I want to hook the water wheel to a generator so I want to know what type of gearing I should use to get the best speed to power the generator.
Water Wheel is 2 meters in diameter
2006-09-07 02:20:35 · 11 answers · asked by Brivaldo9 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Engineering
The water wheel will rotate very slowly, so you will need to gear it up a great deal. A two-meter water wheel will probably rotate once every 2-4 seconds. Let's say three seconds. If you use a car alternator for your generator, you'll want to get the alternator's RPMs up to at least 1,000. That means you'll need gearing on the order of 3,000:1
If you use an AC generator, it will want to turn at a number that is evenly divided by 60 or 50, depending on where you live. (It's 60 in the US.) That means you want a generator speed of 1,200, 2,400 or (ideally) 3,600 RPM. Multiply three times the final speed to get the gear ratio. For example, to get 3,600 RPM, you need gearing of 10,800:1.
I've always wanted to do this... have fun!
2006-09-07 02:32:07 · answer #1 · answered by pvreditor 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Sorry, I started to answer but I had to make too many assumptions you could misinterpret.
You cannot vary the speed of generator or an alternator without departing from its designed output, and in the case of A.C. it is worse. That has to have a fixed frequency.
You will also need some kind of excitation for your magnetic field sources so that you can balance a varying load while keeping your input speed constant.
When you have these speeds you might be able fix up a variable speed gearbox that you can adjust as the water input to the wheel varies.
If you are thinking of building a generating plant you need a lot more than these two prime movers.
There is Health & Safety to consider and your own ability to design the combination of switchgear and fail safe equipment needed.
None of these points need to stop you doing it but you must ensure its safety.
2006-09-07 03:16:58 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
As someone has said: find out the RPM your generator requires, and what RPM your wheel turns at (and I hope its constant or you might have problems).
If the generator requires an RPM 10 times greater than the wheel gives, then have the cog on the water wheel with a diameter 10 times greater than that connected to the generator. The actual size of your water wheel is immaterial: it's the size of the cog you connect to it which is important.
2006-09-07 02:33:57 · answer #3 · answered by Steve-Bob 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most commercial petrol ac generators run at 1400 rpm, so if your waterwheel turns at 20 rpm you would need to multiply it up by 700 times. Which is a lot, the easiest way would probably be to build another wheel with a 2m diameter driven directly off the same shaft and run a wheel against it that is one 700th the circumference. Which would be approx 2.85 cm. (I'd be looking at skateboard wheels)
2006-09-10 23:57:52 · answer #4 · answered by cedley1969 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For low loss, I would recommend using a bicycle or motorcycle chain drive system. You will have to use two or three stages of speed up to get the alternator running at a high enough speed. It sounds like you are mechanically inclined.If you are planning on using something like an automobile alternator as the generator, I would be inclined to use it as a 12 volt system, with an auto battery. To get 120 volts AC, get an invertor that runs off the battery voltage. In this way, frequency and voltage will not vary much. Sounds like a neat project!
2006-09-07 15:34:04 · answer #5 · answered by Joseph G 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
what is the rated RPM of your generator for max output? generally this is very high speed
do you control the water flow to keep a steady speed? what is the steady RPM of your wheel?
so your gearbox ratio is generator rpm:wheel rpm
Water wheels turns very slow, but with high torque. a pelton turbine turns faster & is generally more suited to electric generation.
2006-09-07 02:27:46 · answer #6 · answered by fred 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
authentic pilots fly tail draggers!!!!! to respond to the airliners with tail wheels; what on the subject of the gooney birds; DC 3's, C 40 seven's. they're nonetheless flying on an identical time as many extra present day airliners have all long previous to the Mojave bone backyard!
2016-12-18 06:19:21 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Waterproof!
2006-09-10 03:44:25 · answer #8 · answered by maddojo 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Can't you just attach crocodile clips to the mother-in-law?
2006-09-07 02:31:32 · answer #9 · answered by zoomjet 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Can't help but man! am I jealous.
2006-09-10 09:33:30 · answer #10 · answered by bo nidle 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋