The contribution of electricity from rain: Researchers develop mini-power plant for Felix Baumann house roofs first appeared on Basic Thinking. You always stay up to date with our newsletter.
Researchers have developed a kind of mini power plant that can generate electricity from rain. It should be particularly suitable for house roofs and facades.
A Research team from Singapore Recently discovered a simple way to gain electricity from rain. Instead of using large turbines or water quantities, the scientists rely on relatively minimalist technology. They let raindrops flow through thin tubes, in which they created a so-called “plug-flow” together with air bubbles.
Electrical loads separate, which then takes the system specifically. In a laboratory test, the researchers have already operated twelve LEDs for about 20 seconds with this method. The test structure consisted of a 32 centimeter long plastic tube through which individual drops of water fell.
The electrical power was many times higher than in previous procedures that work with a continuous water flow. In the future, especially in urban areas or on roofs, the technology could contribute to decentralized electricity generation.
Electricity from rain: How does the “plug-flow” effect work?
The idea is based on a known physical principle: When water flows over certain materials, surface loads shift similarly to static electricity. So far, however, this phenomenon has not been efficient, since it usually only occurs at the contact points.
However, by arranging the drops of water in short “plugs” and the separation from air can be better separated and collected throughout the tube. The drops fall through a very thin tube coated with polymer. This creates separate, short water columns through air.
Wire contacts on the tube opening and a collection container on the floor catch the load. The number of water is not decisive, but the way it flows. Because the key is in the flow pattern. It is precisely this special river that is crucial that the system can efficiently produce electricity from rain.
Promising for the city – so far not ready for the market
The system has an efficiency of over ten percent of the potential energy of the falling water. This is amazing for such simple technology. At the same time, the researchers achieved the best results at drip speeds that were significantly under real rain. This means that this type of energy generation could work even in light rain or from condensation.
It is still a long way to go to the market maturity – especially when it comes to continuous operation and scalability. However, the researchers see the process of great potential for roof systems, facades or portable mini generators that can generate electricity from rain.
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The contribution of electricity from rain: Researchers develop mini-power plant for Felix Baumann house roofs first appeared on Basic Thinking. Follow us too Google News and Flipboard.
As a Tech Industry expert, I am excited about the potential of harnessing electricity from rain through the development of mini power plants for house roofs. This innovative technology has the potential to revolutionize the way we generate and utilize energy in our homes.
The ability to generate electricity from rain could provide a sustainable and reliable source of power for households, reducing our dependence on traditional energy sources and helping to mitigate the effects of climate change. This technology could also help to make homes more self-sufficient and energy-efficient, ultimately reducing energy costs for homeowners.
I am impressed by the ingenuity and creativity of researchers who are working on developing this technology, and I believe that it holds great promise for the future of renewable energy. I look forward to seeing this technology continue to evolve and become more widely available for homeowners looking to reduce their carbon footprint and embrace clean energy solutions.
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