wiredinUSA January 2013

INDEX

Picture : Alessandro Paiva

Power generation from water pipelines?

ASIA & AFRICA NEWS

The novel device consists of an external hydroelectric generator and highly efficient spherical water turbine that dips into flowing water and reclaims residual pressure. When water passes through, the turbine drives a central rotating shaft and a micro generator to produce electricity. Turbineblades arecarefully sized to intersect the largest possible area of water flow and minimize water bypassing. To achieve maximum power output, the central rotating shaft is hollow on the inside to minimize energy losses when driving the generator and utilize the harvested energy in full. The team has also made the water more energetic, producing a stronger current to compress and accelerate the water flow. The turbine has no moving parts and does not need any lubricant.

PolyU's Department of Building Services Engineering, and the water supplies department (WSD) of the Hong Kong government have been working together to turn water mains into a source of power, reports the PhysOrg website. Hong Kong has a 7,800km water mains network, comprehensively monitored by WSD. The monitoring devices use power, so small turbines are to be placed within the pipelines to produce electricity from drinking water. The pipes are just a meter wide and hold far less water volume than a conventional dam, so the research team has created a highly efficient small turbine. The turbine will fit into a pipe, and uses just a small amount of hydroenergy to generate about 80 volts, enough to power four compact fluorescent light bulbs.

ASIA / AFRICA NEWS

wiredInUSA - January 2013

wiredInUSA - January 2013

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