MicroHydro Francis Turbine Part 2

[@1cmnsents]

Its a shame to have shown tis as a great project ...but never disclose the COST. It leaves to many to just think that it is to expensive to want to do it....

[@mrhydrohead]

I appreciate your comment however I am not the owner of this system. I merely documented this particular system. Even if I did provide cost figures, it would not be of much benefit as each system is unique to the chosen site and costs can vary widely depending on numerous factors. First there is the potential power available at the particular site which dictates if the desired use of that power is practical. Who will design the system? What will be the best equipment and materials available to meet the unique requirements of the most beneficial and practical design? Then there are expenses involved in acquiring water rights which are likely different in each state or country depending on a pro se (self applied) application or hiring lawyer to work on them. Who will do the labor to install the system? Is it your own sweat equity, friends that can help, or hired labor and at what rate? How much time will it take to install? What materials can be accessed? Reused or new pipe, copper or aluminum wire? How long a length of wire? What building(s) will house the equipment? What transformers, batteries, load regulators, power shunts, or utility net metering are available and/or appropriate to the particular site? All of theses factors can add to the costs and it would be naive of me to present a one size fits all price. One must be clear that installing a system is creating an asset which would likely provide power for a lifetime. Can it be financed over time and does that cost make economic sense when compared to running utility lines to an off grid property? Will a local utility be willing to purchase excess power and at what rate? Undertaking a project of this size is not for the faint of heart. It IS a large commitment both financially and in effort and time. My first system (1.5kw) which I own and documented on this channel cost ~$25k and was installed in the mid 90’s. Redesigning and moving the same equipment to a more reliable water source was also documented on my channel and took place between 2013-2015 and added another ~$55k but boosted the useable power by a factor of 5 to 7.5kw. WHEN a project occurs occurs is also a factor governing cost. Inflation impacts everything involved and the fact that I intend these videos to remain on the internet for years to come and provide some clear eyed guidance to people that are serious about their own intentions, this dictates that I not mislead them with cost estimates willynilly. Thanks for watching and for your comment. I hope you gain a broader perspective from the whole channel and benefit from the heart felt intention with which it has freely been shared and provided.

[@liamhotspur9182]

Cost is secondary. What matters most is the return on invest by a given number of money/unit of electricity. But even that doesn't matter if there are no/less other off-grid options. So here I would guess a ROI about 18-24 years including maintenance and replacement costs for the batteries for example, considering market price for the unit of electricity today.

[@marcs3982]

That's bc it is too expensive. But not enough information. How far to the nearest commercial power source, vs total cost for the hydro. But I'm sure the people doing the project figured that out ahead of time....

[@peoplenewstoday]

Low side $100k American, High side $250k. That’s my guess. Depends on equipment, wire, plumbing, labor hours, purchased new? Used? Etc. Will probably run for 30 years with basic maintenance providing thousands a month if electricity. TAX FREE! Literally pays for itself if you get $1000 per month electricity even at $300k. Power company can charge big money to run power then charge you, tax you, limit your power. What’s freedom worth?

[@privatepilot4064]

@@peoplenewstodayAbsolutely, it all comes down to freedom in the end.

[@GeorgeJetson1]

This has been very educational. I've watched several videos on micro hydro designs, but yours is excellent. And thank you for the details and placing the land back in order. In 2-3 years, it will look untouched. I only wish I had a stream on my land I could tap into. And the money. This is obviously a very expensive endeavor. But to be FREE and off the grid would be awesome!

[@mrhydrohead]

I'm glad you found value in the video. I must say that living with hydro is a joy. This system in this video isn't mine. I don't know if you've seen the earlier videos, but there is the system I own which I started documenting in earnest as the foundation of the channel (parts 1-21) and another which runs on irrigation water. I've attempted to broaden the range of systems I document, but they are not the easiest thing to find and then talk folks into letting me film them. Anyway, if you haven't seen the other parts of the channel, please check out my own system and the irrigation water one. Thanks for watching

[@online247365]

That piece of land looks like a little slice of heaven! Thanks for sharing.

[@mrhydrohead]

You bet! Thanks for watching!

[@gregorythomas333]

Yes! I have been keenly interested with this project...thank you so much for releasing Part 2 of this fascinating build!

[@mrhydrohead]

Thanks for watching!

[@Bob-j5o3b]

A basic concept of service burial is to embed the services (pipes, wires) in sand. This minimizes the damage that you saw when just dumping the spoil back in the trench. Six inches below and a foot on top will give you adequate protection from the boulder size shown in the video. Doesn't have to be quality sand, can even be pea metal which is sometimes sought because it allows more independent movement for the pipes. You can also use a grizzly when excavating to separate the boulders out from the soil so that they either don't go back in the trench, or the operator can lay down a layer of soil before putting the boulders back in

[@hbaykiwi]

Good job with the locate wire. I was thinking about that after the first video so glad you put one in.

[@mrhydrohead]

Thanks for watching

[@MrTolcher]

I’ve watched this a couple of times now purely because I enjoy the process and your narration

[@mrhydrohead]

@@MrTolcher Quite the compliment, Thank you 🙏🏼. You might enjoy the synopsis playlist of the system I own on my property kzbin.info/aero/PLtTypVpmDd-vkT9bJQkXw4I1t0e_4jMYA

[@MrTolcher]

@@mrhydrohead Thank you, they were also a joy to watch. you have an incredibly peaceful place to call home.

[@anthonyxuereb792]

Wise words at the end, engage the services of the experts! Saves time, money, delays and frustration and well worth the fee.

[@LeJimster]

I love seeing these systems being built. Only thing I wonder is the the turbine going to be left exposed. I would have thought a small building to protect it and also help muffle the sound of it running would be ideal in a place like that.

[@mrhydrohead]

I did hear that they intend to use a grain silo as a protective structure, but I have no idea how they intend to build a foundation to support it. I think that task will be given to a separate contractor to accomplish. Thanks for watching!

[@liamhotspur9182]

Yes, I was thinking the same.

[@hippiehillape]

One year at a time. Seems their build season is weather permitting

[@driller840]

They want to show the process. We would not be able to see if it was housed. Its far away from the house noise seams not a problem.

[@kimmoj2570]

@LeJimster I wondered the same. Considering this seems system ment for decades, the turbine installation over steel box without any foundations, almost at the creek seems dubious. Ofcourse they were severely limited by 35 feet head. Building proper powerhouse would had robbed them easily 5 feet.

[@Biogasifier]

As always wonderful!! I’m excited for your videos or come!! Thank you for your quality produced videos on a subject that has such importance.

[@mrhydrohead]

You are so welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@Vectrum0013]

can't wait to see what other kinds of micro-hydro systems you can find, and share with us. great video keep up the good work

[@mrhydrohead]

Thanks for watching!

[@Gerryweiers]

Thanks for the video! I really like the style you do your videos in.

[@mrhydrohead]

Thx for watching!

[@mungermid]

Very good video and scenery. What a project to be building.

[@mrhydrohead]

Thanks for watching!

[@kevin3434343434]

Such a cool channel, thanks for putting these documentaries out there!

[@mrhydrohead]

You are most welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@jonathans8]

this is great. it would be cool to be able to find someone who can build these in each US state, especially on this kind of scale. that system is just big enough to be beyond a DIY project but just small enough to be affordable for an upper-middle class family with the right kind of property.

[@mrhydrohead]

Maybe one day. On cost, you are paying for all future power up front, so it is costly. Thanks for watching!

[@GeeCeeAte]

Amazing system!!! Love these videos! I used AGMs and have learned so much the hard way. Put balancers on them as soon as you can. That 100$ will save you thousands! My 1600 AH bank went unbalanced in a few months and went bad. Every wire was the exact length down to the mm but the front batteries wer charging 2v higher than the last ones. Wish I would have known about balancers then!

[@mrhydrohead]

I have literally no experience with batteries as MY system is straight AC with ELC for load management. Hopefully readers of the comments will benefit from you sharing your practical knowledge. Thanks for watching and sharing!

[@GeeCeeAte]

@@mrhydrohead Your system is amazing! I hope I wasn't coming off as rude, I just didn't know balancers existed and I wish someone told me. We don't use them here in America (or at-least they aren't widely used here). Can't wait for more vids!

[@mrhydrohead]

@@GeeCeeAte More to come. Thanks for watching!

[@imho7250]

You’re right, AGM batteries can’t be equalized by charging like flooded lead acid, so they destroy themselves as they get out of balance. Using a balancer on a bank of 12v batteries helps but you still have no way to balance the 6 cells in each battery. If you had a bunch of single cell AGM with a balancer it would help that one specific problem, but its not the only one. AGM is good for emergency power, where it stays at float most of its life. You cant store it at 50% charge and use it as a energy storage buffer. LiFePO4 is really what I was expecting to see in this system. Something that is happy staying at 30-80% SOC all year, and requires very little maintenance. AGM is cheap initially but will cost more after you replace them a few times. I just replaced mine with LiFePO4 and a smart BMS, so now instead of checking each battery with a multimeter and manually balancing them, i open my Bluetooth app and check and if its not staying balanced i can initiate a balance cycle and they are perfect again.

[@richardboutin8522]

By now lithium ion is the way to go

[@hotshot619]

Thank you for documenting this process. It's incredibly interesting and I hope people will find it in their own research for years to come.

[@mrhydrohead]

Thx for watching!

[@ranjithgodage6779]

@@mrhydrohead èė

[@jeffzimnisky7073]

Really appreciate your videos. We plan on moving and want to be off grid. Either with solar, hydro or both and your videos help out a lot.

[@mrhydrohead]

Even a small amount of hydro can really compliment solar with batteries quite nicely. Glad you find the videos helpful. More to come. Thanks for watching!

[@luddesson]

Always a joy to find a new upload

[@mrhydrohead]

Thanks for watching!

[@cornevanzyl5880]

I loved your previous project from a few years ago! Excited for this one

[@mrhydrohead]

I didn't design and I don't own the property. I will be posting another update video about how our system is running once I get through editing one on Micro Hydro learning and education. Thanks for watching!

[@networkdwarf]

Outstanding job, thank you for documenting the entire process.

[@mrhydrohead]

Thank YOU for the kind comment and for watching. Micro hydro has become a passion and a joy to live with 🙏🏼

[@stefanmeier6763]

Thanks for taking us through the process. Great accomplishment

[@mrhydrohead]

Thanks for watching!

[@radarnj8043]

De-centralized is a beautiful term. Made in China is sad. Looking forward to your next adventure downstream. Thank you!

[@mrhydrohead]

Thanks for watching!

[@civilrights20]

Made in China is a beautiful term.

[@radarnj8043]

Especially if you are Uyghur Ismail.

[@liamhotspur9182]

I guess the turbine works fine and comes with a competitive price. Also I am not sure if you can get a Made in USA one for this little scale.

[@easternwoods4378]

I prefer your system of regulating the shunt load to keep the system at 60 hz. Glad to see you out and about and getting healthy. Hope you document many more systems

[@mrhydrohead]

I hope to as well Ernie. I'm very pleased to see the view count up above 19K in 3 days. Way cool! Thanks for watching!

[@chrisdaniel1339]

Your videos are fantastic, keep them coming. If this were my project I would have extended the Coanda Screen across the majority of the stream bed instead of having an overflow area with rocks on the downstream side as you never want the penstock to be starved of water and start sucking air. I personally would have gone with a European or US made turbine, China has just had too many issues with product quality over the years.

[@mrhydrohead]

It may have to do with added cost on an extended Coanda. Not sure. Flow is turned down at turbine if supply is insufficient, but I'm pretty sure its scaled the available seasonal flows. I'm sure cost played into choice of Chinese Turbine. Its not my system, so I'm just and observer/documenter. Thanks for watching!

[@JohnSmith-yv6eq]

Coanda screens seem to me to be an overcomplication as they stilll catch debris and need maintenance by a human. Theoretically if you took water into the penstock at half way between the top of the water and the bottom of the water in a say 3ft deep pond....the silt would be settling on the bottom and the leaves would be floating over the top. Whatever the size of your penstock intake....a tube 50% bigger, stoppered at one end, sleeved down to fit into the intake penstock at the other...drilled with many holes along a good length of it with a textile sleeve as a "just in case" filter wrapped round it..... at the halfway depth in the pond....would always force more than enough water through all the holes and not induce suction vortices.... In floods all the excess water would flow over the dam wall without damage or clogging of the pipe...unlike with a coanda screen dam.... You could lay this intake over the top of the dam off to one side like a syphon which would mean no holes in the dam wall...and a much easier replacement if necessary.... kzbin.info/www/bejne/gofSlpSBeKqXaNE

[@mrhydrohead]

The Coanda screen as designed is self cleaning and the seasonal variations in flow would likely clog what you’ve described in fall time with leaves and debris which isn’t floating. I have worked with a variety of intake styles on my own system shown in the other videos on this Channel and have seen that sort of design you describe get clogged by submerged debris. There are many ways to approach any intake and this one design seems like it will function quite well. Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts!

[@bknesheim]

Have been waiting for this second part so jumped to watching it when it dropped into my suggestion list. As always very interesting. Thanks. 🙂 There would and will be no protests if you added some short update videos. Like when the snow fell and repair on the pipes had too be done. Hope you will include some performances date as times go and just some general info about the state of the system and conditions. Looking forward to any video you make about other systems. You are doing a great job with the videos you make.

[@mrhydrohead]

Its about a five hour trip to get to this property for me as its not my own. If I learn of updates I will try to share. Thanks for watching!

[@studinthemaking]

How many kilowatts is this system?

[@62Cristoforo]

I am curious why the unregulated power coming in to the electrical utilities room is converted from alternating current to direct current, and then back again to alternating current? Would this have something to do with regulating the RMS sine wave or the frequency?

[@mrhydrohead]

Sorry for the slow reply. The power from the turbine is unregulated and comes into the house in a range of voltage and hz which varies. Using a simple transformer would not output the standard power required by code. Rectifying the power to DC enables the inverter to use this source plus the battery bank to output regulated power that meets code specifications. At least thats how I understand it. Thanks for watching

[@cryptoray3009]

Excellent video. I’ve been eagerly waiting to see the final results. Thank you for your great work!

[@mrhydrohead]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching!

[@D-Khaz]

In Ken’s explanation, he said the power goes from the ABB inverter to the Outback inverter. What benefits do you obtain from using multiple inverters? Was a hybrid inverter considered that can do all of these in one (ie SolArk)?

[@mrhydrohead]

I don't know what Ken's rationale was in his selections of gear, but I trust his expertise. And because MY system is straight AC with an ELC for load management I know very little first hand about batteries/inverters. As I understand it, the purpose of feeding the AC to the Outback Inverter is to enable battery peak load capacity to the overall system as well as a means of shunting excess power to the dump loads to the right of the Outback. I don't know that the ABB inverter has the capability of shunt loads which would provide load management tot he system. The shunt dump load wasn't described in the video for reasons of brevity. I don't know virtually anything about the SolArk unit you mention and it may forego what he has designed. Ken is a pretty busy person and isn't involved in these videos beyond allowing me access to document them. I try to not bother him with questions about what he has completed as I know he's onto several other projects once he finishes one. Thanks for watching!

[@Anthony-kd2tbi]

What's the conversion loss in the electrical management system? Not sure why doesn't rectify directly to DC then to charge controller into the batterys. Rectifying and inverting it twice adds conversion losses.

[@mrhydrohead]

Sorry I don't have an answer to those details. I'm neither the designer or the owner of this system. You could ask the designer/installer (Ken) whose email contact is in the notes about the video. Thanks for watching.

[@marblemastersofmiddlegainc3681]

Awesome video. Your original project greatly helped me get my system built!!! My specs: 3600gpm, 11’ head, 2.75-2.90KW, 240v. 12” runner with 6 blades. Propeller type, 1170 rpm induction motor, grid tied for speed control, comes through elect panel to offset grid power usage. Upgrades coming. Have a 4 blade runner with flatter blade angles then go with battery and inverters for storage since my EMC took away net metering June of this year😢. With batteries I will need a few solar panels to be off grid during hot mid summer AC units needs, not because of low water flows… blessed with year around water flows. I’m in Georgia (USA)

[@mrhydrohead]

Wow that sounds great! 3600gpm and 11ft head! WOAH! Thats a honkin' site! Sounds like you really get it with the utility being your governor for your induction motor. I had heard this was possible in the SEI course I took in 1996 , but I've never seen it done. Man, if I lived closer I'd love to film it and share the example. Alas I'm so far away. So glad something I posted was helpful to you. You can certainly call yourself a HydroHead. Congrats to you. and as always, Thanks for watching! Care to share any Pix to my email? [e-mail]

[@marblemastersofmiddlegainc3681]

@@mrhydrohead sent photos and sending a video if it will go through.

[@mattjware]

Thanks for the video, glad to see it working!

[@mrhydrohead]

You're welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@derrickwade6737]

I like your videos and have a question also. Im thinking of having 2 wells drilled on my property if possible. The first will be for some sort of hydro generator and go back into the y the second will be the main supply for the house and property. My question is, what type of generator do you think would be best for this project?

[@mrhydrohead]

I'm not sure how to answer this. To harness potential power from water, it needs to be moving and/or falling over a vertical change. I don't know what elevations your intended wells will be or if there is an adequate difference in the two wells. I also don't know how much water you intend to move. The potential power is a result of two measurements. Flow and Head (vertical drop). I am assuming they would be drawing on the same water table and you would need some energy to pull the water from one well and it will feed into a second well with the same water table elevation. As a consequence I don't see how you could make the system viable and worth the expense of putting it in place. Sorry I can't be of more help.

[@seancollins6524]

Fantastic video clip 👌 looking in from Ireland 🇮🇪

[@mrhydrohead]

Thx for watching!

[@Maaniic]

I'm wondering why there wasn't a bigger slab for the turbine so that a small turbine house could be built over it to protect it from the elements. At the same time would there be an advantage to have the rectifier and dump load in said turbine house. As rectifying 3p ac to DC bumps the voltage which avoids transmission losses and 1 fewer conductor. That and some form of actuator could be fitted to the vane control.

[@mrhydrohead]

What Mr. Gardner told me was that the owner intends to put a grain silo type structure over the turbine. I don’t know what sort of foundation is planned for that. I hope you saw part 1 where the base below the turbine is shown as a prefabricated discharge chamber. I don’t think there is any slab under it. The least amount of transmission loss is achieved with the 3Phase AC being run the greatest distance and then being rectified at the house. DC would have a greater line loss. The dump load in the house provides some heat where it would be useful. I don’t believe they wanted to put any automation on the vane control and to leave that adjustment to be manual. Thanks for watching!

[@jamestegarden2584]

Should of used a mandrel... and What was the calculated voltage drop on that 1200' run?

[@mrhydrohead]

Not sure where you suggest utilizing a mandrel, but for alignment that might have helped. I don't own the system and didn't design it so I don't have exact numbers on V drop, but because the AC was wild and unregulated it would have been a range depending on Voltage. Heavy gauge aluminum wire was likely a higher loss than copper would have been but I'm sure cost was an issue. Thanks for watching.

[@mzimmerman1988]

Fantastic video! Yea, that soil appears to be healthy, so I don't expect the digging to be noticeable for long.

[@mrhydrohead]

Thanks for watching!

[@liamhotspur9182]

Great videos! Thanks for uploading! Did I miss some numbers or what is the nominal elec. capacity of the system?

[@mrhydrohead]

At 4:24 in the video is a plate showing 6.6kw. I don’t own the system, so can’t provide measured output over time. Thx for the compliment and for watching 🙏🏻

[@hailstorm7868]

How cost effective is it compared to wind/solar? Assuming heating is done without using electricity (so total home consumption under 3kW averaged)

[@mrhydrohead]

I don't own this system and was merely granted access to document it's installation. I do believe that the owners plan to use the reliable supply of power for heating @7500ft. elevation. Output can range up to ~158kWh/day at full capacity with surges handled up to 10kW. See 4:24 in video for specs. Thanks for watching

[@csu9242]

Very well explained, but to look at the expensive works along the waterline, would there be a postive result looking at the kilowatt costs and the power reserve?

[@mrhydrohead]

I imagine so. You need to keep in mind the cost to wire in grid power to the property and this off grid system becomes a much more attractive venture. Thanks for watching!

[@SeaJay_Oceans]

Cool... I hope you can prevent it clogging up with frogs and fish and sticks, leaves and mud and such ? How often do you need to flush & clean and lubricate the system ?

[@mrhydrohead]

If you look at part 1 you will see that the intake dam has a Coanda screen which will mitigate any of those problems. Thx for watching

[@mrhydrohead]

It’s not my system so I don’t know about lubrication

[@desigallerybd]

Nice Video 😍 Watching From 🇧🇩 Thanks For Share🌹

[@mrhydrohead]

You are most welcome. Thx for watching 😉

[@notreallyme425]

Awesome! Any idea on the daily electrical output?

[@mrhydrohead]

If the owners run it at designed max they should get 6000 watts or 144kWh/day. I don’t think they will need to run it at that level until they build other buildings on the property. Thanks for watching!

[@zincfive]

How loud is that turbine? The sound of the stream was over taken at half power, it puts out what 70-80 or some dB? Did the house the turbine? It would be maddening to me if there were a constant mechanical noise disturbing the peace

[@mrhydrohead]

Sorry for the slow reply. Because I don’t own and haven’t visited this system since making the video, I don’t have an accurate answer for you. My understanding was that the owners intended to install a silo type structure to house the turbine. I doubt they left it out in the elements where the noise would be highly unpleasant and the equipment would degrade over time. If I get an update I will post another response to you.

[@hummmingbear]

Beautiful system, very well done. Do you know why AGM batteries were chosen over LiFePO4 chemistry?

[@mrhydrohead]

This was a reply I got from Ken, the designer/installer: "The Francis turbine required a battery based inverter because the system is off grid. There is plenty of power from the turbine and the batteries would rarely cycle. I used AGM batteries because they are designed for that purpose - remain full most of the time. Lithium batteries are far more expensive and don’t justify the expense as the batteries are simply a requirement for off-grid." Hope this answers your question. Thanks for watching.

[@robertduffy5805]

Question - Is there a reason they don't place a structure over the turbine to protect it from the elements and cut down on noise? Seems a larger concrete base with a small insulated shack would be a wise move.

[@mrhydrohead]

I believe the owner plans to put a grain silo over the Turbine for protection, but likely will be built by a different contractor. Thanks for watching! I posted a new video today.

[@wazza33racer]

when pulling cables in conduit, grease them with Lanolin....it wont harm the insulation on the wiring and cables.

[@mrhydrohead]

We did that on my system which is the major part of the channel, but this is a system which I don't own and didn't design. I just documented what they did. Thanks for watching

[@DBGE001]

I think for the cost of the system, you could also install a 40kWp PV system with a 2000 kWh LFP battery backup. This would be a maintenance free system that lasts you about 45 years.

[@DBGE001]

So the electrical efficiency is around 80% for this system?

[@benjamingess983]

That's really a great deal of work with a magnificent result, but couldn't u guys use a stepup power transformer or is there any issue not to do so? Thanks

[@mrhydrohead]

I didn’t design the system, but my system (in other videos on my channel) does utilize a transformer to lessen wire costs and line losses. I’m assuming you are referring to using transformers for the lengthy transmission. My take on it would be that any lessening of line loss in transmission (step up at turbine/step down in power room) from higher voltage would not offset losses from the transformers utilized. I'm uncertain if any benefit would justify the added cost. I don't have a way of analyzing this and you might ask Ken Gardner (the designer) if there is another reason. His contact info is in the notes below the video. Thanks for watching.

[@anshumansarkar3206]

OMG another great video keep working dude..... Love your work (Love for India)

[@mrhydrohead]

Thanks! Will do! Thanks for watching!

[@ChileExpatFamily]

There are a lot of these down here in Chile. Jim

[@axelonetwoman8058]

I've seen systems that take AC to DC batteries and back to AC, but this appears to be AC-DC-AC-DC-AC? Is that correct? And why?

[@mrhydrohead]

That’s a great question. I don’t own the system and merely documented the installation. My understanding is that the AC provided by the turbine is fully unregulated. The Outback inverter is not capable of handling AC which might range anywhere from 50 to 70 Hz. I don’t have direct experience with the Outback inverter but I believe it requires a regulated sine wave to both charge batteries and output 60hz power. My own system documented on my channel is a 60hz regulated straight AC system without batteries, and that is the majority of my direct experience. Thanks for watching and commenting. 😉

[@subsgob00m]

Why lead acid batteries (AGM) over lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4)? Budget constraints? Equipment incompatibility? Were they offered as an option at all?

[@jimurrata6785]

Cost certainly. But also simpler charge control, wider operating range and longer life. There's no need for light weight or even to be incredibly compact in an application like this. AGM are hard at work in fork lifts everywhere everyday. I'd imagine easy replacement _if_ something were ever to go wrong has to play into it.

[@mrhydrohead]

I didn't design and I don't own the property. My system in Colorado is straight AC, so I'm no expert on batteries. Lead acid batteries have an established recycling path as well. There are other discussions of choice of batteries in this comments section as well. Thanks for watching!

[@subsgob00m]

@@mrhydrohead LiFePO4 just seemed like the logical choice to me (as someone who does work with battery systems, but not hydro). They have a much longer lifespan than any lead acid type battery that I am aware of (sometimes in excess of 15-20 years), can use standard lead acid charging systems (though some form of balancing between cells/packs should be added), are extremely stable and relatively fault tolerant, but are a lot more expensive than any lead acid type pack (though are actually cheaper in the long run due to how long they can last). I wasn't sure if cost was the issue, building codes/permits where you are located, or something as simple as preference. Thanks for the reply!

[@mrhydrohead]

Ken the designer said: "The Francis turbine required a battery based inverter because the system is off grid. There is plenty of power from the turbine and the batteries would rarely cycle. I used AGM batteries because they are designed for that purpose - remain full most of the time. Lithium batteries are far more expensive and don’t justify the expense as the batteries are simply a requirement for off-grid." Personally, I don't know about comparative costs because my system is straight AC, but I trust his information.

[@subsgob00m]

​@@mrhydrohead The mention of "...remain full most of the time" is a great clarification! I did not think of that factor. It isn't like solar or wind where the power input can vary greatly and often dip below the demand for hours or even days on end; hydro is much more consistent around the clock. The AGM batteries rarely being cycled at all will significantly increase their lifespan. I'd still wager that a proper LiFePO4 pack would outlast any lead-acid based pack, but the large up-front cost savings of lead-acid may just meet or exceed the long-term cost savings of LiFePO4, even with replacing the AGM batteries. That is as long as the AGM cells are maintained and don't fail prematurely.

[@halhortonsworld5870]

Does that thing just sit out in the weather or is there some sort of a shed over it to protect it from the elements?

[@mrhydrohead]

What Mr. Gardner (system designer) told me was that the owner intends to put a grain silo type structure over the turbine. I don’t know what sort of foundation is planned for that. I hope you saw part 1 where the base below the turbine is shown as a prefabricated discharge chamber. I don’t think there is any slab under it. I haven't been back to see what changes have been made. thanks for watching!

[@cornevanzyl5880]

Surely the turbine/generator is connected to an MPPT? How would that work of its first run through a rectifier?

[@mrhydrohead]

Sorry I don't know what MPPT is. Could you enlighten me? Thanks for watching!

[@richysee]

Beautifully presented thanks.

[@mrhydrohead]

Thank you too!

[@EarthshipFreedom]

Thanks so much for the great video. How were they able to determine where the break was in the underground electrical conduit?

[@mrhydrohead]

A tricky bit. Pulling wire through, it stops, mark the wire at feed point, pull it back out, measure mark on wire to the lead end, measure that distance out on the ground, dig away, voila the damage to conduit is found. A very frustrating process for them. Too much to describe in the video, but a good question. Lesson is to be very careful with bedding and backfilling the trench. Thank for watching!

[@EarthshipFreedom]

@@mrhydrohead great explanation. That is the method i was guessing but i wanted to ask incase it was something i havent thought if. Must have taken quite a bit of force to break that tube in such a manner.

[@mrhydrohead]

@@EarthshipFreedom Just one heavy rock dropped from the excavator bucket. That was the evidence at least 🤔

[@jimurrata6785]

You know, those Bull Tapes are marked every foot (here in the U.S.) By noting the number at the receiving end when the pull starts , and then where it's stuck, you know exactly where the hangup is.

[@keithboydstun]

Could you sell the unused energy back to the electric company? If I understand right it’s producing 5kw which is way more then a single hour.

[@mrhydrohead]

The system is capable of up to 6.6kw so that is a great deal of power yielding up to ~158kWh/day (24x6.6). But this system is fully off grid so there are no lines to the utility. Thanks for watching 😉

[@JohnSmith-yv6eq]

I presume the Francis Turbine is not in danger of being submerged if a real gully washer rain hits the catchment area?

[@mrhydrohead]

Good question. I'll see if Ken has any comment on that. Thanks for watching!

[@raimohandolin6368]

Very interesting project. Thank you for sharing. I didn't notice from where you obtained the turbine and generator from? Was it made by Gartner? What is the manufacturer? Do they have net pages?

[@mrhydrohead]

The info I have on it is on screen at 4:24 in the vid. Thanks for watching!

[@Chaos_God_of_Fate]

Maybe I missed it but, how much electricity does something like this produce? I'm just looking for a rough estimate.

[@mrhydrohead]

At 4:25 in the video there is a placard on the turbine which shows the rating of the unit to be 6.6kw and also has contact information for the mfg. As with all hydro systems, the output is dependent on the amount of water available and that supply fluctuates depending on seasonal and climatic changes. Thanks for watching 🙏🏼

[@Chaos_God_of_Fate]

@@mrhydrohead Thanks for the response- that's a pretty good top end!

[@GatheringJacob]

What about the cost of such a system and how many houses could it power properly? It looked fairly large.

[@mrhydrohead]

I don’t own the system so I don’t know specifics but my guess is that cost is in excess of $100K. Designed output is for 6.6kw (see 4:25) or 158 kWh/day. The supposes availability of design water flows which is unlikely year round. The average US household uses 30-35kWh/day. My understanding is the owner may build other structures. Battery system should easily handle any peak loads. Thx for watching

[@33AD-Catholic]

Could this system supply power for multiple homes? It sure seems like it. Also, do you have resources for those looking for micro hydro engineers on the east coast? Different parts of the US?

[@mrhydrohead]

At 6kw it could produce over 140kWh/day which is certainly enough for more homes where ~35kWh/day is the typical power usage most people see on their power bills. However I don't think the owners intend to run it at max capacity year round. Additionally, this system being fully off grid, running wire to distant neighbors which are few and far would not be a reasonable step. I do believe one day the owners plan to erect other structures on the property. I believe Ken Gardner (Utah based) works on project nationwide and his contact info is in the comments section of the video. He may also know of others working out east. I have only traded a few messages with this hydro source www.langstonsalternativepower.com so I don't have direct experience with them. I think they are in S.C. If you contact either of them please let them know that I referred you to them. I'm sure they would appreciate the referral. Good luck if you have a project in mind. Thanks for watching!

[@HarukiYamamoto]

Very nice. How much did the turbine cost?

[@mrhydrohead]

I don't know the answer to that because I don't own the system and wasn't given access to the budget. You can contact the mfr and get that info. Their contact info is shown on a placard at 4:25 in the video. Thanks for watching!

[@stephenauty2402]

That would've cost somewhere between $100 -$130k , 6KW or 144KWhrs/day is way more than one house can use , an EV would use some up or a small business that needs a heap of electricity too. Batteries are there to create a huge amount of DC so if you need more current than the turbine can provide at once , you have it all ready and stored up, remember at low flows in the summer it won't be producing much power at all but that's when you don't need as much as you cook less (salads) and don't want hot showers or home heating.

[@peterswalmen]

4:33 that elctricbox so close to the river. Dont you have floodings?

[@mrhydrohead]

I believe the owner planned to build a silo type structure over the unit to protect it. Thx 🙏 for watching.

[@andreasmoll_0924]

How long does the turbine work untill the wear and tear causes the first defect..?

[@mrhydrohead]

Don't know the answer to that. It isn’t MY system as I only documented the project and don’t own it. My Pelton turbine from Canyon Hydro (in earlier videos) has been running nearly non stop now since 1997. I imagine the build quality of this unit is not quite as good, but should run for decades without degradation. Thanks for watching

[@jimbanda]

Great video thank you. My only concern if I was doing it , was a 2" service pipe for those cables and that distance, I'd be nervous of being able to get the swa cables through. But he is used of his methods. Now to binge watch you other videos 😂 👍👍

[@mrhydrohead]

They did have difficulty pulling the wire mainly caused by burial damage to conduit. Thanks for watching!

[@shughalonly4724]

I reaoly commend your amazing effort ...sharing so much of information for free...still there are heroes like you in this money oriented world... Please guide us about the output of such a system and not specific but a rough expenditure?. Is there any guidance from which seller to buy this turbine from China?

[@mrhydrohead]

I don't own this system, so I don't know how much the total system cost. Even if I did provide cost figures, it would not be of much benefit as each system is unique to the chosen site and costs can vary widely depending on numerous factors. First there is the potential power available at the particular site which dictates if the desired use of that power is practical. Who will design the system? What will be the best equipment and materials available to meet the unique requirements of the most beneficial and practical design? Then there are expenses involved in acquiring water rights which are likely different in each state or country depending on a pro se (self applied) application or hiring lawyer to work on them. Who will do the labor to install the system? Is it your own sweat equity, friends that can help, or hired labor and at what rate? How much time will it take to install? What materials can be accessed? Reused or new pipe, copper or aluminum wire? How long a length of wire? What building(s) will house the equipment? What transformers, batteries, load regulators, power shunts, or utility net metering are available and/or appropriate to the particular site? All of theses factors can add to the costs and it would be naive of me to present a one size fits all price. One must be clear that installing a system is creating an asset which would likely provide power for a lifetime. Can it be financed over time and does that cost make economic sense when compared to running utility lines to an off grid property? Will a local utility be willing to purchase excess power and at what rate? Undertaking a project of this size is not for the faint of heart. It IS a large commitment both financially and in effort and time. My first system (1.5kw) which I own and documented on this channel cost ~$25k and was installed in the mid 90’s. Redesigning and moving the same equipment to a more reliable water source was also documented on my channel and took place between 2013-2015 and added another ~$55k but boosted the useable power by a factor of 5 to 7.5kw. WHEN a project occurs occurs is also a factor governing cost. Inflation impacts everything involved and the fact that I intend these videos to remain on the internet for years to come and provide some clear eyed guidance to people that are serious about their own intentions, this dictates that I not mislead them with cost estimates willynilly. Sorry to go on and on here. I know the system in this video with installation costs were in excess of $100K. Information on the specific Francis Turbine can be located off the placard on the side of unit at 4:25 in the video. You can contact them for current pricing. Thanks for watching and for your comment.

[@shughalonly4724]

@@mrhydrohead thanks a lot for the detailed reply ...I appreciate your time and effort ... Keep up good work ...

[@mx96288]

eagerly awaited :)

[@mrhydrohead]

Thanks for watching!

[@corneillealimasi1530]

Very interesting, how to contact you for your services?

[@mrhydrohead]

Not sure what you have in mind, but email me [e-mail]

[@CampJe]

Are there any micro systems that provide direct ac? Or always expensive batteries?

[@mrhydrohead]

This isn’t MY system as I only documented the project and don’t own it. Our Pelton system in the first 25+ videos on my channel is straight AC with a load controller that dumps excess power into resistive heat loads. I didn't want the pain of dealing with batteries when I did the first install in 1997 and haven't regretted that choice. Take a look at parts 20-1,-2,-3 on this channel for a synopsis of the system. A playlist for those is here: kzbin.info/aero/PLtTypVpmDd-vkT9bJQkXw4I1t0e_4jMYA Thanks for watching.

[@CampJe]

@@mrhydrohead Awesome!!! Thank you so much for the answer!! I was starting to think no one had done it.

[@mrhydrohead]

@@CampJe Sorry for the slow reply. Been busy with holidays and just today went about catching up. Again, thanks for watching.

[@Bapi-db4ef]

I want to make a micro hydro generator where I have water stored 400 cubic metre on 1 meter height. Is it possible to generate 100 kwh energy from this setup? And what kind of generator should I use?

[@mrhydrohead]

I'm sorry that I can't provide you qualified guidance with your question. I'm most familiar with high to medium head pelton systems (documented elsewhere on my channel). 1 meter does seem like not enough of a head to facilitate an efficient system. My guess is that a "archimedes screw turbine" (search it) or turbulent system (www.turbulent.be) might be most efficient although I don't have first hand experience with either. Hope this helps a bit. Also, when you say water is "stored" that might indicate any system would be intermittent which is definitely a drawback. Thanks for watching

[@Bapi-db4ef]

@@mrhydrohead I am storing water from tide. Is it good idea to make hydro generator on tidal water.

[@mrhydrohead]

That's an interesting question. I'm sure there must be some way to harness power from that, but I'm not qualified to make much of an analysis as to how to do it. I'm a retired cinematographer who has owned his owned micro hydro system since 1995. I was trained at SEI and there was no mention of harnessing tidal power in their course. If you look at the majority of my channel you will see that it mostly focuses on my system and the way I moved it from a spring water source to a creek on my property. I saw a gap of information on KZbin and being a filmmaker with knowledge of Micro Hydro, I decided to share my first hand knowledge. The two problems I see with tidal flow are that 1. It will be intermittent on the basis of the tides and 2.Your head or distance of the water falling is not very great. Because of the intermittency you would need to have a battery system to provide availability of consistent supply to meet your needs. I'm sure there must be some way to harness power from such a small head, but I don't have a clue how to do it. If you discover a good verifiable method, I'd love if you shared it with me. It certainly would seem doable and I'd love to know how. Best of luck in finding something that would work and be certain to verify the calculations before spending a dime to construct something. Errors in measurements and calculations can lead to expensive mistakes. Again, hope this helps. @@Bapi-db4ef 😉

[@Bapi-db4ef]

Sure. I will make wind turbine or hydro turbine.

[@mrhydrohead]

Best of luck to you

[@karimi1100]

please will u mantioned the cost and production of this machine

[@mrhydrohead]

I don't own this system, so I don't know how much the total system cost. The turbine is designed to output 6.6kW. You can get the cost of the turbine itself by contacting the manufacturer with information on the placard shown at 4:25 in the video. I hope this helps. Thanks for watching

[@MarsuCooper]

Thank you for teaching us. Love your video’s. Maybe make a video about the nature in your area?

[@mrhydrohead]

Great idea! Thanks for watching!

[@SPM1X]

Some idea of how much this cost for both install and hardware seperated would be helpful, although I appreciate each jobs setup costs could vary wildly.

[@mrhydrohead]

This is a system which I don’t own and merely documented. I guess that the cost would be more than $100k although I don’t know the specifics. However I do know that utility power is far far away and the cost of bringing it to the property would be much greater than harnessing the power of the water and you would then be presented monthly bills as well. Thx 🙏 for watching

[@johnj4860]

Wouldn't it be better to control the speed of the turbine to deliver 60 Hz instead of 70? Switching to dc then back to ac incurs additional losses. Ok using batteries means some ac to dc and then back to ac in an inverter would be involved but if there's adequate water storage available I question the wisdom of using a battery at all

[@bhartveersingh1865]

Good job man love u from India Punjab Amritsar

[@mrhydrohead]

Thanks for watching. There will be a new video up on Friday 😉🙏

[@arturoeugster7228]

I take it that the system is designed for 50 herz, a european standard, as oposed to the American standard of 60 hertz, careful not to connect it to the grid! The conversion to dc is a smart move, saves matching the turbine generator. One improvement I suggest: before the diffusor put in radial flow straighteners, then s six degree conical diffuser as long as necessary to optimize the system, the dc voltage as high as reasonable to minimize the ohm's losses, Other wise the best realization I have seen. ( Swiss engineer. ETH graduate) Think of imbetting the pipe in a larger concrete pipe with continious drain, movement of the river bed is unavoidable.

[@josephp495]

Im curious as to what wattage this thing puts out, I must've missed it in Part 1 and Part 2

[@mrhydrohead]

At 4:25 in part 2 the design parameters show 6.6 kW. I don’t own it so I can’t report what the actual performance over time is. But it’s impressive to see that output with so little head pressure. Thx for watching

[@angelmuniz8060]

great video how much it produce ?

[@mrhydrohead]

This system is an example of low head/high flow and is potentially producing up to 6kw or 144kWh per day which is 4+ times what a typical American house uses on average. I don’t own this system so I don’t have specific numbers but that is the potential of the system. Thx 🙏 for watching.

[@jamesmancine8350]

That's a heck of a nice setup, however I'd think if your going to utilize such great equipment, I was wondering why you chose AGM instead of lithium iron phosphate?

[@mrhydrohead]

Thats a question many folks have asked. As I wasn't the designer or owner, it wasn't MY choice to make or even consider. I will ask the designer why he made that choice and will share the thinking if I get a meaningful answer. Thanks for watching!

[@arshavinhd6649]

Could you please tell me the capacity of the generator?

[@mrhydrohead]

Around 4:25 in the video it shows a data plate on the unit. 6.6KW and has the Mfg contact info as well. Thanks for watching!😉

[@jameshealer1395]

why are u using fuses and not breakers cost issue?

[@mrhydrohead]

This is a system which I don’t own and merely documented. Also I didn't design it. I'm not sure where you saw fuses in the video. Could you give me a timestamp so I can ask the designer if indeed he did use fuses?

[@DannyCreech]

What would really help is a video explaining how each states laws prevent a land owner from putting in a Micro Hydro system. This may come as a shock to you but there are states that have laws against micro-hydro and the diversion of any water from streams, rivers, and lakes. I am currently looking for land and because of all the laws, I have all but given up on the idea that I will ever be able to have my own micro-hydro system. Just too much red tape.

[@mrhydrohead]

I wish I had the depth of knowledge about water law in different states. I might then be able to make that sort of video. I am not shocked and understand that often there are vested interests that do not want water rights to be adjudicated. Diverting water is a nonconsumptive use of the water, and to some small extent prevents evaporation from occurring with water openly flowing. Finding a local installer may be of some help in terms of an efficient means of learning the laws in a particular area. Sorry that I don’t have the depth of experience with water law in any state other than Colorado. I do hope that you can find a property which will meet your needs. Best of luck and thanks for watching.

[@giggling_boatswain]

4:17 Moreover, Russia and China use in the characteristics and in the marking of the wire its actual cross-sectional area of the metal core (sq. mm. 0.75, 0.5..... ), and the rest of the countries use some conventional units AWG (18, 20.....)

[@mrhydrohead]

Interesting. I didn't know that. Thanks for sharing the info.

[@letstec9117]

this a great video keep it up bro

[@mrhydrohead]

Thx 🙏🏼 for watching

[@debashisdutta8158]

You people can change the world

[@mrhydrohead]

In many small ways, yes!

[@post-MV]

Is there enough rotation? Seniors, please help me

[@fire17102]

This amount of power is amazing! Would love to get one on my land. Maybe I missed it , how much does this turbine/system roughly cost ?? Thanks

[@mrhydrohead]

The cost wasn't stated, but it wasn't cheap. Probably in excess of $100K. You pay for all future power with up front costs. A lot of money can be saved doing the installation yourself as opposed to hiring labor. The best way to approach a project is to determine what the power demand will be, ie less demand = less cost. Analyzing first your need and then sizing the system to meet that will save you a great deal of money. 30kWh/day is what most US households average out to. Having batteries/inverter can serve to cover peak loads. Hope this helps some. Thanks for watching!

[@mr.mustache4743]

harrismicrohydro.com/pricing.html Here is a far more cost-effective solution. A weir can be built from natural materials and a little fabric with clay. Turbine sizes can vary. Install energy-efficient devices and systems, and supplement your power with other forms of renewables such as solar panels. A larger battery bank allows for more usage during peak times, and it will recharge at night, and during the day while you are working the land or working. The normal total cost for a system capable of operating the average household is between 25-35k. This includes all materials and the rental or usage of an excavator. The maintenance costs are between 150-500 a year. Depending on the system, the pipe is the most expensive part.

[@offthegridwithbert924]

Its probably been mentioned already but is this turbine not in danger of being swamped by flood situations in the river as it's height above the water line is not at all great? Surely a turbine house could have been built to protect the turbine and associated electrical connections? Being Chinese the paint/powder coat will very quickly rust from underneath and start flaking, the metal will then quickly deteriorate from rust, the Chinese are not known for proper surface prep prior to powder coating or painting, they usually just apply over an already rusted metal surface, we see it all the time here in Australia.

[@mrhydrohead]

I was told the owners planned to put a grain silo over the turbine to protect from the elements and cut noise. That project I suspect will be handled by a separate contractor. Given the topography right there it would be quite the flood to reach the vital gear. Given what’s been seen recently in your country it could happen, but only time will tell. Thx for watching

[@Harikarikillboy-fs5vl]

Great, love the idea. Impractical as hell. It’s just not worth the investment, you’ll never generate enough electricity to offset the $100k investment and that’s just on original cost. Maintenance and repairs over time adds to that total significantly. Anything dealing with water and moving parts will be a nightmare to keep in good order. Those batteries are expensive and will need to be replaced every 5-6 years give or take, I can go on but ya get the idea.

[@stephenauty2402]

it is worth the investment if you got the property at a good price because it has no power to it. Lets say it was for sale at $600k with no power..they offer £500k and spend that money on renewable electricity and never have to worry about paying an electricity bill ever again..also 6kw is 140KW/hrs a day so about 5 times more than the average house needs so they have surplus to charge an EV or two so gas prices are no longer an issue either. Maintenance shouldn't be too bad , the pipe has 10m of head so should stay clean , the Coanda screen rarely needs any cleaning and the turbine needs bearings greased now and then. It's a no brainer.

[@daleolson3506]

@@stephenauty2402everyone forgets the turbines wear out battery’s go flat controllers burn out lightning takes it all out.

[@HybridKoy]

Thanks for sharing

[@mrhydrohead]

Thanks for watching!

[@spaceace2nd]

Is there going to be a update? a year on?

[@mrhydrohead]

Unfortunately I live a 5 hour drive one way from the location of this system. Also, I might not have the permission to visit the site as I've never actually met the owner. The designer gave me permission to document the system as long as I kept its location anonymous. So, its unlikely I will do an update even though I'm curious about what sort of protective building the owner put over the turbine and what the seasonal flows and actual kWh output tested over time has been.

[@wahyudiimam4787]

Good job sir

[@Biogasifier]

Any new videos in the works?

[@mrhydrohead]

I haven't located any new systems to document so I guess its about time to do an update on the system I own. I'll get to work on one.

[@mankihonda983]

Few things I would have done differently: Iron-Nickel batteries instead of AGM. Shed for the turbine and maybe even for the upstream valves. Anyways wonderful homestead and great project and video series.

[@mrhydrohead]

Thx for watching!🙏

[@markmooch]

Is there any side fumbling?

[@mrhydrohead]

Not sure I understand the question. Could you be more specific?