Technology

The Rotor

A floating pico hydro power plant: robust, low-cost and easy to maintain – generating electricity day and night.

How it works

A waterwheel in a tractor tire tube

A horizontally lying waterwheel rests in the middle of a tractor tire tube. The water flow turns the wheel and thus – with the help of a special generator – creates electricity. The generated energy can be used for light, cooling of medicine or charging batteries and mobile phones in remote regions.

Unlike solar panels the Rotor can generate electricity day and night. The current can be used directly on site.

The H-Darrieus rotor is a flow turbine with a vertical axis, which is based on the lift principle of airfoil-shaped blades.

Materials

Steel, tractor tire, sheet steel, steel tube, electric generator

Dimensions

Diameter 1.40 m, height 1 m

Output

Around 300 W at a flow velocity of approx. 1.7 m/s

Production

Built from what is available

The production system takes the low-cost concept into consideration: all materials must be easily repairable, durable and easy to transport. The technique is kept as understandable as possible and has been reduced to the essentials:

Modules

The components of the Rotor

Bearings and Shaft

Hollow driveshaft, flanged upper bearing and a self-made lower plain bearing.

Swimmer

Why a tractor tire tube is the perfect floating body – and what we tested instead.

Rotor Module

Blade profiles, connection types, production options and the physics behind the turbine.

Frame

Symmetric flat iron frame – easy to process, connect and protect against corrosion.

E-Box

Rectifier, power controller, voltage converter and battery guard.

Previous Versions

The evolution of the prototype from version 1 to version 4.

Where can the Rotor be used?

Flow velocity, water depth and river width decide on the performance. Check the application criteria for your site.