2006-09-23 16:21:40 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Home & Garden ➔ Do It Yourself (DIY)
This is not simple by anymeans.
First most water wheel devices work with gravity. The wheel has bins that fill up with water from a supply and since all the weight of the water is on one side of the wheel the wheel will turn. The water then dumps at the bottom so the other side of the wheel remains light.
The next part you need is a generator. You could buy one from a industrail supply house. and they will not be cheap. Like this one
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_21008_21008 It takes around 5 HP (horsepower) to run and 3600 rpm.
The next problem is the water wheel will only be making a few turns a min with and you have to have the shaft of the gen turning at 3600 rpm. You will need a gear box to step up the rpm. Somthing like this http://www.agroengineers.com/right-angle-worm-gear-boxes/
The hardest part is getting all the engineering done to know how much water supply will produce how many turns of the wheel under given load and then having a gear box matched to that.
Its not easy but if you have a waterfall next to your best camping spot you could indeed build a small powerplant. In this case you would not have the wheel directly in the line of the water fall you would have a water duct move the water to the wheel and you would have a gate in the duct to control the amount of water.
good luck
2006-09-23 17:32:14 · answer #1 · answered by Larry M 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Do you have the water wheel already?
2 types of wheel, undershot and overshot. Overshot, where the water comes over the top is better. Traditionally there is a wooden channel which takes water from upstream of the wheel and directs the water over the top of the wheel.
2006-09-24 02:50:11 · answer #2 · answered by XT rider 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your question is simply stated, but becomes very involved. This is not the right forum place to even begin to properly answer your question and do it any justice. I suggest you research this topic in greater detail on the net for a better understanding of this "simple" question you have asked.
2006-09-24 03:21:31 · answer #3 · answered by Spock 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They have a lot of info on that in Home Power Magazine.
2006-09-23 23:41:28 · answer #4 · answered by charley128 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
CONNECT WHEEL TO TURBINE.
CONNECT TURBINE TO STORAGE UNITS.
PUT WHEEL IN STREAM OR RIVER.
2006-09-23 23:30:43 · answer #5 · answered by S.A.M. Gunner 7212 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋