough for washing machine, computer, TV, lights etc >using ex-milk float batteries rewired to 12v. I don't need to wind up >the generator in winter. > >Penstock is 2" internal diameter, not 4, sorry, and I think header >tank is rather less than 500 gallons, it lasts for about half an hour. >The banki inlet can be adjusted from about a quarter of the 2" pipe >to full width of pipe. It doesn't make a huge difference to flow or >power. > > I like ideas with toilet like systems, but am not sure how they >work. I will try and find out. Brilliant suggestion! Thanks very much >for that. It may even be possible to adapt one. > >If I could only get an intermittent siphon going?? Supposed to work >ok for natural water springs. >The system, especially the alternator needs quite a bit of power to >just drive the field, before I get any power out. This summer the >water pretty much dried up. The current nozzle adjustment range is >not enough, and I would have to keep fiddling with it. Intermittent >flow is automatic, and I think higher efficiency. > >Duncan. > >--- In [EMAIL PROTECTED], "JTDesign" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > >>How about an elementary simple solution with >>minimal moving parts and failure points! A >>previous post suggested the toilet flapper valve >>concept. About as simple as it can get and >>pretty well mature as a technology! >> >>Now, instead of using the flush handle to >>actuate it, how about some chain and a float. >>Set the chain length so the float will actuate >>the valve when the tank is almost full. >>Elegant? Of course a float valve would have to >>be fabricated to match the pipe size of the >>penstock, but that would not be much of a chore. >> >>This concept requires no special sensors, >>electronics, or other sophisticated components >>and would almost never need maintenance. >> >>Have fun, >>Jay >> >> >>----- Original Message ----- >>From: "Nando" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >>To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >>Sent: Thursday, November 25, 2004 9:36 AM >>Subject: Re: [microhydro] Re: Intermittant flow >>with a siphon. How? >> >> >> >> >>The solution for sporadic charging is to have a >>pressure detector to >>determine a full tank, then an auto valve to >>open to charge, then detecting >>the pressure empty tank level to close the >>valve. >> >>What is needed is the Banki nozzle size and the >>water usage at good water >>flow -- and the low water available to see what >>type of nozzle maybe needed >>to run the Banki under these conditions-- for >>possible full time usage and >>not sporadic use. >> >>Regards >> >>Nando >> >>----- Original Message ----- >>From: "ReadFamily" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >>To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >>Sent: Thursday, November 25, 2004 9:26 AM >>Subject: Re: [microhydro] Re: Intermittant flow >>with a siphon. How? >> >> >> >> >>>I think that the replies to this thread are >>>getting away from the original >>> >>> >>question. >> >> >>>My understanding of the situation is this: >>>When the water flow is adequate the Banki can >>>be run full time (no >>> >>> >>problem), but during dry spells the water flow >>is not adequate so a scheme >>was designed to store water in a 500 gallon tank >>which would provide >>intermittent full flow to run the Banki. >> >> >>>The question is how to make this work. >>>Initial attempt with a flexible pipe running >>>into the side of the header >>> >>> >>tank did not produce intermittent full flow, but >>constant low flow. >> >> >>>I dont have an answer - it sounds a bit like >>>the solution could be along >>> >>> >>the same lines as the flushing of a toilet. The >>key thing is to have two >>distinct states - no flow and full flow. If this >>could be done with a >>periodically fired flapper valve then that would >>work, but maybe there is >>some way to make a syphon system work where >>there is no valve. Any ideas? >> >> >>>Dominic Read >>>Georgia, USA >>> >>> >>>[Non-text portions of this message have been >>>removed] >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>>Does your company feature in the microhydro >>>business directory at >>> >>> >>http://microhydropower.net/directory ? If not, >>please register free of >>charge and be exposed to the microhydro >>community world wide! >> >> >>>NOTE: The advertisements in this email are >>>added by Yahoogroups who >>> >>> >>provides us with free email group services. The >>microhydro-group does not >>endorse products or support the advertisements >>in any way. >> >> >>>More information on micro hydropower at >>>http://microhydropower.net >>> >>>To unsubscribe: send empty message to >>> >>> >>[EMAIL PROTECTED] >> >> >>>Yahoo! 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