Theoretical Question - Electiricity cost cutting

[memorisa]

Hi all,

There's this thing in my mind since I started dreaming about this hobby and pushing it to my financial limit

I wasn't sure where to post this so I am going to post here and hope people especially some vets and specialists of the subject chime in...

Topic at hand - electricity. I know salt water and electricity dont match well (or reallly well depending on how you look at it), but in my country the electricity costs are killing me. Since I came back from the States, my households bill went up 8 folds due to my computer and the 265 gal. tank.

We may be moving to a house soon and given the chance I want to build a few monster tanks (or one monster and a few small) plus a big fuge and a decent size prop tank. All this I want to be connected to a main sump that is to be in the garage or the basement. The housefolk hates the vibration resonance.

So to help cut down the costs just a tiny bit, I was thinking of using some turbines in the pipes coming back to the sump. Is this at all possible? or feasible, I should ask b/c I know its possible?

Teh house is probably going to be three stories high and have tanks in the first and the last floor and the attic. So my dream woudl be to have one or few turbines running as teh water is falling down from these floors through the PVC pipes.

I know the height of the fall affects a great deal in HES (hydroelectric station) which i assume would apply here.

any suggestions, comments, examples, or links is very very much appreciated.


thanks a lot in advance

 

[buck50bmg]

I would say its possible. Your biggest issue is finding the turbines/ generator that will work with flow and volume you are using. Its going to be alot less power than you might think.

 

[memorisa]

thanks buck50bmg, i agree its not going to be much of anything but if i can run two pumps or a ligth from it, thats still a huge bonus.... welll that is if the turbines wont cost a fortune.

anyone perhaps heard or saw an example of this caliber?

 

[jimbo78]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12629096#post12629096 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by buck50bmg
I would say its possible. Your biggest issue is finding the turbines/ generator that will work with flow and volume you are using. Its going to be alot less power than you might think.

i agree, but i think its a very interesting idea. it would make a great build thread.

 

[buck50bmg]

Might be able to use a pump wet end as the turbine....

 

[buck50bmg]

Look here

http://www.absak.com/library/micro-hydro-power-systems

 

[jimbo78]

looks like the impusle turbine would be the way to go.

 

[rickh]

Sorry but your idea is great in theory, but not practical. Spend thousands on hardware and you could run a few pumps, nothing compared to the energy you will be using pumping the water up in the first place.

 

[Khandurian]

I constantly drool over the ability to get "off the grid"...

Here is a list of small to OMG! you better have 20k acres!
http://www.awea.org/smallwind/smsyslst.html

The first one on the list did catch my eye, as it's geared more towards home power.

http://www.abundantre.com/

 

[buck50bmg]

Yea efficiency will be poor, but you could get 12vdc at 20 to 30 amps. Could power all of your stuff that is low voltage, like controllers and such.

The issue I have is fouling the turbine.

 

[rjsilvers]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12629784#post12629784 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Khandurian

The first one on the list did catch my eye, as it's geared more towards home power.

http://www.abundantre.com/

I've wanted to buy one of those for years as I'm in one of the windiest places in the country... But my HOA won't allow me to install it because it's an eyesore.

 

[robn70]

It's sounds interesting, But a Solar power system may be cheaper to install.

 

[Khandurian]

I think their both real close in money wise? Last time I priced, it was only 5k difference between the two.

sjsilvers - Thats why I would never live in an HOA controlled area.... Plus, living on the beach always gives you good wind flow!

 

[memorisa]

depending on the place of the house, i'm thinking of utilizing wind power as well - but sadly its not very reliable; unless you use it w/ a generator to store up the energy so that u can use it while there is not enough wind.
i like the idea of solar energy too, i'll have to look into that. btw, i'm considering utilizing some sunlight for lighting too.

as far as the efficiency goes, i definitely am not considering running the whole system through the self produced energy, just some small items like what buck50bmg has mentioned.

jimbo i dont know much about impulse (inpulse?) turbine, would have to look further into that.

i just want to develop a very efficient system as far as energy goes, and thinking that falling water constantly having some kinetic energy, why not put it to use?

thanks for the inputs, this is definitely more of a brainstorming that facts discussion and i'm loving the comments, keep em coming pls!