Micro Hydro Penstock Overview

The Penstock of a micro hydro install is the pipe that brings the water from the source down to the pma (permanent magnet alternator) I am visiting an install location with a 4" penstock taking over 100 gallons of water per minute down to make power. There are a few things to keep in mind when setting up a micro hydro penstock. Keep the slope always going down hill. Make sure the pipe is large enough to flow the water you need. And have as few turns as possible.
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[@portnuefflyer]

My system, in use for 15 years, uses 3" fusion welded HDPE pipe all the way, 147' of fall in a 1/4 mile. VERY rocky terrain, simply laid on the ground, now largely overgrown with brush etc. Right now I am producing 33.7 amps at 26 VDC, 24/7, into an Outback VFX battery based grid tied inverter, which inverts and grid ties the power as soon as it's produced. The battery bank is not intended to be "lived off", it's just a buffer. If the grid goes down I have no power, the utility is my battery, a battery with 100% efficiency (I put one watt in, I get one watt back, months later) with unlimited capacity, with zero maintenance (I pay a $5.00 a month hookup fee, that's it) and it doesn't wear out or take up any room! For someone who was off grid for 28 years like myself, being grid tied is the way to go, I don't miss having a large battery bank at all! I have a stand pipe about 4' below my intake, just so when I turn the ball valve at the screen box intake off, I don't create a vacuum in the pipe as the water drains out, no other stand pipes. A couple times a year I uncouple the bottom of the line, and let it free flow for several hours, this serves to clean it out. I used 3", based on my estimate of the low water flow times of the snow melt mountain spring, and expense of course. Using 4" would have been beneficial until the summer wore on, the flow dropped, and I couldn't keep it full, even with the 3" I reduce my jets from 1/2" (two of them a Harris Hydro pelton wheel) down to 1/8" by late fall.

[@dragonslayer7587]

These videos are a huge help to me because I'm going to be putting in a Hydro System. I've got to figure out where to put the pump house in relation to my house... Lots goes into this, including whether to build all DC current.... Still figuring, but YOU are extremely helpful!

[@LandtoHouse]

Hydro is lots of work and lots of fun. happy to hear that the videos are giving you good info.

[@alberteinstein9176]

Trial and error can be costly. I appreciate these videos because it gives you detailed information on how to avoid those pitfalls. Thomas Dutkiewicz Connecticut

[@JB-eg1tb]

By the way, congrats on over 200K subscribers! I remember when you had less than 50k. Well earned and well deserved.

[@LandtoHouse]

Thank you. it has been a fun ride.

[@az55544]

That shrubbery looks invasive. My brain can’t find the name ATM, but maybe check in with the owner. The health of the woodland is the health of that stream. Thank you for the awesome details that you provide. I recommend your work to site assessment clients so they can skill up on regenerative options and make wise financial , physical energy and time decisions.

[@LandtoHouse]

That shrubbery is found all over the woods of Western North Carolina. It's called rhododendron. It grows next to creeks and on certain sides of the mountain.

[@alanharriman23]

I would love to learn what power is generated with this system using 100 gpm and 50 feet of head.

[@LandtoHouse]

More on this system coming up. Its a nice one.

[@portnuefflyer]

@@LandtoHouse Based on my own 15 years of experience, I'd guesstimate 300 to 500 watts

[@lalremruata7209]

I think the air reducer that stands near the dam needs supporter to prevent it from collapse.

[@LandtoHouse]

Because that standpipe was so close to the intake it's drawing air. They're going to reduce and cap that pipe.

[@ok2x]

why is there so much pipe ran to the hyrdo unit , whats the shortest run of pipe you can do and still be functional ?

[@Just_An_Idea_For_Consideration]

Very interested in what type of inverter you use with this, and what protections are in place for surge current or other issues

[@LandtoHouse]

I have two more mini parts and then the full length video will come out.

[@eliguaso22]

Love your videos. Sadly I've been trying to set up a rampump for my land to no avail. 7 meters drop, 30 meters of pvc drive pipe, 100 mts delivery pipe, and cant get more than 20 of elevation with so poor flow... Is so frustrating. Even when I got a 5 gallon tank filled in 30 secs and enough drop it seems I can't figured out what's going on.

[@j4891]

Ram pumps are very inefficient, homemade ones made out of pvc even more so. Expect 5-10% of the volume going thru the pump to actually be delivered, so 10 gallon per minute you measured would deliver 0.5-0.75 gpm pumped if you size and do everything right. As for only getting 20 meters of lift, if you can see the pump or drive pipe jump/jerk secure them (boards and strapping / rocks / whatever you have to do). If the pump/drive is able to move freely it will dissipate the energy / pressure wave and cut the lift ratio by half or more easily. Even fairly small movements will decrease performance very noticeably, get it as close to no movement as you possibly can. If your pump/d.Pipe is over 1in/24mm in diameter, or lift height is >40 mtr, you need to use the thick walled pvc (SCH 80/4.5-5.5mm wall thickness minimum, SCH 120/5.5-6.3mm preferably). Even if diameter & lift are under that, double check you have at least SCH 40/2.75-3.35mm equivalent pvc, as they do make a thin wall SCH 20 & 30 pvc for non pressure drain/vent use and even at 12.5 mm dia it would bulge/expand like a vein and kill lift. Ideally, even if everything else is pvc, if possible, make at least the first 3-5 mtr of drive pipe coming off the pump in metal, and then pvc on to the supply if must. Oh, and the internal check valve can be pvc, but the waste valve, must be metal, no matter what, you need that weight and no flex hard stop (upgrade to stainless steel or modified style if you can). A swing check waste valve will work pretty decent, but search "rampump modified valve" to see the adjustable weight/stroke versions if you want better lift/volume once you get the basics working with the valve you have. Other potential causes: Drive pipe length, without a modified style waste valve 30 mtr is quite long for diameters less than 1.5in/38mm. I would suggest a stand pipe halfway down (technically [pipe dia in mm multiplied by between 0.25 to 0.75 = pipe length in meters] should at least work, but I'd use 0.5 to start). Double check that the pressure chamber has enough volume per recommended vs the pump pipe diameter used, and that it has enough air in it. Make sure the drive pipe is completely purged of air, and that the intake is deep enough (6in/15cm+) that it doesn't create a vortex and suck air. Double check for leaks or any other ways air may suck in. Can't adjust this easily without a modified valve, but could give diagnostic clues: Count how many times waste valve cycles per minute, range of 20-80 should function ok and not be the issue {fyi, slower very hard hits will give higher volume and pressure}. Also make sure the beat spacing is regular with sharp clean snap sound. Attach a pressure guage and close the delivery valve to check the max pressure the pump can develop. With 7 mtr fall, should hit 40 psi minimum if nothing is majorly wrong, and 60+ psi if built/setup well (without tweaks/mods). Probably more, but that's all that come to mind atm.

[@douglasnichols6116]

What do yo do about massive flooding or do you not suffer from that. GOOD QUESTION 🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌

[@LandtoHouse]

The homeowner says they've seen somewhere around 700 gallons per minute flowing through this Creek. can definitely be an issue with flooding but they've got the Pen stock pushed over to the side and that gets it out of the path of the water.