[RE-wrenches] Grid-tie hydro

[Mark Dickson]

Hello Wrenches, 

Got one for you. . .

We have a customer that has great potential for a micro-hydro system and
already has the grid on his property.  The obvious way to tie the turbine
unit in would be to go back through batteries and a GVFX or XW.  In trying
to eliminate the batteries and the inefficiencies I want to look at using a
battery-less grid-tie inverter.  I am assuming that I could use a small
inverter such as the PVP 1100 and high-voltage Stream Engine.  The problem I
am trying to work around is how to divert the ~240DC output of the turbine,
if and when the grid goes down.  Would this be as simple a placing a relay
on the AC side of the inverter and having it switch on/off a large diversion
load?

For the diversion load I was thinking I could just series up a set of water
heater elements to get to the necessary voltage.

 

Has anybody accomplished this before?  Jay?  Are there any other elegant
solutions for this?

 

Has anybody successfully used a WindyBoy with hydro?

 

Best regards,

 

Mark Dickson,

NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer T

Oasis Montana Inc.

 

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