Greetings
I plan to build a DIY pico hydroelectric generator to charge a 12V Lifepo4 battery.
The target output is just 5W!
Why because running the turbine for even just 12hours a day would generate 60Wh per day which is plenty to power led lights, charge a phone a few times, etc.. Also battery has only a 102wh capacity.
Head is 5m
Flow rate is 0.25l per sec
Pipe diameter probably 1/2inch
0.71(efficiency)*9.81(gravity)*0.00025m³/s(flow rate)*4.5m(head net= head minus 10%loss)= 0.0078kw or 7.8W!
Turbine and system parts:
12.8v 8ah Lifepo4 battery
Hw636 60V buck converter as a charge controller, tested and works well
(dump load (leds) + voltage relay in case the turbine generates too much voltage under no load/when battery is full but i doubt that... will have to measure that at the site when everything is installed since this is all just theorie yet)
2x 6A or 10A Rectifiers (have to see which model is more efficient)
2x 50V 4700uf capacitors
Nema 23, 24v 2A, 6 wire Stepper motor (bench tested with a small cheap drill, stepper connected to rectifier, rectifier to hw636, hw636 to power meter and finally to 12.8v Lifepo4, no capacitor installed yet, can output around 5W per phase at ~500rpm)
diy plastic spoon wheel, if that doesn't work then a stainless table spoon wheel
fountain nozzle 5mm
Around 8m 1/2inch of that cheap but sturdy black flexible pipe
There are some small 50W?? commercial ones on AliExpress for 40usd but i doubt they output what they promise in real life.
Has anyone ever build a pico hydroelectric turbine? Do you see any major planning mistake in my design?
Feel free to share your design and experience as well!
Any other ideas, input is much appreciated!
I plan to build a DIY pico hydroelectric generator to charge a 12V Lifepo4 battery.
The target output is just 5W!
Why because running the turbine for even just 12hours a day would generate 60Wh per day which is plenty to power led lights, charge a phone a few times, etc.. Also battery has only a 102wh capacity.
Head is 5m
Flow rate is 0.25l per sec
Pipe diameter probably 1/2inch
0.71(efficiency)*9.81(gravity)*0.00025m³/s(flow rate)*4.5m(head net= head minus 10%loss)= 0.0078kw or 7.8W!
Turbine and system parts:
12.8v 8ah Lifepo4 battery
Hw636 60V buck converter as a charge controller, tested and works well
(dump load (leds) + voltage relay in case the turbine generates too much voltage under no load/when battery is full but i doubt that... will have to measure that at the site when everything is installed since this is all just theorie yet)
2x 6A or 10A Rectifiers (have to see which model is more efficient)
2x 50V 4700uf capacitors
Nema 23, 24v 2A, 6 wire Stepper motor (bench tested with a small cheap drill, stepper connected to rectifier, rectifier to hw636, hw636 to power meter and finally to 12.8v Lifepo4, no capacitor installed yet, can output around 5W per phase at ~500rpm)
diy plastic spoon wheel, if that doesn't work then a stainless table spoon wheel
fountain nozzle 5mm
Around 8m 1/2inch of that cheap but sturdy black flexible pipe
There are some small 50W?? commercial ones on AliExpress for 40usd but i doubt they output what they promise in real life.
Has anyone ever build a pico hydroelectric turbine? Do you see any major planning mistake in my design?
Feel free to share your design and experience as well!
Any other ideas, input is much appreciated!
Last edited:
