We got the power!
Solar panels on their temporary framework. They’ll move to their final position when renovation work on the main building is complete.
This post comes to you powered exclusively by the sun. Not only is this site hosted on 100% solar-powered webservers, but the computers and router servicing it are now 100% solar powered too.
The next stage in the water wheel construction is nearing completion. Because the ‘engine’ of the system is a permanent magnet generator from a wind turbine, and a water wheel turns much more slowly than a wind turbine, the wheel needs to be linked to the PMG via a gearing system that steps up the number of revolutions. To work out the optimum gear ratio for this installation, we needed to measure the actual rpm the wheel produces at present water volumes. For that to be done, we needed to construct the chute to deliver the water to the wheel.
Present water volumes in the levada. Not huge. About 2 litres per second.
The water wheel is now installed in the levada, along with the framework for the permanent magnet generator. Next stage is to construct the chute to deliver the water to the wheel, measure the flow rate and to have the appropriate gear wheel machined.
Work has begun on renewable energy power generation at the quinta!
Having seen local engineer Wayne Sutton’s water-wheel installation on his own property, it was immediately obvious to me that this was exactly what we needed for the hydro component of our planned renewable energy generation system.
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