Thursday, March 14, 2013
What if rain gutter downspouts contained tiny water turbines that were capable of generating small amounts of...
What if rain gutter downspouts contained tiny water turbines that were capable of generating small amounts of electricity that could be stored in battery banks or used for items needed while it is raining?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
17 comments:
Seems a good idea on the face of it, but the total amount of water landing on the roof of an average-sized dwelling doesn't really amount to much. With such a small amount of water to work with, even a two-story drop to a highly efficient generator won't produce much wattage.
Postulating is a start in the right direction.
My postules cleared up after I used the right cream.
Yeah, like I said, it was a good idea. The numbers just don't work. I used to have the formula for volume of water, height drop, and generator efficiency somewhere, but the upshot is always that it's less powerful than you'd think. IIRC a 6" diameter pipe carries about the right amount of water to power a couple of 40W bulbs and a small radio, or something on that order. I guess if you're off the mains during a power failure, that might keep you happier, but it probably costs more than candles and batteries over the life of the installation.
All I hear is "wah wahwah wah waaaaaaah." You're still thinking in terms of incandescent bulbs and radios.
Actually, I'm related to Charlie Brown's parents, so the sound of my voice is perfectly normal. ;-)
What are you thinking of powering with your contraption?
The point of my post was actually directed at another friend who has been posting crazy ideas about the uses of rainwater. I was merely feeding his fire at the moment while sitting in a deluge of water and watching hundreds of gallons of water get directed into a small area of land next to this hotel I am in... I have nothing in mind or plans other than that fleeting thought.
Uh... fish ponds? Free fish forever sounds like a win.
Funny you should mention that... I've been fascinated with aquaponics for quite some time.
No idea how to go about it. I wonder if you get the original stock as eggs or fry. Then what do you feed them?
Depending, of course, on what you want to grow, it could be as easy as going to your local aquarist. It would really depend if your initial grow model was more about the fish or the plants. Personally, I'd start with guppies sourced from anywhere. They live in just about anything and reproduce faster than rabbits. I'd use this to kickstart the grow operation. Then I'd source bigger "table fish" like trout or bass and start them in a different tank... I'd feed the guppy population to the bigger fish.
Skip the feeders and go with tilapia?
Of course, that would be the easiest and completely practical but I really can't stomach the idea of eating tilapia. LOL.
Not a fan, eh? What about fresh water crustaceans?
Shrimp... absolutely.
Crawfish (Crayfish)... absolutely.
Two winners right there.
Post a Comment