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I propose that elevated water storage towers for towns be adapted to produce energy. They could be retrofitted to incorporate vanes, blades, sails, etc. A design similar to a round exhaust ventilator on a roof, that would in turn power a generator. I am sure the designs are endless and the forces and loads are high. If a given design was put into use maybe a community’s water bills could lower in time and they could more benefit from these eyesores than just storage and pressure. If they also put a water turbine somewhere in the down pipe to run a generator they could also recoup some of the electricity cost to pump the water up there to begin with. ynot
ynot, Sep 03 2009
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Not practical. It would impede the flow of water reducing pressure, which would have to be boosted with electric pumps to make acceptable pressure.
As for sewage, energy recovery from its movement would impede its safe removal. What is viable is recovery of its heat to preheat the water going into a water heater tank.
Classicsat is right. Using the energy from the elevated water would defeat the purpose of pumping it up there in the first place. Maybe you could put a windmill on top of the tower to provide some of the energy to pump the water.
Classicat is right, but the main idea was a wind generator on the water tower. The water generator was an afterthought and I was thinking that it would not be in the full stream of water. I thought that maybe it could catch enough to produce something valuable.