Ruby Got Back: EverGen

What this project is about.

The Sternwheeler Ruby is a merging of two fairly different concepts that are extremely important to me. Renewable Energy and Messing about on boats.

We are located in Corvallis, Oregon just a few blocks from the Willamette river which flows south to north through the lush and beautiful Willamette valley.

Ruby is designed to recharge her own battery bank overnight ( winding up the rubber band so to speak) . When end tied at a dock or anchored out in the current the paddlewheel will slowly turn transforming the propulsion motor into a generator. Ruby's system is optimized for propulsion so I don't expect stellar electric generation but it should be something. Obviously a system optimized for electricity generation would perform much better.

In essence Ruby is a proof of concept for a surface mounted water powered generator. Not a new concept, decidedly low tech, but highly practical particularly for the Pacific Northwest. Most importantly it is the most environmentally benign method of hydro electric.

This concept can be designed to supply a couple kilowatts for remote applications, all the way up to a megawatt for municipal applications, and unlike solar or wind this is steady electric power 24/7/365. Rainy days...bring it on!

P.S. Ruby was named after my Grandmother whom I lived with every summer when I was growing up. I helped my Grandfather and Grandmother build a log cabin at their property high up in the Santa Cruz Mountains, CA. They taught me the "no bull shit" way of approaching life.

I will be adding a significant amount to this section soon.

EverGen

Description; The EverGen concept consists of two pontoons held in position with a framework which also supports a paddlewheel between the pontoons and with the paddles also known as “buckets” contacting the water. The unit is placed on a river, stream, or tidal flow area where the water may pass in-between the pontoons striking the buckets, turning the wheel which then performs the desired work.

These devices can be designed and fabricated to suit a very large range of applications and power requirements.

Electrical generation from .5kw to 1meg.

Direct Hydro pumping for agriculture.

Water purification.

The EverGen concept is ideally suited to the Pacific Northwest with all of it's steady flowing rivers and streams. Electrical generation night or day, rain or shine, 24/7/365.

Compared to any other form of alternative energy devices, EverGen is superior in so many ways.

Comparing a 10kw solar array with a 10kw EverGen;

The EverGen costs half the price.

The EverGen produces up to 10 times more kilowatt hours per year.

The EverGen produces steady power throughout the darkest, coldest months when you need it most.

EverGen is environmental!

The buckets of the EverGen operate in the top 10 to 12 inches of the water so there is no disturbance or “churning up” of the river bed, and because the paddles are moving at approximately the speed of the flowing river itself it will not harm fish or fowl that may come in contact with it.