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Use City Water to Power Hydroelectric Turbines
Most large cities have water mains that have high volumns of 60 PSI or better water flowing most of the time, if the cities installed turbines for generating electricity in these mains, each could generate millions of megawatts of power to use, sell, or otherwise distribute.
There would be no problems with fish or warming water or low water flow as we currently have with dams, lakes, and spillways.
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On January 28th, 2011 at 12:35 pm Kelsey Rohwer Said:
Hi Chris! This is a very interesting idea- it seems to combine a lot of different components of energy innovation. Is there any way that you could explain it further or maybe provide a link to more information?
On February 11th, 2011 at 7:55 pm John Said:
Sorry but this is a terrible idea. Where do you think the energy to create the water pressure comes from, and what do you think will happen when you put something inline that takes away some of that energy? This is essentially a perpetual motion idea that can’t work. Energy is used to create the water pressure, sticking a turbine inline to use some of that energy means either the water pressure will drop, or you will have to use more energy at the pump to keep water pressure up. You gain nothing in the process and will actually lose energy to to conversion losses. You failed to follow the energy chain up to the source and assumed the high pressure water was “free” energy. It is not.