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Archimedes Screw
Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2024 10:10 pm
by Sim_C
I came across an example today and saw it in action from a distance at Bainbridge in Wensleydale, North Yorkshire. After some online research it turns out it is a 45 kW unit and has been running for many years.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Bain_Hydro
Has anyone come across any of these elsewhere in the UK?
Re: Archimedes Screw
Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2024 10:43 pm
by MrPablo
Cragside in Rothbury, Northumberland has a reverse Archimedes screw towards the entrance into the grounds.
I believe it's a 12kW unit, so a fair bit less grunt than your example
https://www.theguardian.com/environment ... hydropower
The place itself is well worth a visit, exploring the grounds and seeing how hydropower was implemented - I have been quite a few times.
Re: Archimedes Screw
Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2024 11:30 pm
by Fintray
+1 for a visit to Cragside.
There is another Archimedes screw it the river Don in Aberdeen rated at 100kW.
One in Ayr rated at 83kW.
Re: Archimedes Screw
Posted: Fri Sep 13, 2024 8:07 am
by Gareth J
There's one down in Totnes. Doesnt look as big. Am presuming it's plugged into a generator.
Re: Archimedes Screw
Posted: Fri Sep 13, 2024 8:15 am
by AE-NMidlands
There are quite a few, including Marple (Torrs, 2008) Stockport and Congleton (
http://congletonhydro.co.uk/the-project/technology/ 75kW)- they seem to be the technology of choice for a) not very high head b) locally (volunteeer) supported. I guess the slow speed makes the mechanicals easier and the lowish head makes the civil engineering and risk a lot easier to handle.
(I think modern electronics makes supplying grid voltage at any power output possible nowadays too.)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category: ... in_England loooks to be drastically underpopulated...
Re: Archimedes Screw
Posted: Fri Sep 13, 2024 8:36 am
by smegal
AE-NMidlands wrote: ↑Fri Sep 13, 2024 8:15 am
There are quite a few, including Marple (Torrs, 2008) Stockport and Congleton (
http://congletonhydro.co.uk/the-project/technology/ 75kW)- they seem to be the technology of choice for a) not very high head b) locally (volunteeer) supported. I guess the slow speed makes the mechanicals easier and the lowish head makes the civil engineering and risk a lot easier to handle.
(I think modern electronics makes supplying grid voltage at any power output possible nowadays too.)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category: ... in_England loooks to be drastically underpopulated...
They are also more fish friendly than other types of turbine.
Re: Archimedes Screw
Posted: Sat Sep 14, 2024 8:57 pm
by AlBargey
There are two on the Thames:
Romney weir - The worlds first Archimedes hydropower plant?
https://www.jackson-civils.co.uk/case-s ... -turbines/
Also Reading Hydro CBS:
https://readinghydro.org/ - There's a few links to other hydro schemes in their FAQ's
Re: Archimedes Screw
Posted: Sat Sep 14, 2024 9:56 pm
by AE-NMidlands
Mentioning the Thames reminds me of the proposed one at Teddington, which was squashed by the adjacent oil industry social club despite it being on a big noisy weir and (with multiple locks adjacent) in a semi-industrial location. Someone else here is even more annoyed about it than I am...
Re: Archimedes Screw
Posted: Sat Sep 14, 2024 11:15 pm
by AlBargey
AE-NMidlands wrote: ↑Sat Sep 14, 2024 9:56 pm
Mentioning the Thames reminds me of the proposed one at Teddington, which was squashed by the adjacent oil industry social club despite it being on a big noisy weir and (with multiple locks adjacent) in a semi-industrial location. Someone else here is even more annoyed about it than I am...
Yes! the Lensbury
https://www.theguardian.com/environment ... re_btn_url
Re: Archimedes Screw
Posted: Tue Sep 17, 2024 3:52 pm
by dan_b
Oh don't remind me - I put money into (and lost it on) that scheme! As you say, that part of the Thames is hardly the serene swan lake that The Lensbury liked to imply.
AE-NMidlands wrote: ↑Sat Sep 14, 2024 9:56 pm
Mentioning the Thames reminds me of the proposed one at Teddington, which was squashed by the adjacent oil industry social club despite it being on a big noisy weir and (with multiple locks adjacent) in a semi-industrial location. Someone else here is even more annoyed about it than I am...