Storing wind-generated energy as gravitational potential energy? - Page 7

 

I've had my eyes open for ANYTHING that would hold water for a couple of years
now.  I thought that I was going to get the underground fiberglass gasoline
tank that they dug up in the spring at the gas station but the back-hoe
operator stuck the bucket through it.  I got the impression, intentionally. My
well is about 50 ft in elevation above my house so I'd have fairly decent head
just from gravity.  

I'd still need a battery or fuel-operated fire pump, though.  The nearest fire
department is so far away that they usually arrive just in time to wash away
the cool ashes :-(  For now it's an electric start generator with a backup
diesel electric start unit, both of which get exercised often.  

John
--
John De Armond
See my website for my current email address
http://www.neon-john.com
http://www.johndearmond.com  <-- best little blog on the net!
Tellico Plains, Occupied TN
There is much pleasure in useless knowledge. —Bertrand Russell

  Neon John wrote:

John...

How deep is your well?

--
Morris Dovey
DeSoto Solar
DeSoto, Iowa USA
http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/

 

that depends.  The well was originally drilled to support  a small community
of 8 lots.  The seller decided that he didn't want to maintain the well in
perpetuity so he gave it to us (we were here first and closest to it) and paid
for wells on the other lots.

It's a 10" casing that is about 250 ft deep.  I believe that there is 100 ft
of steel casing.  During normal conditions, water is about 50 ft down.  During
this drought we're having, the last time I shot it with my laser rangefinder,
the level was down to about 100 ft.  Fortunately I have a LOT of cushion. Some
of the surrounding wells, drilled only to first water, have dried up this
summer.

The pump is either a 2 or 2.5hp submersible.  I don't recall which power level
I had installed upon the last failure.  Needless to say, it feeds my little
cabin all the water I can use :-)

John
--
John De Armond
See my website for my current email address
http://www.neon-john.com
http://www.johndearmond.com  <-- best little blog on the net!
Tellico Plains, Occupied TN
Unable to locate Coffee -- Operator Halted!

 
If the extra tank is clean enough to risk possible backflow, you could
connect it to your system through a check valve so it would always be
full at max pressure. A second tank mounted upside down would hold the
air if you don't have a shop compressor. I used a faucet for the
outdoor compressed air tap so I can pressurize my solar water heater
tank if necessary.

I have a collection of old pressurized water fire extinguishers for
fires in the woods etc. One or two can put a small fire out before my
cell phone finishes powering up to call 911. I only needed them once
so far, when the old guy across the street collapsed while cutting up
wrecked cars and his torch set a fire in the dry grass. I wished I had
one when his son's wood stove started a fire in the wall. (They don't
have power or water). I grabbed his kids Coke bottle, put my thumb
over the top, inverted and shook it, and sprayed the fire up in the
wall above the flue opening. Good trick to remember. The kid still
hasn't forgiven me.

jw

 Neon John wrote:

Look at a swimming pool.

They hold water.

Simple reinforced concrete shell.