Hydroelectric powered aquaponics

[cerignola]

It seems to me that there is a lot of moving water that could be used to create electricity. I've watched some youtube videos on homemade hydro power and it seems doable. Has anyone explored this at all?

[Pseudoreality]

Energy is used to move the water in the first place, any energy recovered through hydro generators would be less than that originally expended. It would be more efficient to not move water any more than you absolutely have to than it would be to expend extra energy and then try to recover it. Now if for whatever reason the layout of your system requires you to pump water to high heights then you could consider energy recovery when the water flows back down. This is done in community piped water supplies in hilly areas, but again you only pump it high if you have to. That is unless of course you have a perpetual motion machine.

[Mean and Green]

For every action there is an equal or opposite reaction. Thats why when you expend energy you cant get 101% back or higher....you'd be lucky to get 25% back with minimal uncertainties.

[Pugo]

The water is moving at a very low volume, there wouldn't be enough to run even the smallest power generation system that I am aware of. But as an idea there maybe be a way to generate a very limited power source, there has been some science fair projects where children were able to use vegetables to create batteries..

[timo]

I have been exploring this concept for quite a while now. Everyone usually has the same answer. My challenge is this: Why is it so rare for people to consider the energy contained within the magnets that are being turned in the generator to extract the electricity? You can build generators with extraordinarily strong magnets, some of which are said to retain their magnetism for 400+ years. So... if you combine the energy of the moving water with the energy contained within the magnets themselves, is it still impossible to extract energy in excess of that which is being created by the movement of the water?

[GaryD]

Hi Timo,

Welcome to APHQ.

There is no reason why, if you have access to a body of moving water, and the necessary slope, you could not generate hydro-electricity......using micro systems like this.

Gary

[GaryD]

Hi,

Something else to note about hydro-electric systems is that they are about 80% efficient......and there's nothing else that generates electricity that comes remotely close. They are simple, reliable and robust.

They are also used by power generation utilities throughout the world for their capacity to "store electricity" ......pumping water uphill during off-peak periods and releasing it during periods of peak demand.

Gary

[velacreations]

hydro systems that pump up to a storage area, and then use gravity to produce energy are extremely inefficient. They are only used to take advantage of peak power curves, as a way to "store" AC. But overall, they are very inefficient.

[GaryD]

Hi VC,

hydro systems that pump up to a storage area, and then use gravity to produce energy are extremely inefficient. They are only used to take advantage of peak power curves, as a way to "store" AC. But overall, they are very inefficient.

Sorry, I failed to make myself clear. What I was talking about was less a matter of pumping efficiency and more about financial leverage.

I was referring to the hedging practice of the power utilities who, generate electricity using nuclear, coal or natural gas fuels. During the night, when power is in least demand (and at its cheapest), they direct surplus capacity to the movement and storage of water into elevated dams. The following day, they put the water back through hydro-generators..... and sell the power the spot market at hugely inflated prices.

It is, in effect, a means of storing electricity.....so that it can be sold at the most profitable price.

Gary

[lizardman]

Or perhaps you could use a small wind mill to pump to a greater height - smaller flow, to then trickle down as needed from a header tank?

Or, pay the kids some pocket money to run out with a bucket every few hours...