Improved Water Wheel Generator

Ian Gilmartin, 60, who has no mains electricity, is generating power from the stream in his garden. He and friend Bob Cattley, 58, have invented a mini water wheel capable of supplying enough electricity to power a house, with no running costs and zero carbon emissions. The contraption is the first off-the-shelf water wheel system which can generate a good supply of electricity from a waterfall as little as 20cm in height. It is designed to be used in small rivers or streams, making it ideal for potentially thousands of homes across Britain. The water wheel produces one to two kilowatts of power and generates at least 24 kilowatt hours of sustainable green energy in a day, just less than the average household's daily consumption of around 28 kilowatt hours. It should cost around ｣2000 to install, and will pay for itself inside two years. / Robert Nelson at Rex Research found the patent for this; Gilmartin-Cattley Water Wheel Patent: IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO GRAVITY TYPE WATER WHEELS - WO 2006082403 ( 2006-08-10 ) - GILMARTIN, John Graham - According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a waterwheel comprising a shaft and a belt; the belt carrying a plurality of water receptacles and arranged to freely depend from the shaft as the shaft rotates. Although the word "water" is used in this document, it should be clear that any liquid or other heavier than air fluid medium could be used to power the water wheel by filling the receptacles. The waterwheel comprises a plurality of belts to carry the receptacles. The receptacles comprise fixing means for each belt. Preferably the waterwheel comprises two belts spaced apart along or at the ends of the receptacles to stabilise the receptacles as they rotate. The belt and the receptacles comprise a plastics material. A water impermeable membrane is connected between each receptacle. The waterwheel comprises a generator coupled to or formed integrally with the shaft to produce electricity as the shaft rotates. The waterwheel comprises an inlet sluice and an outlet race.









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