River turbines
Practical Action
Transmission shaft
A galvanised steel tube 1.5 inches in diameter, connected directly to the rotor. This tube is
layed inside a second, similar tube, 2.5 inches in diameter, which serves as protection and
support.
Other component parts
Fan belt
An intermediate component
connecting the transmission shaft
and the generator, it amplifies
velocity.
Control panel
This includes basic measuring
instruments and the aforementioned
12V rectifying diodes.
Floats
The floats can be made in a number
of ways based on what is most
suitable in terms of the materials
available. This could be a boat. In
Peru balsa wood float(s) were made
locally by inhabitants of the village
were used as this was the cheapest
option.
Figure 4: Setting up the fan belt and permanent magnet
generator . Photo: Soluciones Prácticas.
Further reading and bibliography
Saúl Ramírez; Rafael Escobar. 2002 Turbina de rio: una alternativa energética para la
Amazonía (River turbine: alternative energy in the Amazon). Hidrored 2/2002
Rudi Henri van Els; Clovis de Oliveira; Antonio Mantel Dias; Luís F. Balduino. 2003.
Turbina hidrocinética para poblaciones aisladas. (The hydro-kinetic turbine in isolated
communities.) Hidrored 1/2003
Diseño de una turbina de río para la generación de electricidad en el distrito de Mazán-
Región Loreto. Francisco Maldonado Quispe, Universidad Nacional Mayor de san Marcos,
2005.
Micro-Hydro Power Technical Brief Practical Action
Water Current Turbines P Garman Practical Action Publishing 1986
Pumps as Turbines A Williams Practical Action Publishing 2003
Micro-hydro Pelton Turbine Manual J Thake Practical Action Publishing 2000
Designing and Building Mini and Micro Hydro Power Schemes L Rodriguez & T Sanchez
Practical Action Publishing 2011
Micro-hydro Power Fraenkel et al Practical Action Publishing 1991
Motors as Generators for Micro-hydro Power N Smith Practical Action Publishing 2007
Micro Hydro Design Manual A Harvey Practical Action Publishing 1993
Contacts
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