Archimedes Helix on a River for Energy Production

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I am interested in installing the Archimedes Helixes in a river with a smooth flow of water with a current of 10 m³/s. The river has a small inclination and the flow is smooth.

I need a system designed for producing electric energy.

My studies show that a flywheel is an essential component for the stability of the system. There are claims that generators attached to helices are efficient. 

How can the Archimedes Helix best be set up on a river to produce energy? What are your experiences? 

I am also interested in companies that produce the devices in order to buy and install them.

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11 Answers

  2. A similar system has been installed at the Tees Barrage on the river Tees in Stockton-on-Tees, UK. you may be able to get advice on it's installation and operation from the Canal & Rivers Trust who operate the barrage. it is used both for energy production and to supply the white water course. I have attached a link to the Canal & Rivers Trust and white water course websites.

    https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/news-and-views/media-centre/filming-and-photography/our-filming-and-photography-locations/tees-barrage

    https://www.tbiwwc.com/

    Regards

    Nick

  3. Hello Emanuel,

     

       You may start going through what others are doing; as an example:

     

    Archimedes Screw Generators

     

    http://greenbugenergy.com/how-we-do-it/archimedes-screw-generators

         And also go through literature and images, as follows:

     

    https://www.google.com/search?q=Archimedes+Helix+on+a+River+for+Energy+Production+FROM+A+RIVER+WITH+SMOOTH+FLO&newwindow=1&rlz=1C1AOHY_enIR725IR728&source=lnms&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiwzaWggerTAhVpIsAKHW8GANkQ_AUICSgA&biw=1280&bih=709&dpr=1

     

    ====

    IMAGES: Clicking on each image takes you to so many information:

    https://www.google.com/search?q=Archimedes+Helix+on+a+River+for+Energy+Production+FROM+A+RIVER+WITH+SMOOTH+FLO&newwindow=1&rlz=1C1AOHY_enIR725IR728&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjEm5zKgerTAhXPaFAKHZlKB-kQ_AUICigB&biw=1280&bih=709

     

       That is all I could say and telling the truth, I have never been involved in such a project.

     

       You may also delve into the new development:

    Turbine ​Harvests ​Green Energy Even in Slow ​Water Currents

    Waterotor ​Energy ​Technologies ​has designed a ​water turbine ​which can ​harvest energy ​in slow moving ​water. ​

     

    https://thewaternetwork.com/_/energywater-nexus/article-FfV/turbine-harvests-green-energy-even-in-slow-water-currents-zcbAJj_r9LrOUbB_EL2e6Q

     

    Best regards,

     

    Mashallah

  5. Emanuele Quaranta seems to be an expert in this area. Emanuele, can you provide some insights here?

    1 Comment

    1. Hello,

       

      thank you for mentioning me!

       

      ARCHIMEDES SCREW

      Archimedes screw are efficient micro hydropower converters. At the moment, for practical reasons, the maximum diameter of the screw is 4 m, that corresponds to 8 mc/s of flow rate, so maybe you would need of two smaller screws.

      Here a my brief article, with a picture with three screws in parallel.

      https://www.prescouter.com/2016/11/hydrodynamic-screws-archimedes-electricity/

      Consider that for installiung a screw you need an hydraulic head, i.e. a drop in the channel bed.

       

      WATER WHEELS

       

      The same reasonings written for Archimedes screws are valid. In this case the flow rate that the wheel can use depends especially on the width of the wheel, in addition to the diameter. Also in this case you need an hydraulic head.

      https://www.prescouter.com/2016/10/water-wheels-hydropower/

      http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360544215005344

       

      Otherwise, if you want to install a water wheel in flowing water, you can use a floating water wheel, but the efficiency are lower. please, give as look to this my article.

      https://www.prescouter.com/2016/11/hydrostatic-pressure-energy-production/

       

      Regards

       

  6. Dear Emmanuel Paschos 

     

    Good thinking about Achimedies Screw Electric generator. This the best for dirty water, slurry etc.

    If water is fed into the top of an Archimedes screw, it will force the screw to rotate. The rotating shaft can then be used to drive an electric generator. Such an installation has the same benefits as using the screw for pumping: the ability to handle very dirty water and widely varying rates of flow at high efficiency. Settle Hydro and Torrs Hydro are two reverse screw micro hydro schemes operating in many countries.The power that we can be derived from a hydro site is a function of the head, or height, of the vertical drop and the volume of water in the river. The bigger the head and the bigger the volume of water the more power can be generated.Hydro turbines at any specific site are designed to capture the greatest possible head and the greatest possible volume of water – Turbines are designed to turn when water goes through them and it is the turning motion which generates electricity.

     

    There are several types of hydro electric turbines. All the turbines have a gearing mechanism that drives the generator, but they differ in the manner by which the energy is extracted from the fall of water and converted into mechanical rotation. The mechanical rotation is then converted into electrical energy.

     

    Advantages

    1. Slow rotation – No blade strike damage to fish.

    2. Normal water pressure = No fish swim bladder damage.

    3.  Large water chambers = Safe passage for fish of all sizes.

    4. Smooth flow = No disorientation of fish.

    5. No fish screening is required.

    6.The generator is an off the shelf gear-motor that industry would use so it’s robust and proven.

     

    https://youtu.be/nlHCNqzW00c

     

    Regards,

    Prem Baboo

  8. if you can provide us the flow-duration curve and the minimum flow amount within the river you interest,installation machinery recommendations will be more precise.

  9. You don't mention the electrical output.  A flywheel is generally used to dampen frequent and significant changes is flow.  It take considerable energy to bring the flywheel up to speed.  Perhaps a better idea is to use battery backup to handle the swings of flow.

    As for the Archimedes Helix, there are many low head turbines that can be used.  Selection would depend on potential debris in the water, output needed, etc.  A small wing dam and canal would improve output.

    1 Comment

  10. The system you desire to install will be efficient for low flow however you say that 10 000 l/s which ia quite large amount. Of course it could be applied, but i recommend you to consider other types of low head turbines

  11. Добрый день! Мы можем предложить Вам оборудование, которое позволит производить не только электрическую энергию, но и пресной водой одновременно. С энергии и опреснения воды в объеме 50 м3 / час производство электроэнергии будет составлять 1 МВт в сутки. Так у тебя практически бесплатная питьевая вода и большое количество энергии. Конечно, можно сделать меньше, так и больше электрической энергии. Но для этого необходим источник воды и потребитель. Окупаемость данного оборудования в зависимости от стоимости электроэнергии составит от 2 до 6 месяцев.

    1 Comment

    1. Thanks google translate: "Good afternoon! We can offer you equipment that will allow you to produce not only electricity, but fresh water at the same time. With energy and desalination of water in the volume of 50 m3 / hour, electricity generation will be 1 MW per day. So you have practically free drinking water and a lot of energy. Of course, you can do less, and more electricity. But this requires a source of water and a consumer. The payback of this equipment, depending on the cost of electricity, will be from 2 to 6 months."