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Forum Index : Windmills : Novel Idea

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darcyrandall200

Newbie

Joined: 17/01/2009
Location: Australia
Posts: 34
Posted: 12:50pm 15 Aug 2011
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Hey Guys,

I was chatting to this chick in Pannawonica the other day and she sugested what I thought was a realy nifty idea.

I personally hate Lead Acid batteries. She suggested that Perhaps one should set up a windmill for pumping water up hill into a large water tank. When electricity is required, simply open a valve on the tank, allowing water to run downhill and turning an attached hydro turbine which would then produce electricity.

Anyway I liked the idea and so I thought I would share.

Cheers
Thankyou.

Regards Darcy Randall, Perth Western Australia
 
Tinker

Guru

Joined: 07/11/2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 1904
Posted: 01:33pm 15 Aug 2011
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Well Darcy, that trick has been done for years with the Snowy Mountains hydroelectric scheme, they just use of peak electricity from fossil fuel power stations to pump water back up from a lower to an upper dam. That gives them an energy buffer for peak hours.

As you can imagine, there are losses involved with any such scheme. These would make it quite impractical for a daily electricity demand on a small scale. If it was a weekend cabin in a windy area with a good permanent water source and a suitable high hill nearby then perhaps....
There would be an incredible long break even cost time I should imagine , making this a rather expensive alternative.
Klaus
 
KusoUSA
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Joined: 03/05/2011
Location: United States
Posts: 3
Posted: 10:36pm 15 Aug 2011
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Good idea if the output in electricity is within your demand. Will you be able to use the water after the turbine?
World’s Best Precision Lock Nuts Made in Switzerland – www.kuso-usa.com
 
norcold

Guru

Joined: 06/02/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 670
Posted: 08:12pm 17 Aug 2011
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As have lightly investigated using both compressed air and water to store energy, believe water may just prove to be a possibility in a small scale. In my case I would have to recycle the water. Forget break even costs at present as price of grid power(and batteries now) in a few years will ensure that.(grid power even more so if your many k,s from the grid) Couple of tanks,close hill,pump,piping,valves and water driven PMA. Hill for head being only snag(and of course red tape) rest all within our dyo culture.
We come from the land downunder.
Vic
 
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