Mini-hydro. Going with the Flow

1. Mini-hydro. Going with the Flow Andrew Gonzales, Candace Kaiser, Andrew Cannard

2. Rain runoff does produce energy… • A significant amount of water can be collected and used for alternative use. • King Street Center: • 44,000 ft.^2 roof • 37 inches annual rainfall • 1.4 million gallons collected annually[1] • Micro Hydro systems are becoming increasingly common in small developing communities. Most systems are run by streams or other natural water flow systems. Questions about rain water runoff: • Is there enough runoff water to produce energy? • Can we make a low cost turbine with re-purposed materials? • Will this homemade turbine produce any energy?

3. can we collect enough runoff water to produce energy? H1-Yes, there will be enough water to produce a useable amount of energy. H2-Yes, energy will be produced but not much Null Hypotheses- No, there will not be enough water to produce energy

4. Can we make a low cost mini-hydro system with re-purposed materials? • H1-Yes, we can build a system with only re-purposed materials. • H2-Yes, we can build a system but not solely with re-purposed materials • Null Hypothesis-No, we cannot build a functional system with re-purposed material http://www.thestonestore.com

5. Will this homemade turbine produce any energy? • H1- Yes, but homebuilt not as efficient as professional • H2- Yes, but homebuilt is extremely inefficient • Null Hypothesis- No, so inefficient that it will not produce energy http://www.doradovista.com/DVPower2.html

6. How can we test our hypotheses? • Calculate ideal energy production from a given water source (roof top). • Compare prices of commercially available turbines with our homebuilt turbine. • Measure energy production with our homebuilt turbine measured with a multi-meter. • Compare values from calculations and measurements. http://www.renewcanada.com http://www.renewablesfirst.co.uk

7. Budget • Repurposed and Recyclable Materials • Old bicycle for water wheel- cheap on craigslist • Used automotive alternator- $25 • Miscellaneous household items for water wheel-$50 • Copper wire- $5 • Lab Stores • Free for rent or low cost • Multi meter • Water flow meter • Ingenuity • Manipulating materials in an effective way to make them have a new purpose

8. Benefits ofMicro Hydro • Uses an abundant natural resource in our area to produce energy. • Micro hydro systems using rain water runoff from buildings will have no environmental impact on natural habitats. http://www.dropyourenergybill.com/archives/1546

9. outcome • Our goal is to create a micro hydro turbine which can be used to demonstrate the possibilities of micro hydro energy on campus.

10. Outreach and Education • Stepping Stones • First step to utilizing the abundant natural resource of rain in our local community • Design for Others • Replicable design for creating multiple units • Mobility • Easy to use by other Evergreen Students in the Future • Inspiration • Future Projects • Discovery of low-cost renewable electricity

11. Campus Sustainability Goals • Promoting Education and Research for the Future • Laying the groundwork • Future students would have a resource as to the effectiveness of on campus micro-hydro • 100% of Electricity at evergreen is BOUGHT from renewable energy sources • Micro hydro could increase renewable energy production on campus • More money for other areas of the Climate Action Plan

12. Bibliography • 1.Haidar, A.M.A., Senan, M.F.M., Noman, A. & Radman, T. Utilization of pico hydro generation in domestic and commercial loads. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews16, 518-524 (2012). • Heather Kinkade-Levario and ebrary, Inc, Design for Water Rainwater Harvesting, Stormwater Catchment, and Alternate Water Reuse (Gabriola Island, B.C. : [Lancaster: New Society ; Gazelle Drake Academic, distributor], 2007).Page 17 http://media.onsugar.com/files/2011/01/01/5/89/898472/c6ad4c6e7afa83f7_digital_multimeter.jpg

13. Thank You