Since 2007                                            Harvest the Sunpower!

The Aquair water powered generators.  The Aquair and the Underwater (UW) makes two types of water powered generators.  The oldest and most widely known of these is our Aquair towed turbine for use in yachts which is the ideal power source for deep ocean cruising yachts.  The Aquair towed turbine is strictly speaking a hybrid unit as it can be rapidly converted from “water mode” into “wind mode” as a wind generator.

Less widely known is the UW (UW means underwater) which is a submerged generator for use in zero head micro hydro systems, or more strictly speaking pico hydro systems. Previously this was called the Aquair UW which as you can imagine was a bit confusing and so we now just call it the Underwater, or UW.  This unique generator has an important role to play in providing power in the very harsh environments of under ice meltwater streams of places like Alaska and the Canadian Arctic.  It can also be used in the more benign conditions of tidal races, tidal mill streams, and indeed any fast flowing water which will cover the turbine.  The turbine and generator is pressure compensated for use at depths of up to 10 metres / 30 feet, and can be installed complete with a guard to prevent weed, rubbish, or debris fouling the impeller.

Where practicable more power can be obtained from the UW by mounting it in a flow concentrator.  These are easy to make if one can adjust both banks of a stream, but can also be achieved in single bank or open water environments provided one does not try to over-accelerate the water.  Multiple units can be installed to increase generated power.  For both the Aquair and UW different impellers are available for different flow rate situations.  Both left and right handed impellers are available for the UW, as are shrouded impellers to prevent fine weed or fishing line damaging seals and bearings.  Regulators can also be installed (as for the Ampair wind turbines) although it is preferable to not put a regulator on the Aquair in “water mode”.

Aquair 100 Hybrid Water and Wind Generator

Towed turbine generator for yachts, with wind conversion kit.

•  The most effective means of generating electricity to recharge 12v/24v batteries at sea.

• Generates approx. 1 amp per knot (12v) at average cruising speeds.

• Rope transmits power of spinning turbine to on-board generator.

• Gimbal mounting of generator gives fool-proof operation & long-life.

• Simple installation from stern rail - no permanent hardware. Easily rigged.

• Thousands in use worldwide. Hundreds of circumnavigations made.

• Highly suitable for use on long distance blue water cruising yachts.

• Wind turbine conversion available for use at anchor.

The Aquair 100 is a towed turbine generator when sailing and a wind driven generator when at anchor.  The reason for the choice is that when sailing downwind at 6 knots, the Aquair 100 Water Drive generates approx. 5 amps continuous charge.  Contrast this with the fact that to obtain 5 amps of generation from the wind driven version while underway, the wind speed required is typically 30 knots (24 knots plus 6 knots boat speed) and you can see why long distance cruisers prefer water drive for reliable continuous power.  And when the boat is at anchor or in harbour just rig the generator in Wind Drive - either on the pole mount kit or using the hoist in rigging kit, and have all the advantages of a wind turbine.

Underwater 100 micro hydro generator.

Sub merged generator for fast flow zero head streams.

• Starts charging at flows below 1m/sec (2 knots) - generates up to 8amps at 12v.
• Proven to depth of 10m.
• All water joints (mechanical & electrical) are double sealed.
• The oil filled housing has a pressure expansion chamber to allow operation at intermediary depths & in all temperatures.

The UW 100 is a submerged water powered generator for 12/24 volt battery charging.  It is a self-contained unit, (on-shaft propeller, streamlined housing, sealed alternator with pressure relief chamber), operating to depths of 10m below the water surface.  The UW 100 features low waterspread cut-in (1½ knots) and a high charge rate (8 Amps) without sacrificing space for weight.  The body is filled with hydraulic fluid to eliminate corrosion and to equalise temperature-induced pressure change.

The forward facing 3 bladed propeller drives a permanent magnet alternator producing up to 8 Amps output current for a 12 volt system.  The shaft rotates in double seals for optimum protection, backed by twin O-ring static seals at the rear of the casing.  The cable exit is similarly double sealed by an internal moulding and external gland.  The alternator body is filled with hydraulic fluid to eliminate corrosion and to equalise pressure changes caused by ambient temperature.