Hey everyone! I'm moving into a new house that has a year-round flowing creek on the property. In the summer, it's only a few inches deep with a slow current, but in the winter, it gets as deep as 4 feet and the current is really strong. I'm curious if there's an easy and fun way to generate some power from this creek for a weekend project with my kid. I'm not looking to break the bank or power the whole house, just something entertaining and educational. Any creative ideas?
3 Answers
One cool option could be to divert some water into a channel and create a water wheel. This way you can control how much water flows to it. Just remember, depending on your creek's height, you might need a small dam for this.
There are small water turbines available that you can just toss into the water, and they can charge your phone! You can also make something larger that runs on a propeller. It might take some tinkering, but it’s doable!
Thanks for the tip! I’ll look into those. Anything else I should consider?
You might want to check out using a micro hydro system. The idea is to divert some water into a small tank and then run it down a pipe to a tiny turbine before letting it flow back into the creek. Just make sure to check local regulations so you’re good to go!
Great advice! I’ll definitely look into the legal side of things first.
That sounds awesome! Would I need to build a significant dam, or just a small one?