Water Wheel Built With Old Propane Tanks
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We were intrigued when FARM SHOW reader Vincent Theriault told us that he figured out how to generate free power using empty propane bottles. Turns out he cut 20-lb. bottles in half and welded them to a tire rim mounted on an axle to create a Pelton-style water wheel.
“It was so cheap, easy and efficient,” says the Salt Spring Island, B.C., inventor. He explains he built it when he lived on a farm with a creek. He secured the wheel with 1/4-in. channel iron bolted to bedrock with the wheel located at the end of a culvert, which provided plenty of water volume and force to turn the wheel.
Connected to an alternator that charged batteries, Theriault had all the electricity he needed.
He has recycled old propane bottles for a variety of things – from feed and water tanks for livestock to welding three 100-lb. bottles together to make a culvert.
While people are often concerned about using propane bottles, they can be safely used, he says.
“I break off the valve with a sledge hammer, then I flush the tank (thoroughly) with water so it isn’t dangerous,” he explains.
Once he is certain there is no fuel in the tank he cuts it with a grinder. For the water wheel, he cut five bottles in half and welded them evenly around the tire rim.
“So many propane tanks are thrown away and inside they are like brand new. There are so many uses for them,” Theriault says.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Vincent Theriault, 299 Woodland Dr., Salt Spring Island, B.C. Canada V8K 1J6 (ph 250 537-9119).
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Water Wheel Built With Old Propane Tanks ENERGY Miscellaneous We were intrigued when FARM SHOW reader Vincent Theriault told us that he figured out how to generate free power using empty propane bottles Turns out he cut 20-lb bottles in half and welded them to a tire rim mounted on an axle to create a Pelton-style water wheel “It was so cheap easy and efficient ” says the Salt Spring Island B C inventor He explains he built it when he lived on a farm with a creek He secured the wheel with 1/4-in channel iron bolted to bedrock with the wheel located at the end of a culvert which provided plenty of water volume and force to turn the wheel Connected to an alternator that charged batteries Theriault had all the electricity he needed He has recycled old propane bottles for a variety of things – from feed and water tanks for livestock to welding three 100-lb bottles together to make a culvert While people are often concerned about using propane bottles they can be safely used he says “I break off the valve with a sledge hammer then I flush the tank thoroughly with water so it isn’t dangerous ” he explains Once he is certain there is no fuel in the tank he cuts it with a grinder For the water wheel he cut five bottles in half and welded them evenly around the tire rim “So many propane tanks are thrown away and inside they are like brand new There are so many uses for them ” Theriault says Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Vincent Theriault 299 Woodland Dr Salt Spring Island B C Canada V8K 1J6 ph 250 537-9119
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