Proposal
Hydroelectricity is a low emission, effective source of energy. It accounts for 95% of all renewable energy. Although dams that pose environmental issues normally produce hydroelectricity, smaller run-of-river projects are a popular option for rural living and developing countries. Many developing countries lack electricity in rural areas, as there is no way of transporting it there. Run-of-river generators offer a relatively undisruptive source of electricity. Even in well-developed countries, some rural areas also may benefit from a run-of-river generator as they are effective and can be constructed anywhere with a fair sized river. Our innovation will be addressing these run-of-river projects, but more specifically the water wheel.
An improved water wheel would benefit many as it may increase the efficiency of run-of-river generators meaning that more energy would be produced in less time. Many current water wheels produce drag that our design will minimize. Ease of construction will also be considered as in rural areas, repairs may have to be performed by locals.
The water wheel comes in many sizes and designs such as bucketed (Knight Wheel), not bucketed (Paddle Wheel), double bucketed (Pelton Wheel) and Archimedes screw. The most common water wheel is one without buckets, mainly due to the ease of construction and simplicity. Also, bucketed and paddle water wheels tend to produce unnecessary drag when entering and exiting the water (see pic. a).
Our design will be a single bucketed water wheel that will be designed to be undershot (see pic. b) by the water; this is because it is the simplest method. It will have modifications to the shape of the buckets (see pic. c). The buckets will be triangular, minimizing drag while entering and exiting the water, while retaining the buckets that the water will push on.
This differs from the standard paddle wheel as less drag is produced but the amount of surface for the water to push on is not compromised.
To test the effectiveness of this innovation, it will be attached to a generator, which, in turn, will be attached to a voltmeter. It will be compared to the standard not bucketed water wheel.The independent variable is the type of water wheel, the dependent variable is the peak voltage produced (millivolts), and the controlled variables are the angle of the channel the water flows down, amount of water to flow down the channel, measurements of the channel, (these three variables together control water speed), the space between buckets/slats and channel bottom and the volume of the buckets will be half the surface area of the slats (ie. volume 8cm cubed = surface area 16cm squared). Our hypothesis is as follows: If a paddle wheel and a bucketed wheel (Knight Wheel) with an improved design are subjected to identical water flow and peak voltage is recorded, then the bucketed wheel (Knight Wheel) with an improved design will produce more voltage.
Minimal impacts on the environment and no emissions, (save for construction), make run-of-river a desirable source of electricity in rural and developing areas. In short, an improved water wheel has the potential to produce more electricity, which will benefit those who depend on run-of-river systems.
An improved water wheel would benefit many as it may increase the efficiency of run-of-river generators meaning that more energy would be produced in less time. Many current water wheels produce drag that our design will minimize. Ease of construction will also be considered as in rural areas, repairs may have to be performed by locals.
The water wheel comes in many sizes and designs such as bucketed (Knight Wheel), not bucketed (Paddle Wheel), double bucketed (Pelton Wheel) and Archimedes screw. The most common water wheel is one without buckets, mainly due to the ease of construction and simplicity. Also, bucketed and paddle water wheels tend to produce unnecessary drag when entering and exiting the water (see pic. a).
Our design will be a single bucketed water wheel that will be designed to be undershot (see pic. b) by the water; this is because it is the simplest method. It will have modifications to the shape of the buckets (see pic. c). The buckets will be triangular, minimizing drag while entering and exiting the water, while retaining the buckets that the water will push on.
This differs from the standard paddle wheel as less drag is produced but the amount of surface for the water to push on is not compromised.
To test the effectiveness of this innovation, it will be attached to a generator, which, in turn, will be attached to a voltmeter. It will be compared to the standard not bucketed water wheel.The independent variable is the type of water wheel, the dependent variable is the peak voltage produced (millivolts), and the controlled variables are the angle of the channel the water flows down, amount of water to flow down the channel, measurements of the channel, (these three variables together control water speed), the space between buckets/slats and channel bottom and the volume of the buckets will be half the surface area of the slats (ie. volume 8cm cubed = surface area 16cm squared). Our hypothesis is as follows: If a paddle wheel and a bucketed wheel (Knight Wheel) with an improved design are subjected to identical water flow and peak voltage is recorded, then the bucketed wheel (Knight Wheel) with an improved design will produce more voltage.
Minimal impacts on the environment and no emissions, (save for construction), make run-of-river a desirable source of electricity in rural and developing areas. In short, an improved water wheel has the potential to produce more electricity, which will benefit those who depend on run-of-river systems.