Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
to the charge controller and you can generate free wind power. Kevin Harris has
published detailed instructions on how to build this inexpensive wind generator on
his web site at http://www.thekevdog.com/projects/wind_generator/ [18].
7.4
Hydro Power
Yes, you can even provide power to your home with water. Water running through a
stream in an appropriate amount and with enough force can generate power. There
are critical components of the system that must be present. One is the elevation
change of the hill that the stream runs down. There must be considerable elevation
drop or “head” to create enough force to turn the hydro turbine. You also need a
lot of water during even the driest times of the year. There is a chart showing flow
through nozzles of different sizes with different amounts of “head” in the Renew-
able Energy Design Guide and Catalog [19].
Once you've convinced yourself you have the critical components needed to
generate electricity from water you'll need a considerable amount of expertise or at
least an ability to follow instructions well. However, it is possible as Scott Gentle-
man explains in his article on the Backwoods Home Magazine web site. The article
explains how he discovered the potential on his own property and took the neces-
sary steps to make a hydro power generator. You can read the article at:
http://www.
7.5
Storage Batteries
Batteries are extremely dangerous. You should always be careful when handling
batteries of any type or size. Keep the terminals of the batteries clean and keep the
connections tight. Never tamper with the connections while a battery is charging.
Almost all renewable energy sources require the use of storage batteries. These
batteries save the energy produced for later use. Without that feature renewable en-
ergy would not be effective. Scientists have worked diligently over the last several
years to make storage batteries more efficient by charging faster and holding the
charge longer.
Lead-acid deep cycle batteries are a good choice for starter renewable energy
systems because they are relatively cheap and readily available from any depart-
ment store. They are the same batteries used for trolling motors, RVs and golf carts.
Manufacturers design these batteries to allow them to discharge almost completely
on a regular basis and not damage the battery. A car battery on the other hand is
different. You must keep it nearly full of charge all the time to prevent damage to
the battery.
The size of the battery bank depends on several factors including how much ener-
gy you need from it and the minimum temperature of the storage area. Temperature
