Hydro-Stream Engine [RE-wrenches]

Tue May 2 16:55:59 EDT 2000

We generally go above 5% in hydro installations, because, unlike solar, the
hydro can rise to enough voltage that current is not as sharply cut as with
solar.  Don Harris says even 15% and over works fine.  another factor is
that with 24 hour a day hydro power these % losses can be afforded better,
of course that will vary with the system circumstances.

The 3 phase AC has worked for me, but I rarely do that any more.  It is a
real trick matching the transformers at battery end to the windings of the
alternator.  Mismatch impedance here can bring bigger losses, as can phase
errors in connecting the transformer primaries and secondary where they
don't fight each other.

AEE has or did have a designer who made transformers custom wound for
specific 3 phase alternators.  Don Harris would supply a high voltage
winding in the alternator and AEE would wind the transformer for the
projected voltage and frequency of 3 phase power and get pretty good
efficiency that way. But the price was around $400 for the transformer, so
that had to be compared to the price of wire.  4 gauge, where possible with
10 or even 15% losses usually wins that one.

Steve Willey   www.backwoodssolar.com
Backwoods Solar Electric Systems
----- Original Message -----
From: Gary Higbee <ghigbee at efn.org>
To: RE-Wrenches <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
Sent: Tuesday, May 02, 2000 11:58 AM
Subject: Hydro-Stream Engine [RE-wrenches]

> Hi Wrenches,
>
> I'm getting ready to install another Stream Engine, and this 24-volt
system
> requires a run of around 450 feet. With a potential about 28 amps and 5%
> loss I'm looking at 4/0 copper. As we know 900' of this stuff is a tad on
> the pricey side. I've considered a few options, and would appreciate some
> feedback:
>
> 1) Go with smaller or Al wire (4/0 Al is pretty reasonable at about
> $450/1000), and accept a loss of about 8%. This doesn't seem out of line,
> and may end up being the simplest and most cost-effective solution.
>
> 2) Use a 48-24 converter at the batteries and let the Stream Engine run at
a
> higher voltage. Anyone done this? With what?
>
> 3) Remove the rectifier box from the Stream Engine and run the 3-phase AC
up
> to the batteries. Bob-O mentioned this possibility in his Oct/Nov '98 HP
#67
> article. Has anyone done this? What voltage would I use for the AC
> calculation?
>
> While I'm on the Stream Engine what sort of output improvement have you
seen
> in adjusting the rotor, especially in increasing the air gap in a
low-head,
> high-flow situation?
>
> Thank You!
>
> Gary
>
> P.S. If anyone is interested in a heavily-edited Stream Engine output
> adjustment procedure let me know and I'll send it to you. I found the
> procedure in the manual inadequate for for a client who wasn't familiar
with
> the machine, and wrote a more-detailed version.
>
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>      Gary Higbee  (ghigbee at efn.org)
>              (541)607-1818
>     Solutions from the Land--solar,
>   wind, and hydro site analysis, design,
>             and installation
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
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