how to make a water wheel that can generate electricity?

Answer 1

This is a simple method..it's works!! i have done it once..

Make the water wheel.. drill a hole through its center. Put a sterdy stick or rod into it so that it forms the axis of the wheel. The stick should fit in tightly so that when this stick is turned, the wheel also rotates along with it.

Now cut 2 discs or circles from a thick card board, of the same radius. You will need insulated copper wire & 4 strong magnets.

Take a scale and wind the wire over it, making as many turns as desired to make a tight coil. Slowly remove the coil from the scale without removing the turns. Secure this using insulation tape. Make 4 such coils, all must have the same radius and same no. of turns. Remove the insulation from the ends of each of the coils. Place these coils over one of the circle cardboards. Place the coils such that it forms a + pattern. Stick the coils in place. Connect the end of each coil to it's neighbouring coil. Connect 3 coils in such a manner, leave out the 4th one. These will be the terminals for measuring the current. This is known as the 'stator' disk.

Next, take 4 magnets. Find out it's N & S pole and mark them. Take the other circular cardboard. Place the magnets on it, such that they are equidistant from one another. The magnets should be placed such that their polarity alternates (N S N S). Stick them firmly in place. This is known as the 'rotor' disk.

Now punch a hole in the center of both these disks. Slide the disks through the axis of the water wheel. Slide the rotor first and then the stator. The side with the magnets should be facing the side with the coils. Stick the rotor disk firmly in place on the axis. Now if the axis is turned, the wheel and rotor spin along. Place the 2 disks close but not touching. Don't stick the stator to the axis, think of someway by which the stator will remain still even if the axis spins.
These 2 disks together form the generator. Now when water flows over the wheel, the wheel, axis and rotor will rotate, while the stator is stationary. A current will be induced in the coils.

Answer 2

To make a simple one try this out.Just take a bottle cap and arrange at least 10 ice cream sticks around it so that you get a fan like structure.Stick the ice cream sticks on the cap by using M-Seal or instant glue.Poke the centre of the cap and insert a steel wire or any stick.Couple this stick or wire to a small low power dynamo.And there you have it a water powered generator that can light up a 1.5V electric light bulb.

Answer 3

First make a water wheel, then arrange for some gearing to step up the speed to turn a dynamo or alternator fast.