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Member:
American Solar Energy Society

Solar Washington

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Micro Hydro Power

Harris Hydro

 

The Harris Hydro system is an efficient, durable battery charging pelton turbine. It is especially well suited to produce usable power from springs and creeks that are too small to sustain the same level of useful power from a conventional A.C. generating system. Water is collected upstream from the hydro and piped downstream to where the turbine is located. As a rule the greater the head, (the difference in elevation between the collection point and the turbine is called the head) the better. Because D.C. power can be stored in batteries, these small systems operate 24 hours a day collecting energy, a little at a time, to be delivered "on demand" from the batteries as the need dictates.

 

 

A 4-nozzle P.M. (Permanent Magnet) Generator-Equipped Turbine

 

The multiple nozzle arrangement allows considerably more water to impact the runner, resulting in greater output at any head, and usable power at a much lower head. All turbines include an output-optimizing circuit allowing maximum efficiency at any flow rate. Multi-nozzle systems include PVC penstock and individual ball valves on each nozzle. 

 

The pelton type runner is a lost wax cast of silicon bronze. The wheel is 70-90% efficient, depending upon nozzle size and head. The bucket shape allows high efficiency for nozzles and provides a flow range of over 100:1. The wheel has a hydraulic diameter of just over 4.0" and each wheel is individually balanced. 

 

 

Adjustable Strength Permanent Magnet Rotor Advantages

 

Historically small alternators have had either wound electromagnetic fields or fixed strength permanent magnet fields. Wound fields have a 3% to 5% loss in efficiency from electricity used to run the coil, as well as brush maintenance and coil failure problems.

 

Fixed PM (permanent magnet) fields are efficient at one flux density only and cannot be changed. In many applications (i.e. small hydroelectric generators) the load requirements change and the corresponding field flux density should change.

 

Previous attempts at variable strength PM rotors have been (a) iron shunting the magnets; (b) pancake-type generator with disk rotor that the air gap is varied to control field strength.

 

a)  Iron shunting has been limited to low flux density because not enough iron surface is available to magnetic induction and multiple air gaps required.

b)  Air gap variation has had very low efficiency at large air gaps because of flux leakage into unwanted conductors resulting in high eddy current losses.

 

 

Rotor with Stationary Control Circuit Advantages

 

The stationary magnetic control circuit allows the flux density in the rotor to be adjusted while the alternator is operating. This allows peak power point tracking and more convenient operation.

 

The rotor design has the advantage of being very efficient at all flux densities because the flux path remains within the rotor at all reduced flux levels, not allowing eddy current losses in the stator or other conductors. Further, the iron pole piece can be easily shaped to optimize the wave form output of the alternator.

 

The simple rotor can be adjusted by rotating one ring of magnets with respect to the iron pole pieces and the other magnet ring i.e. a rotation of one pole piece will change flux density from full to null.

 

Another advantage of this rotor design is the rotor pole piece, which interacts with the stator, can be made of low eddy current materials and can be laminated, increasing alternator efficiency.

 

Model

Price

 Single Nozzle P.M. Generator

12, 24 or 48 volt

$1800.00

 Two Nozzle P.M. Generator

12, 24 or 48 volt

$1900.00

 Four Nozzle P.M. Generator

12, 24 or 48 volt

$2150.00

 Single Nozzle LVPM Fixed Field PM Alternator

12, 24 or 48 volt

$1350.00

 Two Nozzle LVPM Fixed Field PM Alternator

12, 24 or 48 volt

$1400.00

 Four Nozzle LVPM Fixed Field PM Alternator

12, 24 or 48 volt

$1550.00

 Fan Kit -

$70.00

 Nozzle Tubes -

$25.00

 Nozzles -

$7.50

 Bronze Pelton Runner -

$300.00

 Rheostat -

$35.00

 Housing  - $155.00

 

 

 

 

Order Toll Free 1-877-230-7710

 

 

 

 

Harris Hydro

How To Determine Output

 

 

Turbine output is determined by 4 factors:

 

1.  Head, or vertical drop from source to turbine nozzle.

 

Head can be measured with a transit or level and a measuring stick of known length in successive steps.   Or a quick pipe can be assembled from numerous garden hoses and the pressure can be measured with the hoses full of water.   This, too, can be done in successive steps.

 

0.43 psi = 1 foot of head / 2.3 feet = 1 psi

 

2.  Flow in gallons per minute (gpm) passing through the nozzle.

 

A temporary dam can be built to measure flow.   By timing the filling of a container of known volume, the flow can be determined.   Care should be taken to not dry up creeks, but to leave enough water to maintain natural environmental balances.

 

3.  Diameter, length and condition of feeder pipe.

 

Generally, single nozzle systems with under 2000 feet of feeder pipe require a 2" pipe.   A two nozzle system needs a 3" pipe and 4 nozzle systems require a 4" pipe.   This will keep pipe losses under 25%.   Please inquire about specific pipe losses for your site.

 

4.  Turbine efficiency.

 

Alternator systems are between 30% - 70% efficient.

 

 

 Maximum Wattage at Various Voltages

 

12 Volt

24 Volt

48 Volt

750

1500

2500

 

 

 

Regular Alternator Output In Watts

 

Feet Net of Head

GAL/M

25

50

75

100

200

300

3

-

-

-

-

45

80

6

-

-

30

45

130

180

10

-

40

75

95

210

300

15

25

75

110

150

320

450

20

40

100

160

240

480

600

30

65

150

250

350

650

940

50

130

265

420

600

1100

1500

100

230

500

750

1100

1500

-

200

-

580

900

1300

-

-

 

 

High Output Alternator Output In Watts

 

Feet Net of Head

GAL/M

25

50

75

100

200

300

3

-

-

-

-

30

70

6

-

-

25

35

100

150

10

-

35

60

80

180

275

15

20

60

95

130

260

400

20

30

80

130

200

400

550

30

50

125

210

290

580

850

50

115

230

350

500

950

1400

100

200

425

625

850

1500

-

200

-

520

850

1300

-

-

 

 

 

 

Maximum Efficient Flow At Various Heads

(Figures in Gallons/Minute)

 

 

Feet of Net Head

# of Nozzles

25

50

75

100

200

300

1

17

25

30

35

50

60

2

35

50

60

70

100

120

3

52

75

90

105

150

-

4

70

100

120

140

200

-

 

 

 

 

If you have any questions, please call us toll free: 1-877-230-7710 

Prices subject to change without notice.

We make every effort to provide accurate information on our website. Unfortunately, errors do occur and we reserve the right to make changes and correct errors to prices and specifications as necessary. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Fire Mountain Solar LLC™
Products for a Sustainable Future™
For Technical Information Call 1-360-422-5610
To Order Call Toll Free 1-877-230-7710
mailto:info@firemountainsolar.com

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