1988-01-01 Ferrocement is a building material composed of a relatively thin layer of concrete, covering such reinforcing material as steel wire mesh. Because the building techniques are simple enough to be done by unskilled labor, ferrocement is an attractive construction method in areas where labor costs...
1980-01-01 The plan presented here is a detailed description of a 1-kilowatt (1-kW) generator unit, which was prepared in 1971. The plan is scheduled to be revised and updated in the near future in order to incorporate additional data. At the time, this plan was prepared, the generator had not been built on...
1980-01-01 The Michell or Banki turbine is a relatively easy to build and highly efficient means of harnessing a small stream to provide enough power to generate electricity or drive different types of mechanical devices. The turbine consists of two main parts - the runner, or wheel, and the nozzle. Curved...
1984-01-01 Once it is understood that gravity and water can be harnessed to produce energy, a study of methods to extract this energy efficiently can be undertaken. The purpose of this paper is to discuss several such methods in general terms. The paper provides a basic introduction to the science of water...
1985-01-01 Electricity can be generated from the power of flowing water. This is called hydroelectric generation, and it can be done anywhere that there is water and a hill or drop for it to run down--in an irrigation canal, where a river runs through rapids or over a waterfall, or where a dam has backed up...
1985-01-01 The power of flowing water can be used to generate electricity, or to do other kinds of useful work. Generating electricity in this way is called hydroelectric generation. It can be done anywhere that there is water and a hill or drop for it to run down, such as a drop in an irrigation canal, a...
1987-01-01 A hydraulic ram is a pump that uses the power of falling water to force a small portion of the water to a height greater than the source. Water can be forced about as far horizontally as desired, but greater distances require larger pipe, due to friction. No external power is necessary. With only...
1980-01-01 Improved use of water as a power source has potential for much of the developing world. There are few places where water is not available in quantities sufficient for power generation. Almost any flowing water--river, brook, or outlet of a lake or pona--can be put to work and will provide a...
1989-01-01 Supplying power to many remote locations in the world from central generators using customary distribution methods is either economically unfeasible or will be many years in coming. Power, where desirable, will therefore need to be generated locally. Various commercial machinery is marketed, but...
1987-01-01 Flowing water tends to generate automatically a picture of "free" power in the eyes of the observer. But there is always a cost to producing power from water sources. The cost of developing low-output water power sites should be checked against available alternatives, such as: Electric Utility -...