Hatrack River Forum: Could this actually work?

This is topic Could this actually work? in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.

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Posted by Lisa (Member # 8384) on :

Gravitational Vortex Power

Posted by krynn (Member # 524) on :

im not sure, but it looks interesting. if it can work, it is a good idea IMO. nothing is burning, and it probably has very little bad outputs (pollution, etc). they say fish wont be harmed, and if thats true i hope it works great and makes him rich.

Posted by Jim-Me (Member # 6426) on :

am I missing something? it's a fancy waterwheel, right? why wouldn't it work?

Posted by krynn (Member # 524) on :

but it has a cool name darn it!

Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Jim-Me:
am I missing something? it's a fancy waterwheel, right? why wouldn't it work?

Waterwheel functionality is just a theory. I personally believe in micro-waterwheel functionality, but not in macro-waterwheel functionality.

Posted by fugu13 (Member # 2859) on :

I wonder if it has fewer maintenance issues than higher velocity turbines. Also, given the attractiveness and low noise factors, this might be a feasible source of alternative energy for people with moderate-sized streams crossing their property.

Posted by anti_maven (Member # 9789) on :

Reading the website from the reasearch group this is a serious project that has been generatng electricity for over a year.

It is essentially a low head horizontal axis turbine. The main advantage is that needs only a 70cm head to be effective, compared to +/- 2 metres for a Francis or Kaplan turbine (usually employed in a low-head scenario).

They are also keen to point out it's other environ mental aspects - that is is great for aeriating rivers and introducing beneficial turbulance into modern chanalised river beds.

It looks cool to me. Less environmental impact than a water wheel, and more efficient. It's not a radical departure from current hydro technology, but it looks like it might open up possibilities for hydro schemes in places where it would have been impractical to site them before.

Posted by Icarus (Member # 3162) on :

[Hail]

Noemon

Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :

[Big Grin]

Posted by The White Whale (Member # 6594) on :

I'm trying to see what could go horribly wrong with it, and make people not want it around.

What if someone fell in? I guess most people would be okay if it is .7 meters deep, but not kids or other animals...

I think it's pretty cool.

Posted by Mr. Stryker (Member # 10517) on :

I want one....

I have nothing productive to say, but I want one for the farm....