Hi Bruce,
I tried the Acqair generator under very similar circumstances and had
some success and some failures. I have to say that the failures are
more due to issues in my stream more than the generator.
I suspended the Acqair with it's 12 inch propeller, just inside a 15
inch culvert pipe (corrigated outside, smooth inside). I then built
my "dam" using bags of small gravel. Under just the right flow
conditions, this setup would build up about 14 inches of head above
the culvert pipe and the acqair would put out about 5 amps at 12
Volts. A nice winter time addition to my existing solar system.
However, my stream flows through a highly wooded area and carries lots
of debris and very fine clay silt. I had to stop and clean the
propeller two or three times per day. Just one or two leaves would
cut the power in half. Most small sticks were chopped up but larger
ones, say 1 inch diameter, would jam the propeller. I was just
experimenting in the beginning and figuring out how I could screen
this debris. However, the Acqair began to operate slower and slower
even when it was clear which puzzled me. At least until I found the
bearings frozen solid. Somehow, the fine clay silt from my stream got
into the bearings and wrecked them.
Another problem occurred when the stream would over flow the dam.
This would eliminate the pressure gradient across the pipe and the
propeller would hardly turn.
If your stream is clean, most of these issues won't affect you. Best
of luck,
Dane Rogers
--- In [email protected], [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
>
> Hello.
>
> Has anyone out there has experience with the Acqair submersible
generator?
> Apparently they have been used successfully mounted on the
substructure of
> oil rigs.
>
> My idea is to build a dam in a stream that does not have a whole lot of
> head on my land but flows fairly consistently at about 5 to 10 gallons
> (and more during rains)per second. I figure that by funneling the flow
> through the Acqair's prop into a 12 inch outlet I should easily be
able to
> create 7-8 MPH or more of flow regularly. The dam site is a natural
> formation and should not take TOO much work, and it is within 200
feet of
> our new homesite, so transmission to the inverter is possible
without too
> much line loss. We are thinking about the 24V model. The other large
> concern is creating an adequate anti-rock cage, as the stream is
prone to
> occassional extreme flodding in times of heavy rains.
>
> Any other feedback about possible hydeo power generation on this site
> would be greatly appreciated!
>
> Many Thanks, Bruce
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