DIY: DIY Hydro-turbine made of washing machine


Unwritten article. Pictures only, with little description.

This is FAILED PROJECT, do not get over-excited.

In order to get good results, it requires installation of proper Pelton turbine. Additionally, it requires set of electronics for converting output into AC high voltage in order to transfer the energy into far directions. Keep in mind, that turbine’s generated energy “waste” (non consumables) must be “dumped”.

To buy ready made 500W AC water turbine, meant for min 1 bar and outlet for 90mm pipe is much better idea, than DIY turbine presented below…

A campo-style “workshop”
Cut the drum in half
Bent inox ladles
Temporal fixing for the test
set up of 8 ladles
marking
marked for drilling
fixed on rivets
side view
inlet hole
the view through inlet hole
swimming pool’s jet and other bits
designing injector
tube 20mm
outlet 18mm
installed jet
jet pocket side view
jet pocket down view
jet pocket top view
the jet-set
0.8 bar still. Opened -0.05 bar
wind turbine disassemble
recycled car alternator disassemble
assemble
tensor wire and geometry tilt
belt tension bearing
wiring
fully assembled view

BIG FAIL:

Machine indeed was working for a few days (only), generating very little power (due to cheap and crap wind-turbine alternator which requires very high RPM), but due to constant water hammering the ladles, those have came out from the rivets and soon only 5 ladles were left. Drum’s walls are very thin and do not have sustainability to withhold heavy ladles crimped on rivets. I presume, Pelton turbine would give impressive results, but it is expensive part, as well as good generator.

If you have a chance to have a water-turbine installation, go for ready-made turbines, which are designed for the best performance and requires only 1 bar of pressure in order to give a rated power outcome.

The end of story － I’ve assembled back the wind-turbine and through out the rest (into recycles).