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We finally found
someone in the U.S.
offering these units: please contact
http://nooutage.com/aquair-uw.htm
or
Click
here
to contact the manufacturer directly.
We do NOT sell these any longer
Of course be sure to mention that
Chris at Oasis Montana sent you. |
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AQUAIR
UW Submersible Hydro Generator -
no turbines, no dams, no pipes… up to 2.4 kilowatt-hours per day from
any fast-running stream with only 13" of clear water!
The Aquair UW Sybmersible Generator is a special low-speed, high-output
alternator which has been mounted in an oil-filled heavy-duty cast
aluminum housing with triple seals. Originally designed and used
aboard seismic sleds towed behind oil exploration vessels. |
| If
your home is on the sea or near a tideway, the Aquair UW is ideal for
you. Its alternator produces electricity no matter which way the
tide is flowing, and the unit is impervious to saltwater. |
It
is designed to produce DC power at moderate propeller speeds; this is
ideal for home power generation when the house is located near a
reasonable fast-running stream.
When mounted in a stream that flows at 9 mph (slow jog), the Aquair
produces 8 amps (100 watt-hours per hour) continuously, 2.4
kilowatt-hours per day. With energy conservation measures, this is
enough to provide a good level of comfort in a remote home away from
utility power. At a stream speed of 6 mph (brisk walk) it still
produces 1.5 kilowatt-hours of energy per day. And you can
construct a timber or rock venturi that increases water speed and output
considerably.
The Aquair is often mounted above a narrow stream on bridging logs, with
a simple verticle leg that can be adjusted for varying water
levels. On wider streams, use the ancient "well-sweep"
counter-weighted cantilever system to raise and lower the unit into the
flow. Other mounting options are to secure the unit inside a
venturi pipe or under floating pontoons.
The Aquair Submersible Generator should be mounted with the propeller
facing the stream flow. It should be strongly secured to a timber
or aluminum supporting structure to withstand strong downstream
forces. The method of supporting it and providing vertical
adjustment depends entirely on the character of the stream or river
you're using. The propeller is 12.5" in diameter and requires
a water depth of at least 13 inches. Generally speaking, try to
mount it in smoothly-flowing fast water near the bank or in a side
flow out of the way of floating logs or large debris. Small stuff
can't hurt it so you don't need a screen.
If your stream is subject to sudden spates due to thunderstorms or flood
control dams upstream and the flow is violent enough to dislodge
boulders or logs, you should have a method of raising the generator out
of the way. A 3" diameter vertical leg can be purchased (see
picture below) that you can adapt to your installation.
The Aquair UW is a very rugged machine and requires no maintenance once
it has been mounted. The prop is made of top-grade ductile
aluminum and can be hammered back into shape in case it really gets
walloped. To be on the safe side, it can't hurt to get a spare
prop.
The Aquair is
designed for remote cabins with modest power requirements.
It really doesn't have enough output to impact the average American
home, unless you are extremely frugal in your power requirements.
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This is no longer a stock item, must contact the
manufacturer directly at:
http://www.ampair.com
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The
Aquair UW is 14.44" from nose to tail, 8.375" diameter and
weighs 22 lbs.
8mm mounting bolts are spaced 1.75" on centers. Propeller
diameter is 12.5".
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In
ideal conditions, the UW puts out 8 amps at 12 VDC, a total of 192
amp-hours per day (2.4 kilowatt-hours). It is self-current
limiting and can't overspeed or burn out the windings. The energy
it produces must be stored in deep cycle batteries. The Aquair
should be carefully regulated to get the best out of your system and to
avoid damaging the battery bank. A regulator for the unit is
available for $150, to protect against overcharging the batteries.
If your home is on the banks of a stream (up to 100 feet away), you can
transmit the Aquair's power directly to the battery bank in the
house. Make sure the wire size is big enough to handle the voltage
load without excessive voltage drop. If the house is up to 250
feet away, you can use the 24 VDC Ampair generator and a direct
wire link. If the house is any further than 250 ft. away, your best
approach is a battery bank and 120VAC inverter in a well-insulated "power
shed" near the generator. There is little line loss with AC--you can
string it out for hundreds of feet.
Click
here
to contact the manufacturer directly for current availability and pricing
since there is no longer a distributor in the United States.
Of course be sure to mention that
Chris at Oasis Montana sent you. |
The Aquair UW Submersible Generator is warranted for three years |
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