Damless all-season hydroelectric power station
A damless all-season hydroelectric power station (BVHPP) is proposed, which is designed to generate electricity without constructing a dam by using the energy of gravity flow.
Due to the manufacture of various standard sizes for different flow speeds, as well as cascade installation, BVGES installations can be used both in small farms and for industrial electricity production, especially in places remote from power lines.
Structurally, the rotor of a hydroelectric power station is installed vertically, the height of the rotor is from 0.25 to 2.5 m... The structure is fixed on rivers with freeze-up at the bottom of the channel, and in an open (non-freezing channel) __ on a fixed catamaran.
The power of the installation is proportional to the area of the blade and the flow speed in the cube. The dependence of the power received at the shaft of the BVGES on its size and flow speed, as well as the estimated cost of the hydraulic unit is presented in the following table:
BVHPP power, kW depending on flow speed and installation size
The payback period of the installation does not exceed 1 year. A prototype of the BVGES was tested at a full-scale water test site.
Currently, there is technical documentation for the production of industrial samples according to customer specifications.
Pressure micro and small hydroelectric power stations
Hydraulic units for small hydroelectric power plants are designed for operation in a wide range of pressures and flow rates with high energy characteristics.
Microhydroelectric power stations are reliable, environmentally friendly, compact, quick-payback sources of electricity for villages, farmsteads, holiday villages, farms, as well as mills, bakeries, small industries in remote mountainous and hard-to-reach areas where there are no power lines nearby, and building such lines is now feasible longer and more expensive than purchasing and installing micro hydroelectric power stations.
The delivery set includes: a power unit, a water intake device and an automatic control device.
There is successful experience in operating equipment at the drops of existing dams, canals, water supply and drainage systems of industrial enterprises and municipal facilities, wastewater treatment plants, irrigation systems and drinking water pipelines. More than 150 sets of equipment have been delivered to customers in various regions of Russia, CIS countries, as well as Japan, Brazil, Guatemala, Sweden and Latvia.
The main technical solutions used to create the equipment are at the level of inventions and are protected by patents.
1. MICROHYDRO POWER PLANTS
with propeller impeller
— power up to 10 kW (MGES-10PR) for a pressure of 2.0-4.5 m and a flow rate of 0.07 - 0.14 m3/s;
— power up to 10 kW (MGES-10PR) for a head of 4.5-8.0 m and a flow rate of 0.10 - 0.21 m3/s;
— power up to 15 kW (MGES-15PR) for a head of 1.75-3.5 m and a flow rate of 0.10 - 0.20 m3/s;
— power up to 15 kW (MGES-15PR) for a pressure of 3.5-7.0 m and a flow rate of 0.15 - 0.130 m3/s;
- power up to 50 kW (MGES-50PR) for a head of 4.0-10.0 m and a flow rate of 0.36 - 0.80 m3/s;
with diagonal impeller
- power 10-50 kW (MGES-50D) for a pressure of 10.0-25.0 m and a flow rate of 0.05 - 0.28 m3/s;
— power up to 100 kW (MGES-100D) for a pressure of 25.0-55.0 m and a flow rate of 0.19 - 0.25 m3/s;
2. HYDRO UNITS FOR SMALL HYDRO POWERS
Hydraulic units with axial turbines with a power of up to 1000 kW;
-hydraulic units with radial-axial turbines with a power of up to 5000 kW;
-hydraulic units with bucket turbines with a power of up to 5000 kW;
DELIVERY TIME
Micro hydroelectric power station 10 kW; 15 kW is delivered within 3 months after signing the contract.
Micro hydroelectric power station 50 kW; delivered within 6 months after signing the contract.
Micro hydroelectric power station 100 kW; delivered within 8 months after signing the contract.
Hydraulic units are delivered within 6 to 12 months after signing the contract.
The company’s specialists are ready to help you determine the optimal option for installing micro and small hydroelectric power plants, select equipment for them, assist in the installation and commissioning of hydraulic units, as well as provide after-sales service for the equipment.
during its operation.
COST OF EQUIPMENT
Russian-made micro-hydroelectric power station
Appearance
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Micro-hydroelectric power station 10 kW
Micro-hydroelectric power station 50 kW
InzhInvestStroy
Mini hydroelectric power station. Microhydroelectric power plants
Small hydroelectric power station or small hydroelectric power station (SHPP) is a hydroelectric power station that generates a relatively small amount of electricity and consists of hydroelectric power plants with an installed capacity of 1 to 3000 kW.
Micro hydroelectric power station designed to convert the hydraulic energy of a fluid flow into electrical energy for further transmission of the generated electricity to the power system.
The term micro means that this hydroelectric power station is installed on small water bodies - small rivers or even streams, technological streams or differences in elevation of water treatment systems, and the power of the hydraulic unit does not exceed 10 kW.
SHPPs are divided into two classes: micro-hydroelectric power plants (up to 200 kW) and mini-hydroelectric power plants (up to 3000 kW). The former are used mainly in households and small enterprises, the latter - in larger facilities.
For the owner of a country house or small business, the former are obviously of greater interest.
Based on the principle of operation, micro-hydroelectric power plants are divided into the following types:
Water wheel. This is a wheel with blades, mounted perpendicular to the surface of the water and half immersed in it. During operation, water puts pressure on the blades and causes the wheel to rotate.
From the point of view of ease of manufacture and obtaining maximum efficiency at minimum cost, this design works well.
Therefore, it is often used in practice.
Garland mini-hydroelectric power station. It is a cable thrown from one bank of the river to the other with rotors rigidly attached to it. The flow of water rotates the rotors, and from them the rotation is transmitted to a cable, one end of which is connected to the bearing, and the other to the generator shaft.
Disadvantages of a garland hydroelectric power station: high material consumption, danger to others (long underwater cable, rotors hidden in the water, blocking the river), low efficiency.
Rotor Daria.
This is a vertical rotor that rotates due to the pressure difference on its blades. The pressure difference is created due to the flow of liquid around complex surfaces. The effect is similar to the lift of a hydrofoil or the lift of an airplane wing. In fact, SHPPs of this design are identical to wind generators of the same name, but are located in a liquid medium.
The Daria rotor is difficult to manufacture; it needs to be untwisted before starting work.
But it is attractive because the rotor axis is located vertically and power can be taken off over water, without additional gears. Such a rotor will rotate with any change in flow direction. Like its airborne counterpart, the efficiency of the Daria rotor is inferior to that of propeller-type small hydroelectric power plants.
Propeller.
This is an underwater “windmill” with a vertical rotor, which, unlike an air one, has blades of a minimum width of only 2 cm. This width provides minimal resistance and maximum rotation speed and was chosen for the most common flow speed - 0.8-2 meters per second.
Propeller SHPPs, as well as wheeled ones, are easy to manufacture and have relatively high efficiency, which is the reason for their frequent use.
Classification of mini hydroelectric power stations
Classification by power output (areas of application).
The power generated by a micro hydroelectric power station is determined by a combination of two factors, the first is the pressure of water flowing onto the blades of the hydraulic turbine, which drives the generator generating electricity, and the second factor is the flow rate, i.e.
the volume of water passing through the turbine in 1 second. Flow is the determining factor when classifying a hydroelectric power station as a specific type.
Based on the generated power, SHPPs are divided into:
- Household power up to 15 kW: used to provide electricity to private households and farms.
- Commercial up to 180 kW: supply electricity to small businesses.
- Industrial with a capacity of over 180 kW: they generate electricity for sale, or energy is transferred to production.
Classification by design
Classification by installation location
- High-pressure - more than 60 m;
- Medium pressure - from 25 m;
- Low-pressure - from 3 to 25 m.
This classification implies that the power plant operates at different speeds, and a number of measures are taken to stabilize it mechanically, because
the flow rate depends on the pressure.
Components of mini hydroelectric power station
The power generating installation of a small hydroelectric power station consists of a turbine, a generator and an automatic control system. Some of the system elements are similar to solar or wind generation systems. Main elements of the system:
- Hydro turbine with blades, connected by a shaft to the generator
- Generator.
Mini hydroelectric power station (HPP) for home
Designed to generate alternating current. Attached to the turbine shaft. The parameters of the generated current are relatively unstable, but nothing similar to power surges occurs during wind generation;
- Hydro turbine control unit provides start and stop of the hydraulic unit, automatic synchronization of the generator when connected to the power system, control of operating modes of the hydraulic unit, and emergency stop.
- Ballast load block, designed to dissipate power currently unused by the consumer, avoids failure of the electric generator and monitoring and control system.
- Charge controller/stabilizer: designed to control battery charge, control blade rotation and voltage conversion.
- Bank AKB: a storage tank, the size of which determines the duration of autonomous operation of the object powered by it.
- Inverter, many hydro-generation systems use inverter systems. If there is a battery bank and a charge controller, hydraulic systems are not much different from other systems using renewable energy sources.
Mini hydroelectric power station for a private house
Rising electricity tariffs and the lack of sufficient capacity make urgent questions about the use of free energy from renewable sources in households.
Compared to other sources of renewable energy sources, mini hydroelectric power stations are of interest, since with equal power to a windmill and a solar battery, they are capable of delivering much more energy in an equal period of time.
A natural limitation on their use is the lack of a river
If a small river, stream flows near your house, or there are elevation changes on lake spillways, then you have all the conditions for installing a mini hydroelectric power station. The money spent on its purchase will quickly pay for itself - you will be provided with cheap electricity at any time of the year, regardless of weather conditions and other external factors.
The main indicator that indicates the efficiency of using SHPPs is the flow rate of the reservoir.
If the speed is less than 1 m/s, then it is necessary to take additional measures to accelerate it, for example, make a bypass channel of variable cross-section or organize an artificial height difference.
Advantages and disadvantages of microhydropower
The advantages of a mini hydroelectric power station for the home include:
- Environmental safety (with reservations for juvenile fish) of equipment and the absence of the need to flood large areas with colossal material damage;
- Ecological purity of the energy produced.
There is no effect on the properties and quality of water. Reservoirs can be used both for fishing activities and as sources of water supply for the population;
- Low cost of generated electricity, which is several times cheaper than that generated at thermal power plants;
- Simplicity and reliability of the equipment used, and the possibility of its operation in autonomous mode (both within and outside the power supply network).
The electric current they generate meets GOST requirements for frequency and voltage;
- The full service life of the station is at least 40 years (at least 5 years before major repairs);
- inexhaustibility of resources used to generate energy.
The main disadvantage of micro-hydroelectric power stations is the relative danger for the inhabitants of aquatic fauna, because Rotating turbine blades, especially in high-speed flows, can pose a threat to fish or fry.
general information
Micro hydroelectric power plant (Micro HPP) is designed to provide power supply to a consumer isolated from the power grid.
The complete supply of micro-hydroelectric power plants is shown in Table 1
Terms of Use:
— air temperature, 0 ° C
— at the power point from -10 to +40;
— at the location of electrical cabinets from 0 to +40;
— altitude above sea level, m up to 1000; (When installing a micro-hydroelectric power station at an altitude of more than 1000 m, the maximum power must be limited)
— relative air humidity at the location of electrical cabinets does not exceed 98% at t = + 250 ° C.
The warranty period for micro-hydroelectric power stations is 1 year from the date of its launch, but not more than 1.5 years from the date of dispatch, installation of control and commissioning of work with the participation of the company and compliance with the rules of transport, storage and operation of experts.
Complete supply of micro-hydroelectric power plants
Table 1
technical data
MicroHP specifications are shown in Table 2
table 2
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parameter |
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Head (net), m |
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Water consumption, m3/s |
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Output power, kW |
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Rotation speed, rpm |
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Voltage, V |
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Current frequency, Hz |
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Disc diameter, mm |
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Feed diameter, mm |
Requirements for the network and consumer load (the load is determined as a percentage of the actual input to the micro-hydroelectric power station):
- characteristics of local, four-phase, three-phase;
— power of each engine,% not more than 10;
Total motor power, if additional compensation capacitors are installed, % not more than 30.
DESIGN
The power supply is designed to generate electricity and consists of a hydraulic turbine and an asynchronous motor, which is used as a generator.
It is designed to absorb excess active power of micro-hydroelectric power plants. BNN is a cabinet containing thermoelectric heaters.
The automatic control device is designed to control and protect the drive. It provides excitation of an asynchronous generator and automatic control of the produced voltage and frequency.
UAR provides protection against overload, overvoltage and short circuits
The water supply device is made in the form of a network box, inside of which there is a water supply hose with a closing housing.
The water supply device is designed in such a way that floating residues do not enter the drive.
Full, installation and connection dimensions are shown in Figure 1.
installation requirements
For the operation of a micropower plant, the presence of pressure (difference in water levels) is a precondition (see Figure 2).
Full screen hydroelectric dam
The head may be obtained due to the difference in watermarks between:
- two rivers;
- lake and river;
- on the same river, due to the flattening of the curve.
Pressure is also possible during dam construction.
Figure 2 shows the installation of micro HP according to the barrier design diagram. To create pressure on the turbine along the river, which has many slopes and rapids, an outlet pipeline is installed.
A small rock dam dissipates to increase the pressure.
The piping must provide water for the installation with minimal loss of head.
The length of the pipeline is determined by local conditions.
Before the power supply, the inlet and main valves required to start and stop the micro HPW must be installed on the pipeline.
Rice. 1
In general, the installation and connection dimensions of Micro HPP 10Pr.
1 - drive,
2 - block ballast load BBN,
3 - Automatic control device UAR
Low power cogeneration plants (review)
Cogeneration plants for individual houses - micro-CHP,« Micro-CHP (microCHP)" is an abbreviation for " heat and power combined” (combining heat and electricity) is an installation designed for heating individual housing) is one of the most interesting areas of development of heating technology.
Micro-CHP(microCHP) have already found thousands of users and will be included in manufacturer catalogs in the coming years.
Various technical solutions are implemented in manufactured and designed designs - from the traditional internal combustion engine (Otto engine), to steam turbines and piston engines, as well as the Stirling external combustion engine. When promoting this equipment, manufacturers make arguments of both economic and environmental nature: high (more than 90%) total Efficiency micro-CHP ensures a reduction in energy supply costs and the volume of harmful emissions, in particular carbon dioxide, into the atmosphere.
Company Senertec GmbH, part of Baxi Group, which has currently implemented about one and a half ten thousand installations Dachs(Badger) with an internal combustion engine.
Electric power - from 5 kW, thermal power - from 12.5 to 20.5. Senertec offers an energy center for an individual home, and when using several modules, for a large commercial facility. In addition to the compact cogeneration module, it includes, as standard, a buffer storage tank with a capacity of up to 1000 liters with a heat station mounted on it, combining all the piping elements necessary for heating and domestic hot water.
Additionally there is also an external condensation heat exchanger. Various models of Dachs units operate on natural, liquefied gas, and diesel fuel.
There is a Dachs RS model designed to run on biodiesel fuel made from rapeseed oil. The estimated cost of the gas model is 25 thousand euros. 
Micro-CHP (Mini-BHKW) ecopover German company PoverPlus Technologies(included in Vaillant Group) is already sold on the European market.
Its electrical power is modulated in the range from 1.3 to 4.7, thermal - in the range from 4.0 to 12.5 kW. The total efficiency of the installation exceeds 90%; the fuel used is natural or liquefied gas.
The estimated cost of the model is 20 thousand euros.
At the end of last year the company Otag Vertribes A pilot batch of floor-mounted gas micro-CHP was released lion
®-Powerblock electrical power 0.2-2.2, thermal - 2.5-16.0 kW.
It uses steam two-cylinder engine with a double freely moving piston: steam alternately enters the left and right cylinders, driving the working piston.
The steam generator of the apparatus consists of a pressurized burner and a steel coil; steam temperature - 350 °C, pressure - 25-30 bar. Its condensation is carried out directly in the apparatus.
As expected, lion ® on pellets will be available in April 2010.
Company Microgen(UK), one of the leaders in production mini-CHP, first developed Stirling's engine so small in size that it can be built into the boiler of an autonomous heating system.
by the company Baxi Heating UK announced its intention to bring to the UK market in 2008 a compact (wall-mounted) micro-CHP with an electrical power of 1 kW and a thermal power of up to 36 kW. The installation was developed jointly with Microgen Energy and is a combination of a compact single-piston Stirling engine created by it with a Baxi condensing boiler.
The model is equipped with two burners: the first - forced-air modulation - ensures the operation of the electric generator and produces 15 kW of thermal power, the second - satisfies the additional heat demand of the facility. A prototype of the installation was presented at the ISH-2007 exhibition.
Microgen, in collaboration with Dutch natural gas supplier Gausine and De Dietrich Remeha Group, producing boilers Remeha, develops a complete solution for heating and electricity generation.
De Dietrich-Remeha Group plans to produce and sell wall-mounted condensing boiler with built-in Stirling engine. It has already been exhibited at the ISH-2007 and 2009 exhibitions. The boiler will be produced in single- and double-circuit versions. Some technical characteristics of the boiler: Its thermal output will be 23 kW, in the second case - 28 kW; electric power - 1 kW; Stirling heat output – 4.8 kW, efficiency at 40/30°C - more than 107%, low CO2 and NOx emissions, noise level - less than 43 dB(A) per 1 m.
Dimensions: 900x420x450 mm.
The most important advantage of the HRE boiler is that part of its high output of up to 107% (thanks to condensing technology) is used to generate electricity. The cost of electricity, as well as emissions of harmful substances, are reduced by 65% compared to thermal power plants using traditional fuel.
For an average home, the “Remeha-HRE” boiler produces 2500 – 3000 kW per year, which is 75% of average consumption, thereby saving approximately 400 euros per year. When heating and generating electricity, emissions of harmful substances are reduced by 20%. 8 boilers are being tested in Holland. An additional 120 boilers are currently being commissioned for larger testing. Commercial production is expected to begin in 2010.
In Japan, more than 30,000 homeowners have installed micro-CHP Honda with quiet, efficient internal combustion engines housed in a sleek metal body.
KOHLER® Automated Gas Generating Units made in the USA with a power of 13 kVA, intended for use in residential buildings.
They have optimal compactness and excellent sound insulation.
Gas generators are designed for outdoor installation and do not require a special room. Both natural main gas and liquefied gas in cylinders or gas holders are suitable for their operation.
The automatic emergency control system makes their use safe and comfortable.
This equipment allows you to most effectively solve the following, unfortunately, not uncommon problems with power supply that owners of country houses face:
- The network is good, there is enough power, but sometimes there are power outages
- The network is weak, overloaded, strong voltage drops, frequent outages
- Insufficient capacity allocated by the electricity supply organization
- There is no network at all
You will never lack energy!
Your home needs energy.
KOHLER® generator sets are made with professional quality but designed for home use so you can continue your activities and enjoy comfort even during a power outage. KOHLER® generator sets are compact, noise-insulated and turn on automatically if there is a power outage, ensuring normal life at home can continue and complete peace of mind.
Have confidence in your KOHLER® generator set.
It will start working if there is a power outage, no matter whether you are at home or not, and will provide your home with electricity, for example, in order to:
- Refrigerators and freezers continued to operate.
- Air conditioning, heating and alarm systems were functioning.
- Drainage pumps, frost protection systems, etc. were functioning.
- Provide energy for your computer system.
- Everyday life continued without loss.
KOHLER® generator sets are permanently installed outside the home and turn on automatically to generate energy if the mains power supply is interrupted.
- Reliable power supply.
Power failures can cause damage to electrical equipment (plasma displays, electronic temperature controlled refrigerators, computers, etc.).
Hydroelectric power plants in Russia
KOHLER® generator sets provide backup power that meets European residential standards. The KOHLER® generator set will not damage expensive electronic equipment!
- Better sound insulation. KOHLER® generator sets operate virtually silently, maintaining comfortable conditions for you and your neighbors. The noise level during operation is no higher than 65 decibels at a distance of 7 m, which corresponds to the noise of a conventional household air conditioner.
- Quick start.
KOHLER® generator sets restore power within seconds. They have an automatic weekly testing system to keep the unit in working order during infrequent use.
- Fuel. KOHLER® generator sets are suitable for operation with liquid propane gas or natural gas, as well as diesel fuel.
Gas generator sets have low emissions, making them more environmentally friendly, quieter and require less frequent maintenance.
The choice is yours.
- KOHLER® quality. KOHLER® is a recognized international group of companies with almost 90 years of experience in the production of generator sets for the provision of backup energy. The first installation was assembled in 1920.
Characteristics of the gas generator SDMO RES 13
Power plants and generators
To main
Small hydroelectric power plants are usually divided into two types: “mini” - providing a unit of power up to 5000 kW, and “micro” - in the range from 3 to 100 kW. The use of hydroelectric power plants of such capacity is not new for Russia, but it is a well-forgotten old thing: in the 50s and 60s, thousands of small hydroelectric power plants operated.
Currently, their number almost reaches hundreds of pieces. Meanwhile, the constant rise in prices for fossil fuels leads to a significant increase in the cost of electricity, the share of which in production costs is 20% or more. In this regard, a small hydroelectric power station received a new life.
Modern hydropower, compared to other traditional types of electricity, is the most efficient and environmentally friendly way to produce electricity.
A small hydroelectric power station continues in this direction. Small power plants make it possible to preserve the natural landscape and environment not only during the operation phase, but also during the construction process.
Mini hydroelectric power station 10-15-30-50 kW
It does not have a negative impact on water quality in the future: it completely retains its original natural properties.
In rivers of canned fish, water can be used for aquatic plant species. Unlike other clean renewable energy sources such as solar and wind, small hydroelectric power plants are virtually independent of weather conditions and can provide a stable supply of energy to economical consumers. Another benefit of using little energy is saving money.
At a time when natural sources of energy - oil, coal and gas - are being depleted, constant growth is more expensive, the use of cheap, accessible renewable energy sources, especially small ones, allows for the production of cheap electricity. In addition, the construction of small hydroelectric power plants is cheap and quickly pays for itself. Thus, the construction of a small hydroelectric power station with an installed capacity of about 500 kW, the cost of construction work is about 14.5-15.0 million rubles.
In the combined table, design documentation, equipment construction, construction and installation of small hydroelectric power plants are put into operation for 15-18 months. High frequency electricity from hydroelectric power stations is no more than 0.45-0.5 rubles per 1 kWh, 1. This is five times lower than the costs of electricity actually sold by the power system.
By the way, in the next year or two years they intend to increase the electric power systems by 2-2.2 times, so construction costs will be repaid in 3.5-5 years. The implementation of such a project will not harm the environment from an environmental point of view.
In addition, it should be noted that reconstruction, previously deducted from the operation of a small hydroelectric power station, will cost 1.5-2 times less.
Many Russian scientific and industrial organizations and companies are engaged in the design and development of equipment for such hydroelectric power plants.
One of the largest is the intersectoral scientific and technical association “INSET” (St. Petersburg). INSET specialists have developed and patented original technical solutions for automated control systems for small and micro hydroelectric power plants. The use of such systems does not require the constant presence of maintenance personnel on site - the hydraulic unit operates reliably in automatic mode. The control system can be implemented on the basis of a programmable controller, which allows you to visually monitor the parameters of the hydraulic unit on a computer screen.
Hydraulic units for small and micro hydroelectric power plants produce MNTO "integrated", designed to operate over a wide range of flows and pressures with high energy properties and manufactured using propeller, radial and axial turbine blades.
The scope of supply generally includes a turbine, generator and automatic control of the hydraulic unit. The flow rates of all turbines are based on a mathematical modeling method.
Low energy is the most effective solution to energy problems for areas belonging to areas of decentralized power supply, which accounts for more than 70% of the territory of Russia. Providing energy to remote regions and energy shortages requires significant costs.
And here it is far from useful to use the capabilities of the existing federal energy system. The economic potential in Russia is significantly higher than the potential of renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar energy and biomass combined. In the national energy program, the INSET company is developing the “Concept of development and facilities for the placement of small hydroelectric power plants in the Republic of Tyva”, according to which this year will put into operation a small hydroelectric power station in the village of Kyzyl-Khaya.
Currently, INSET hydroelectric power plants operate in Russia (Kabardino-Balkaria, Bashkortostan), the Commonwealth of Independent States (Belarus, Georgia), as well as in Latvia and other countries.
Eco-friendly and economical mini-energy has long attracted the attention of foreigners.
Micro INESET operates in Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Guatemala, Sweden, Poland.
Free electricity - do-it-yourself mini hydroelectric power station
If there is a river or even a small stream flowing near your home, then with the help of a homemade mini hydroelectric power station you can get free electricity. Perhaps this will not be a very large addition to the budget, but the realization that you have your own electricity costs much more.
Well, if, for example, at a dacha, there is no central power supply, then even small amounts of electricity will be simply necessary. And so, to create a homemade hydroelectric power station, at least two conditions are required - the availability of a water resource and desire.
If both are present, then the first thing to do is measure the speed of the river flow.
This is very simple to do - throw a twig into the river and measure the time during which it floats 10 meters. Dividing meters by seconds gives you the current speed in m/s. If the speed is less than 1 m/s, then a productive mini hydroelectric power station will not work.
In this case, you can try to increase the flow speed by artificially narrowing the channel or making a small dam if you are dealing with a small stream.
As a guide, you can use the relationship between the flow speed in m/s and the power of electricity removed from the propeller shaft in kW (screw diameter 1 meter).
The data is experimental; in reality, the resulting power depends on many factors, but it is suitable for evaluation. So:
- 0.5 m/s – 0.03 kW,
- 0.7 m/s – 0.07 kW,
- 1 m/s – 0.14 kW,
- 1.5 m/s – 0.31 kW,
- 2 m/s – 0.55 kW,
- 2.5 m/s – 0.86 kW,
- 3 m/s -1.24 kW,
- 4 m/s – 2.2 kW, etc.
The power of a homemade mini hydroelectric power station is proportional to the cube of the flow velocity.
As already indicated, if the flow speed is insufficient, try to artificially increase it, if this is of course possible.
Types of mini-hydroelectric power plants
There are several main options for homemade mini hydroelectric power plants. 
This is a wheel with blades mounted perpendicular to the surface of the water.
The wheel is less than half immersed in the flow. Water presses on the blades and rotates the wheel. There are also turbine wheels with special blades optimized for liquid flow. But these are quite complex designs, more factory-made than home-made.
It is a vertical axis rotor used to generate electrical energy.
A vertical rotor that rotates due to the pressure difference on its blades. The pressure difference is created due to the flow of liquid around complex surfaces. The effect is similar to the lift of a hydrofoil or the lift of an airplane wing. This design was patented by Georges Jean-Marie Darrieux, a French aeronautical engineer in 1931. Also often used in wind turbine designs.
Garland a hydroelectric power station consists of light turbines - hydraulic propellers, strung and rigidly fixed in the form of a garland on a cable thrown across the river.
One end of the cable is fixed in the support bearing, the other rotates the generator rotor.
Mini-hydroelectric power station - Leneva hydropower unit
In this case, the cable plays the role of a kind of shaft, the rotational motion of which is transmitted to the generator. The flow of water rotates the rotors, the rotors rotate the cable.
Also borrowed from the designs of wind power plants, a kind of “underwater wind turbine” with a vertical rotor. Unlike an air propeller, an underwater propeller has blades of minimal width. For water, a blade width of only 2 cm is sufficient. With such a width, there will be minimal resistance and maximum rotation speed.
This width of the blades was chosen for a flow speed of 0.8-2 meters per second. At higher speeds, other sizes may be optimal. The propeller moves not due to water pressure, but due to the generation of lift. Just like an airplane wing. The propeller blades move across the flow rather than being dragged in the direction of the flow.
Advantages and disadvantages of various homemade mini hydroelectric power station systems
The disadvantages of a garland hydroelectric power station are obvious: high material consumption, danger to others (long underwater cable, rotors hidden in the water, blocking the river), low efficiency.
The Garland hydroelectric power station is a kind of small dam. It is advisable to use in uninhabited, remote areas with appropriate warning signs.
Permission from authorities and environmentalists may be required. The second option is a small stream in your garden.
The Daria rotor is difficult to calculate and manufacture.
At the beginning of work you need to unwind it. But it is attractive because the rotor axis is located vertically and power can be taken off over water, without additional gears. Such a rotor will rotate with any change in flow direction - this is a plus.
The most widespread designs for the construction of homemade hydroelectric power plants are the propeller and water wheel.
Since these options are relatively simple to manufacture, require minimal calculations and are implemented at minimal cost, have high efficiency, and are easy to configure and operate.
An example of a simple mini-hydroelectric power station
The simplest hydroelectric power station can be quickly built from an ordinary bicycle with a dynamic headlight.
Several blades (2-3) must be prepared from galvanized iron or thin sheet aluminum. The blades should be the length from the wheel rim to the hub and 2-4 cm wide.
These blades are installed between the spokes using any available method or using pre-prepared fasteners.
If you are using two blades, place them opposite each other.
If you want to add more blades, then divide the circumference of the wheel by the number of blades and install them at equal intervals. You can experiment with the depth of immersion of the wheel with blades in the water. It is usually one-third to one-half immersed.
The option of a traveling wind power plant was considered earlier.
Such a micro hydroelectric power station does not take up much space and will serve cyclists perfectly - the main thing is the presence of a stream or rivulet - which is usually the place where the camp is set up.
A mini hydroelectric power station from a bicycle can illuminate a tent and charge cell phones or other gadgets.
Source
homemadefree flow
A modern wood-burning power plant is very efficient and at the same time relatively inexpensive equipment, the main fuel in which is firewood. Now this equipment is quite widely used in the private residential sector, as well as in small production areas and in field conditions.
The principle of the classical scheme
The very concept of “wood-fired”, according to which a wood-fired thermal power plant operates, you need to understand that as fuel, it is possible to use a variety of materials that can burn. At the same time, the most common and frequently used resource is firewood. You can buy wood-burning power plants from a large assortment on the market at a relatively low cost. The main structure of these types of power plants is as follows:
- Bake.
- Special boiler.
- Turbine.
With the help of a furnace, a boiler is heated in which there is water or there may be a gas special for this purpose. The water is then sent through a pipeline to the turbine. It rotates and with this, electricity is converted in a specially mounted generator. It’s quite easy to make wood-burning power plants with your own hands and it won’t take a lot of time or significant financial investments.
Main features of work
When the power plant is operating, the water will not immediately evaporate, but will constantly flow along the circuit. The exhaust steam cools and then becomes water again, and so on in a circle. Some of the disadvantages of this type of operation of a mini power plant using solid fuel is the rather high risk of explosion. If suddenly the water in the circuit overheats greatly, then the boiler may not be able to withstand it and will burst under pressure. To prevent this, modern systems and automatic valves are used. You can always buy a camping wood-burning power station, which has high efficiency and safety indicators at very low cost.
Also, in the standard steam generator circuit there are some requirements for the water used. It is not recommended to pour ordinary tap water into this equipment. Because it contains a large amount of salts, which over time will become the main cause of plaque on the walls of the boiler used and in the pipes of the power plant, which uses wood as the main fuel.
Such deposits have reduced thermal conductivity, which will negatively affect the operation of a solid fuel power plant, which you can buy with any necessary operating parameters at the most reasonable cost. But now, problems and difficulties with the formation of plaque can be solved quite quickly and easily by using specialized products that are designed to combat the appearance of plaque. They provide an excellent opportunity to very quickly and effectively deal with the formation of plaque in such equipment, which greatly simplifies the process of operating power plants that use wood as fuel.
Various options for wood-fired power plants
Nowadays, a solid fuel tourist mini power station is very popular and inexpensive, which can be purchased from a large assortment. Such power plants are highly popular and in demand among a large number of tourists and travelers. This equipment uses special solid fuel, which provides high levels of efficiency, reliability, and safety in operation.
A mini-power plant using firewood as fuel is a fairly successful and long-used piece of equipment that can be used in various fields of human activity. These types of power plants are very popular among summer residents, where there may be frequent problems with power outages, as well as in hard-to-reach regions where there are no power lines. In addition, camping versions of power plants that use wood or any other solid fuel elements are now becoming increasingly popular.
This fall, there is an aggravation in the network regarding heat pumps and their use for heating country houses and cottages. In the country house that I built with my own hands, such a heat pump has been installed since 2013. This is a semi-industrial air conditioner that can effectively operate for heating at outdoor temperatures down to -25 degrees Celsius. It is the main and only heating device in a one-story country house with a total area of 72 square meters.
2. Let me briefly remind you of the background. Four years ago, I bought a 6-acre plot of land from a gardening partnership, on which I, with my own hands, without hiring hired labor, built a modern, energy-efficient country house. The purpose of the house is a second apartment located in nature. Year-round, but not constant operation. Maximum autonomy was required in conjunction with simple engineering. There is no main gas in the area where SNT is located and you should not count on it. Imported solid or liquid fuel remains, but all these systems require complex infrastructure, the cost of construction and maintenance of which is comparable to direct heating with electricity. Thus, the choice was already partially predetermined - electric heating. But here a second, no less important point arises: the limitation of electrical capacity in the gardening partnership, as well as fairly high electricity tariffs (at that time - not a “rural” tariff). In fact, 5 kW of electrical power has been allocated to the site. The only way out in this situation is to use a heat pump, which will save about 2.5-3 times on heating compared to direct conversion of electrical energy into heat.
So, let's move on to heat pumps. They differ in where they take heat from and where they release it. An important point, known from the laws of thermodynamics (8th grade of high school) - a heat pump does not produce heat, it transfers it. That is why its ECO (energy conversion coefficient) is always greater than 1 (that is, the heat pump always gives out more heat than it consumes from the network).
The classification of heat pumps is as follows: “water - water”, “water - air”, “air - air”, “air - water”. “Water” indicated in the formula on the left means the extraction of heat from a liquid circulating coolant passing through pipes located in the ground or reservoir. The effectiveness of such systems is practically independent of the time of year and ambient temperature, but they require expensive and labor-intensive excavation work, as well as the availability of sufficient free space for laying a ground heat exchanger (on which, subsequently, it will be difficult for anything to grow in the summer, due to freezing of the soil) . The “water” indicated in the formula on the right refers to the heating circuit located inside the building. This can be either a radiator system or liquid heated floors. Such a system will also require complex engineering work inside the building, but it also has its advantages - with the help of such a heat pump you can also get hot water in the house.
But the most interesting category is the air-to-air heat pump category. In fact, these are the most common air conditioners. While working for heating, they take heat from the street air and transfer it to an air heat exchanger located inside the house. Despite some disadvantages (production models cannot operate at ambient temperatures below -30 degrees Celsius), they have a huge advantage: such a heat pump is very easy to install and its cost is comparable to conventional electric heating using convectors or an electric boiler.
3. Based on these considerations, a Mitsubishi Heavy ducted semi-industrial air conditioner, model FDUM71VNX, was selected. As of autumn 2013, a set consisting of two blocks (external and internal) cost 120 thousand rubles.
4. The external unit is installed on the facade on the north side of the house, where there is the least wind (this is important).
5. The indoor unit is installed in the hall under the ceiling; from it, with the help of flexible, sound-insulated air ducts, hot air is supplied to all living spaces inside the house.
6. Because The air supply is located under the ceiling (it is absolutely impossible to organize a hot air supply near the floor in a stone house), then it is obvious that the air needs to be taken in on the floor. To do this, using a special duct, the air intake was lowered to the floor in the corridor (all interior doors also have flow grilles installed in the lower part). The operating mode is 900 cubic meters of air per hour, due to constant and stable circulation there is absolutely no difference in air temperature between the floor and ceiling in any part of the house. To be precise, the difference is 1 degree Celsius, which is even less than when using wall-mounted convectors under windows (with them the temperature difference between the floor and ceiling can reach 5 degrees).
7. In addition to the fact that the internal unit of the air conditioner, due to its powerful impeller, is capable of circulating large volumes of air throughout the house in recirculation mode, we must not forget that people need fresh air in the house. Therefore, the heating system also serves as a ventilation system. Through a separate air channel, fresh air is supplied to the house from the street, which, if necessary, is heated (in the cold season) using automation and a duct heating element.
8. Hot air is distributed through grilles like this, located in living rooms. It is also worth paying attention to the fact that there is not a single incandescent lamp in the house and only LEDs are used (remember this point, it is important).
9. Exhausted “dirty” air is removed from the house through an exhaust hood in the bathroom and kitchen. Hot water is prepared in a conventional storage water heater. In general, this is a fairly large expense item, because... Well water is very cold (from +4 to +10 degrees Celsius depending on the time of year) and someone may reasonably note that solar collectors can be used to heat water. Yes, you can, but the cost of investing in infrastructure is such that for this money you can heat water directly with electricity for 10 years.
10. And this is “TsUP”. Main and main control panel for air source heat pump. It has various timers and simple automation, but we use only two modes: ventilation (in the warm season) and heating (in the cold season). The built house turned out to be so energy efficient that the air conditioner in it was never used for its intended purpose - to cool the house in the heat. LED lighting (the heat transfer from which tends to zero) and very high-quality insulation played a big role in this (it’s no joke, after installing a lawn on the roof, we even had to use a heat pump to heat the house this summer - on days when the average daily temperature dropped below + 17 degrees Celsius). The temperature in the house is maintained year-round at least +16 degrees Celsius, regardless of the presence of people in it (when there are people in the house, the temperature is set to +22 degrees Celsius) and the supply ventilation is never turned off (because I’m lazy).
11. A technical electricity meter was installed in the fall of 2013. That is exactly 3 years ago. It is easy to calculate that the average annual consumption of electrical energy is 7000 kWh (in fact, now this figure is slightly less, because in the first year the consumption was high due to the use of dehumidifiers during finishing work).
12. In the factory configuration, the air conditioner is capable of heating at an ambient temperature of at least -20 degrees Celsius. To operate at lower temperatures, modification is required (in fact, it is relevant when operating even at a temperature of -10, if there is high humidity outside) - installing a heating cable in the drain pan. This is necessary so that after the defrosting cycle of the external unit, liquid water has time to leave the drain pan. If she doesn’t have time to do this, then ice will freeze in the pan, which will subsequently squeeze out the frame with the fan, which will probably lead to the blades on it breaking off (you can look at photos of broken blades on the Internet, I almost encountered this myself because . did not put the heating cable in immediately).
13. As I mentioned above, exclusively LED lighting is used everywhere in the house. This is important when it comes to air conditioning a room. Let's take a standard room in which there are 2 lamps, 4 lamps in each. If these are 50-watt incandescent bulbs, then they will consume a total of 400 watts, while LED bulbs will consume less than 40 watts. And all energy, as we know from the physics course, ultimately turns into heat anyway. That is, incandescent lighting is such a good medium-power heater.
14. Now let's talk about how a heat pump works. All it does is transfer thermal energy from one place to another. This is the same principle that refrigerators operate on. They transfer heat from the refrigerator compartment to the room.
There is such a good riddle: How will the temperature in the room change if you leave a refrigerator plugged in with the door open? The correct answer is that the temperature in the room will rise. To make it easier to understand, this can be explained this way: the room is a closed circuit, electricity flows into it through wires. As we know, energy ultimately turns into heat. That is why the temperature in the room will rise, because electricity enters the closed circuit from the outside and remains in it.
A little theory. Heat is a form of energy that is transferred between two systems due to temperature differences. In this case, thermal energy moves from a place with a high temperature to a place with a lower temperature. This is a natural process. Heat transfer can be carried out by conduction, thermal radiation or by convection.
There are three classical states of aggregation of matter, the transformation between which is carried out as a result of changes in temperature or pressure: solid, liquid, gaseous.
To change the state of aggregation, the body must either receive or give off thermal energy.
When melting (transition from solid to liquid), thermal energy is absorbed.
During evaporation (transition from liquid to gaseous state), thermal energy is absorbed.
During condensation (transition from a gaseous to a liquid state), thermal energy is released.
During crystallization (transition from a liquid to a solid state), thermal energy is released.
The heat pump uses two transition modes: evaporation and condensation, that is, it operates with a substance that is either in a liquid or gaseous state.
15. R410a refrigerant is used as the working fluid in the heat pump circuit. It is a hydrofluorocarbon that boils (changes from liquid to gas) at a very low temperature. Namely, at a temperature of 48.5 degrees Celsius. That is, if ordinary water at normal atmospheric pressure boils at a temperature of +100 degrees Celsius, then R410a freon boils at a temperature almost 150 degrees lower. Moreover, at very negative temperatures.
It is this property of the refrigerant that is used in the heat pump. By specifically measuring pressure and temperature, it can be given the required properties. Either it will be evaporation at ambient temperature, absorbing heat, or condensation at ambient temperature, releasing heat.
16. This is what the heat pump circuit looks like. Its main components are: compressor, evaporator, expansion valve and condenser. The refrigerant circulates in a closed circuit of the heat pump and alternately changes its state of aggregation from liquid to gaseous and vice versa. It is the refrigerant that transfers and transfers heat. The pressure in the circuit is always excessive compared to atmospheric pressure.
How it works?
The compressor sucks in the cold, low-pressure refrigerant gas coming from the evaporator. The compressor compresses it under high pressure. The temperature rises (heat from the compressor is also added to the refrigerant). At this stage we obtain a high pressure and high temperature refrigerant gas.
In this form, it enters the condenser, blown with colder air. The superheated refrigerant releases its heat to the air and condenses. At this stage, the refrigerant is in a liquid state, under high pressure and at an average temperature.
The refrigerant then enters the expansion valve. There is a sharp decrease in pressure due to the expansion of the volume occupied by the refrigerant. The decrease in pressure causes partial evaporation of the refrigerant, which in turn reduces the temperature of the refrigerant below ambient temperature.
In the evaporator, the refrigerant pressure continues to decrease, it evaporates even more, and the heat necessary for this process is taken from the warmer outside air, which is cooled.
The fully gaseous refrigerant is returned to the compressor and the cycle is completed.
17. I’ll try to explain it more simply. The refrigerant already boils at a temperature of -48.5 degrees Celsius. That is, relatively speaking, at any higher ambient temperature it will have excess pressure and, in the process of evaporation, take heat from the environment (that is, street air). There are refrigerants used in low-temperature refrigerators, their boiling point is even lower, down to -100 degrees Celsius, but it cannot be used to operate a heat pump to cool a room in the heat due to the very high pressure at high ambient temperatures. R410a refrigerant is a kind of balance between the ability of the air conditioner to operate for both heating and cooling.
By the way, here is a good documentary filmed in the USSR and telling about how a heat pump works. I recommend.
18. Can any air conditioner be used for heating? No, not just anyone. Although almost all modern air conditioners run on R410a freon, other characteristics are no less important. Firstly, the air conditioner must have a four-way valve, which allows you to switch to “reverse”, so to speak, namely, swap the condenser and evaporator. Secondly, note that the compressor (located on the bottom right) is located in a thermally insulated casing and has an electrically heated crankcase. This is necessary in order to always maintain a positive oil temperature in the compressor. In fact, at ambient temperatures below +5 degrees Celsius, even when turned off, the air conditioner consumes 70 watts of electrical energy. The second, most important point is that the air conditioner must be inverter. That is, both the compressor and the impeller electric motor must be able to change performance during operation. This is what allows the heat pump to operate efficiently for heating at outside temperatures below -5 degrees Celsius.
19. As we know, on the heat exchanger of the external unit, which is an evaporator during heating operation, intensive evaporation of the refrigerant occurs with the absorption of heat from the environment. But in the street air there are water vapors in a gaseous state, which condense or even crystallize on the evaporator due to a sharp drop in temperature (the street air gives up its heat to the refrigerant). And intense freezing of the heat exchanger will lead to a decrease in the efficiency of heat removal. That is, as the ambient temperature decreases, it is necessary to “slow down” both the compressor and the impeller to ensure the most effective heat removal on the surface of the evaporator.
An ideal heating-only heat pump should have a surface area of the external heat exchanger (evaporator) several times larger than the surface area of the internal heat exchanger (condenser). In practice, we return to the same balance that a heat pump must be able to work for both heating and cooling.
20. On the left you can see the external heat exchanger almost completely covered with frost, except for two sections. In the upper, non-frozen section, freon still has a fairly high pressure, which does not allow it to effectively evaporate while absorbing heat from the environment, while in the lower section it is already overheated and can no longer absorb heat from the outside. And the photo on the right answers the question why the external air conditioner unit was installed on the facade, and not hidden from view on the flat roof. It is precisely because of the water that needs to be drained from the drain pan during the cold season. It would be much more difficult to drain this water from the roof than from the blind area.
As I already wrote, during heating operation at subzero temperatures outside, the evaporator on the external unit freezes over, and water from the street air crystallizes on it. The efficiency of a frozen evaporator is noticeably reduced, but the electronics of the air conditioner automatically monitors the efficiency of heat removal and periodically switches the heat pump to defrost mode. Essentially, the defrost mode is a direct air conditioning mode. That is, heat is taken from the room and transferred to an external, frozen heat exchanger to melt the ice on it. At this time, the fan of the indoor unit operates at minimum speed, and cool air flows from the air ducts inside the house. The defrost cycle usually lasts 5 minutes and occurs every 45-50 minutes. Due to the high thermal inertia of the house, no discomfort is felt during defrosting.
21. Here is a table of the heating performance of this heat pump model. Let me remind you that the nominal energy consumption is just over 2 kW (current 10A), and heat transfer ranges from 4 kW at -20 degrees outside, to 8 kW at an outside temperature of +7 degrees. That is, the conversion coefficient is from 2 to 4. This is how many times a heat pump allows you to save energy compared to the direct conversion of electrical energy into heat.
By the way, there is another interesting point. The service life of an air conditioner when operating for heating is several times higher than when operating for cooling.
22. Last fall, I installed a Smappee electric energy meter, which allows you to keep statistics of energy consumption on a monthly basis and provides a more or less convenient visualization of the measurements taken.
23. Smappee was installed exactly a year ago, in the last days of September 2015. It also tries to show the cost of electrical energy, but does so based on manually set tariffs. And there is an important point with them - as you know, we increase electricity prices twice a year. That is, during the presented measurement period, tariffs changed 3 times. Therefore, we will not pay attention to the cost, but will calculate the amount of energy consumed.
In fact, Smappee has problems with visualizing consumption graphs. For example, the shortest column on the left is consumption for September 2015 (117 kWh), because Something went wrong with the developers and for some reason the screen for the year shows 11 instead of 12 columns. But the total consumption figures are calculated accurately.
Namely, 1957 kWh for 4 months (including September) at the end of 2015 and 4623 kWh for the whole of 2016 from January to September inclusive. That is, a total of 6580 kWh was spent on ALL life support of a country house, which was heated year-round, regardless of the presence of people in it. Let me remind you that in the summer of this year I had to use a heat pump for heating for the first time, and it never worked for cooling in the summer in all 3 years of operation (except for automatic defrosting cycles, of course). In rubles, according to current tariffs in the Moscow region, this is less than 20 thousand rubles per year or about 1,700 rubles per month. Let me remind you that this amount includes: heating, ventilation, water heating, stove, refrigerator, lighting, electronics and appliances. That is, it is actually 2 times cheaper than the monthly rent for an apartment in Moscow of the same size (of course, without taking into account maintenance fees, as well as fees for major repairs).
24. Now let’s calculate how much money the heat pump saved in my case. We will compare electric heating, using the example of an electric boiler and radiators. I will calculate at pre-crisis prices that were at the time the heat pump was installed in the fall of 2013. Now heat pumps have become more expensive due to the collapse of the ruble exchange rate, and all the equipment is imported (the leaders in the production of heat pumps are the Japanese).
Electric heating:
Electric boiler - 50 thousand rubles
Pipes, radiators, fittings, etc. - another 30 thousand rubles. Total materials for 80 thousand rubles.
Heat pump:
Duct air conditioner MHI FDUM71VNXVF (external and internal units) - 120 thousand rubles.
Air ducts, adapters, thermal insulation, etc. - another 30 thousand rubles. Total materials for 150 thousand rubles.
Do-it-yourself installation, but in both cases the time is approximately the same. Total “overpayment” for a heat pump compared to an electric boiler: 70 thousand rubles.
But that's not all. Air heating using a heat pump is at the same time air conditioning in the warm season (that is, air conditioning still needs to be installed, right? That means we’ll add at least another 40 thousand rubles) and ventilation (mandatory in modern sealed houses, at least another 20 thousand rubles).
What do we have? The “overpayment” in the complex is only 10 thousand rubles. This is still only at the stage of putting the heating system into operation.
And then the operation begins. As I wrote above, in the coldest winter months the conversion factor is 2.5, and in the off-season and summer it can be taken to be 3.5-4. Let’s take the average annual COP equal to 3. Let me remind you that 6500 kWh of electrical energy is consumed in a house per year. This is the total consumption for all electrical appliances. For simplicity of calculations, let’s take the minimum that the heat pump consumes only half of this amount. That is 3000 kWh. At the same time, on average, he supplied 9,000 kWh of thermal energy per year (6,000 kWh was “brought” from the street).
Let's convert the transferred energy into rubles, assuming that 1 kWh of electrical energy costs 4.5 rubles (average day/night tariff in the Moscow region). We get 27,000 rubles in savings compared to electric heating only in the first year of operation. Let us remember that the difference at the stage of putting the system into operation was only 10 thousand rubles. That is, already in the first year of operation, the heat pump SAVED me 17 thousand rubles. That is, it paid for itself in the first year of operation. At the same time, let me remind you that this is not permanent residence, in which case the savings would be even greater!
But don’t forget about the air conditioner, which specifically in my case was not needed due to the fact that the house I built turned out to be over-insulated (although it uses a single-layer aerated concrete wall without additional insulation) and it simply does not heat up in the summer in the sun. That is, we will remove 40 thousand rubles from the estimate. What do we have? In this case, I began to SAVE on a heat pump not from the first year of operation, but from the second. It's not a big difference.
But if we take a water-to-water or even air-to-water heat pump, then the figures in the estimate will be completely different. This is why the air-to-air heat pump has the best price/efficiency ratio on the market.
25. And finally, a few words about electric heating devices. I was tormented with questions about all sorts of infrared heaters and nano-technologies that do not burn oxygen. I will answer briefly and to the point. Any electric heater has an efficiency of 100%, that is, all electrical energy is converted into heat. In fact, this applies to any electrical appliances; even an electric light bulb produces heat exactly in the amount in which it received it from the outlet. If we talk about infrared heaters, their advantage is that they heat objects, not air. Therefore, the most reasonable use for them is heating on open verandas in cafes and at bus stops. Where there is a need to transfer heat directly to objects/people, bypassing air heating. A similar story about burning oxygen. If you see this phrase somewhere in an advertising brochure, you should know that the manufacturer is taking the buyer for a sucker. Combustion is an oxidation reaction, and oxygen is an oxidizing agent, that is, it cannot burn itself. That is, this is all the nonsense of amateurs who skipped physics classes at school.
26. Another option for saving energy with electric heating (whether by direct conversion or using a heat pump) is to use the thermal capacity of the building envelope (or a special heat accumulator) to store heat while using a cheap nightly electric tariff. This is exactly what I will be experimenting with this winter. According to my preliminary calculations (taking into account the fact that in the next month I will pay the rural tariff for electricity, since the building is already registered as a residential building), even despite the increase in electricity tariffs, next year I will pay for the maintenance of the house less than 20 thousand rubles (for all electrical energy consumed for heating, water heating, ventilation and equipment, taking into account the fact that the temperature in the house is maintained at approximately 18-20 degrees Celsius all year round, regardless of whether there are people in it).
What's the result? A heat pump in the form of a low-temperature air-to-air air conditioner is the simplest and most affordable way to save on heating, which can be doubly important when there is a limit on electrical power. I am completely satisfied with the installed heating system and do not experience any discomfort from its operation. In the conditions of the Moscow region, the use of an air source heat pump is completely justified and allows you to recoup the investment no later than in 2-3 years.
By the way, don’t forget that I also have Instagram, where I publish the progress of work almost in real time -
– not only fresh forest air, but also a lot of problems. Communications laid decades ago often fail to cope with the influx of people wishing to settle in the lap of nature. Either maintenance work, or an accident, or a new neighbor leaving the entire block without power for several hours. And somewhere there are no such benefits: the power line has not yet been laid, the gas pipeline is far away, and the local water utility is in no hurry to cover new horizons. It’s time to think about housing that will not depend on central communications, where you have your own gas, electricity, and running water. That is, build. Is it possible? And in general, how to make country life as independent as possible from external factors?
Give me energy!
The main issue is electricity. All communications depend on it to one degree or another.
Some cottage owners solve the issue of energy supply by purchasing a generator. Since this will be the only source of energy supply for the house, you need to take the choice seriously. It must be reliable, safe, consume the optimal amount of fuel and, of course, produce a minimum of noise.
The main two types of generators are gasoline and diesel. The duration of continuous operation of the gas generator is no more than 12 hours, power is a maximum of 15 kVA (13.5 kW). Usually in cottages they are kept “just in case” and are launched only if the electricity is cut off.
A diesel generator is suitable for constant power supply to the home. It is more powerful than gasoline and has a longer service life. The diesel unit is fireproof. Of course, it cannot be called absolutely silent, but it hums noticeably quieter than its gasoline counterpart. The main advantage of a diesel mini-power plant (as generators are also called) is the ability to save on electricity. Diesel fuel is relatively inexpensive, at least cheaper than gasoline. The diesel generator requires minimal maintenance, and its service life is more than 20 years. So for owners of suburban housing, a diesel power plant is an option to solve the problem.
You can go even further with the issue of energy supply to the cottage - install a mini-CHP. Thermal power plants are turbine, gas piston and mini-turbine. The former are used to provide energy to large industrial enterprises and entire neighborhoods.
For home energy production, the last two options are suitable. Such mini-CHPs take up little space. The structure is about two meters long and approximately 1.5 meters wide and high. Install it in a utility room or next to the cottage, under a canopy. The system is monitored by a computer, so there is no need to hire a special operator. Mini-CHPs can be equipped with gas leak sensors, fire and security systems. This makes them as safe as possible. The service life of mini-CHP is 25-30 years.
What advantages does your own thermal power plant provide compared to public networks?
Firstly, independence from the operation of the central power plant.
Secondly, in addition to its direct “responsibility” - to generate electricity, the mini-CHP will also provide the cottage with hot water. The fact is that during the production of electricity, heat is generated, which is simply thrown away at powerful central power plants. The thermal energy of the mini-CHP is directed to the hot water supply of the house. Thus, the hot water supply will be free for the user of the mini-CHP. Quite a significant bonus, isn't it?
Thirdly, your own heat is cheaper. own mini-CHP is commensurate with the payment for connection to the central power grid. For example, in Moscow, connecting to networks costs 45,000 rubles per 1 kW of installed electrical capacity. Within a few years (from 2 to 6), the costs of installing a mini-CHP will pay off, since the annual costs of its maintenance are noticeably lower than the payment for electricity in local networks. According to experts, you can save up to 50 kopecks from every 1 kWh. Considering that electricity prices are constantly rising, own electricity will not hurt anyone.
Thermal insulation – a step towards independence
A logical conclusion: the less energy you consume, the less dependent you are on its source. This is not about saving energy by limiting its consumption; this principle does not at all correspond to the concept of “comfortable life”. The question is different: how to keep the house warm?
The warmer the walls, roof, and ceilings of the home, the less heat escapes outside. This means that less resources are required to heat the premises. In Europe and the USA, people began to think about energy efficiency (minimum consumption of thermal and electrical energy) of buildings quite a long time ago. Gradually, this trend reached our country.
The main factor in the energy efficiency of a building is high-quality thermal insulation. It is worth taking care of it in advance, even before construction begins. Facade, roofing, pipes, ceilings, windows, doors - it is necessary to minimize heat loss in all areas by insulating them well.
The first thing you should pay attention to when choosing a thermal insulation material is the thermal conductivity coefficient. The lower it is, the better. Hydrophobicity is also important - the ability not to absorb moisture, as well as reliability, durability, fire resistance, environmental friendliness, and ease of installation. And in some cases you have to choose a material with minimal weight.
Fibrous mineral wool thermal insulation (glass wool) is the most common category of this house-building product. Glass wool has low thermal conductivity, it is lightweight and fireproof. But fiberglass is subject to shrinkage. Therefore, after just a few years, the quality of thermal insulation may noticeably decrease.
Stone wool is not subject to shrinkage, is environmentally friendly and, importantly, durable. This is a non-flammable material. Stone wool fibers do not melt under the influence of fire, withstanding temperatures up to 1000 ° C. Moreover, in the event of a fire, such thermal insulation can significantly delay the spread of flames and prevent the collapse of structures. So in terms of security, this is perhaps the best option.
For example, for thermal insulation of a facade, you can use the ROCKWOOL ROCKFACADE system (the world's leading manufacturer of stone wool thermal insulation). It not only fulfills its direct function - it retains heat in the house, but also protects the outer wall of the building from the effects of heat, humidity, wind and cold. The fact is that stone wool has high vapor permeability. Air with high humidity, which inevitably appears in a living room, freely escapes outside through the thermal insulation layer. This way the wall will always remain dry and will last much longer.
If you need to insulate floors, a pitched roof, an attic, the inner surface of walls, floors along joists, lightweight ROCKWOOL LIGHT BUTTS slabs with Flexi technology are suitable. This new product has a spring edge - one side of the material is pressed and easily inserted into the frame, and then straightens into it. Any housewife can cope with insulation.
High-quality thermal insulation will protect the house from both winter cold and summer heat. There will be a comfortable climate in the house in any weather. Mini-CHP or kilowatts purchased through traffic - no matter how the heat is obtained, it should stay with you. For a cottage in which autonomous life support systems play a major role, this is especially important
And we have gas in our cottage...
In some cases, an autonomous gas supply system is not just a desire to make your home independent of city gas services, but a necessity. Oddly enough, in our country, where, according to experts, the reserves of “blue fuel” will last for the next 100 years, there are still areas in which one can only dream of mainline gas. However, in some places pressure drops in the central pipeline occur so often that it’s time to think about your own gas storage.
This is quite real. A gas holder - a cylindrical container with a volume of several thousand liters - is buried underground at a distance of about 10 meters from the house. Once to three times a year the tank must be refilled with propane or butane. Such a system is designed for 20–30 years of service.
The cost of installing a gas tank is several times, or even tens of times, more expensive than connecting to the main line. True, in some regions of Russia the prices for connecting to the central gas supply system are so high that having your own gas tank is not much more expensive. Your gas will pay for itself within a few years, since it is cheaper to operate than electricity from the central power system.
...and your own water supply!
Things are also not always the best with central water supply in suburban villages. There are areas that water supply networks have not yet reached, and it is unknown when they will reach them. But this will not prevent you from providing your home with clean water. It’s not for nothing that the Earth is called the blue planet: we have water almost everywhere. You just need to drill a well of sufficient depth.
Neither a well nor a sand well 30-35 meters deep will be able to provide the cottage with the required amount of water, and the quality of such water will be far from the best. These options are only suitable for summer cottages. A modern country house requires a well of several tens of meters. In the south of the Moscow region, groundwater is at a depth of 40 to 70 meters; in the northeast of the Moscow region it will be necessary to drill to a depth of up to 200 meters. What rock separates the site from groundwater - clay, granite, limestone - also needs to be taken into account. Everything related to water and soil on the site can be found out from local well drilling companies.
Since drilling is an expensive process, it is better to think about the water supply of the house even before it is built, and even before the land is purchased.
So, there is an opportunity to get your own water. This means you can not depend on the presence of a central water supply system, buying a house or plot of land even in the farthest corner from the bustle of the city.
Clean air, a river, a forest... Recently, more and more people have been dreaming of settling away from noisy and polluted cities. In our country, with its endless expanses, there are more than enough opportunities to settle in the lap of nature. The only problem: the farther a cozy green corner is from the metropolis, the fewer conditions it has for a comfortable life. But man is a stubborn creature: if there are no ready-made benefits of civilization, he strives to create them. Therefore, own electricity, gas, and water are becoming the norm. Modern technologies that help make housing autonomous give you the freedom to live where you want.