Comments - Rube Goldberg Cellphone Charger - Urgent Evoke2024-03-28T21:16:26Zhttp://www.urgentevoke.com/profiles/comment/feed?attachedTo=4871302%3ABlogPost%3A54369&xn_auth=noThanks for the feedback! Thos…tag:www.urgentevoke.com,2010-03-23:4871302:Comment:575322010-03-23T05:02:25.468ZGuy Gorehttp://www.urgentevoke.com/profile/GuyGore
Thanks for the feedback! Those are some good points (especailly about recouping to 'cost' of the generators).
Thanks for the feedback! Those are some good points (especailly about recouping to 'cost' of the generators). I was playing with some desig…tag:www.urgentevoke.com,2010-03-22:4871302:Comment:568562010-03-22T22:40:06.090ZAndrew Jensenhttp://www.urgentevoke.com/profile/AndrewJensen
I was playing with some designs like this a few days ago. Here's a few thoughts:<br />
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The best case scenario is to have a constant predictable flow of water, because then you can design your generators to be most efficient at that specific flow. Now for an unpredictable flow, like rain in your gutters, you'd be best to collect the water in a tank first. When the tank fills, a floating ball triggers a switch which drains the tank, kinda like a toilet's tank but in reverse. Then the water flows into…
I was playing with some designs like this a few days ago. Here's a few thoughts:<br />
<br />
The best case scenario is to have a constant predictable flow of water, because then you can design your generators to be most efficient at that specific flow. Now for an unpredictable flow, like rain in your gutters, you'd be best to collect the water in a tank first. When the tank fills, a floating ball triggers a switch which drains the tank, kinda like a toilet's tank but in reverse. Then the water flows into a lower collection cistern, but through your generator setup first, at the designed-for rate of flow.<br />
<br />
In one of my books I have a design for an aquaculture water purifier, that takes wastewater from your house and cleans it up enough to be released into a stream or groundwater. It involves moving a lot of water from one pond to the next, and setting up water wheels like this between each stage could collect some power at the same time.<br />
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The real question is what is the lifespan of the water wheels, and can they recoup the energy it took to make them within their lifespan. Actually, that's the real question about any generator setup. Good idea Thomas, and Robert,…tag:www.urgentevoke.com,2010-03-22:4871302:Comment:544972010-03-22T03:33:21.158ZGuy Gorehttp://www.urgentevoke.com/profile/GuyGore
Good idea Thomas, and Robert, I'm sure you could. :)
Good idea Thomas, and Robert, I'm sure you could. :) could you build this as a pie…tag:www.urgentevoke.com,2010-03-22:4871302:Comment:544332010-03-22T02:47:42.462ZRobert Hawkinshttp://www.urgentevoke.com/profile/RobertHawkins
could you build this as a piece of art somewhere in a house connected to your water source?
could you build this as a piece of art somewhere in a house connected to your water source? And then, in a moment, an ide…tag:www.urgentevoke.com,2010-03-22:4871302:Comment:544162010-03-22T02:35:56.852ZThomas Pinkertonhttp://www.urgentevoke.com/profile/ThomasPinkerton
And then, in a moment, an idea hits me. We angle the initial downspout, leading off of the gutters, about 10 degrees off-center, instead of leading straight down. Then, a few inches above the first wheel, we place a hole in the top of the pipe, with a second entire downspout system that leads to the collection barrel. This acts like the hole in the front of your bathroom sink. If the wheel is jammed and the spout is clogged, the collected water -- that can't get through -- is diverted down the…
And then, in a moment, an idea hits me. We angle the initial downspout, leading off of the gutters, about 10 degrees off-center, instead of leading straight down. Then, a few inches above the first wheel, we place a hole in the top of the pipe, with a second entire downspout system that leads to the collection barrel. This acts like the hole in the front of your bathroom sink. If the wheel is jammed and the spout is clogged, the collected water -- that can't get through -- is diverted down the secondary spout. We may miss out on power, but it saves worse damage, and the rainwater. I had thought about something…tag:www.urgentevoke.com,2010-03-22:4871302:Comment:543972010-03-22T02:30:56.865ZThomas Pinkertonhttp://www.urgentevoke.com/profile/ThomasPinkerton
I had thought about something like this -- small wheels within rain spouts - but there's one issue I keep thinking of: They need traps before the first few wheels. I know gutters around here can get pretty bad -- full of all kind of organic trash. A few leaves could damage the wheels and then cause spillage of rainwater, which I assume will also be collected and used at the end of the chute. I still like the idea, but there are a few kinks to work out.
I had thought about something like this -- small wheels within rain spouts - but there's one issue I keep thinking of: They need traps before the first few wheels. I know gutters around here can get pretty bad -- full of all kind of organic trash. A few leaves could damage the wheels and then cause spillage of rainwater, which I assume will also be collected and used at the end of the chute. I still like the idea, but there are a few kinks to work out.