Eco Factor: Energy efficient electricity generator runs on water.
Water is not a new constituent of green electricity, but a hydro electric generator that provides you with clean electricity and does not even waste water in the process will surely raise some hands. Developed by Dindo Mangubat, Hydraulic Silo is one such generator, which generates electricity using nothing more that some electricity for starting the beast and some water that it does not waste.
The nano hydropower plant has five main components – a water tank that acts as a reservoir, a water pump to increase water pressure, a starter to turn on the water pump, a turbine to convert the energy in water to electricity and of course a generator. The process starts when the user adds some water in the water tank. The water pump is then started using external power sources. The water pump increases the pressure of water falling over the blades of the turbine. Once the blades of the turbine start to turn, the external power source is removed from the pump and it is connected with the turbine using a pulley, belt and a gear mechanism that is connected to the turbine. The turning blades of the turbine are connected to the generator where electricity is generated.
The water that passes through the turbine is not wasted but it goes back to the water tank so that it can be used again. The amount of electricity generated in the process depends on the RPM of the turbine blades, which in turn depend on the water pressure. The designer of the system believes that it can be used to power households and in other small applications such as small farms, and if better technology is used, then it can also be used in hybrid cars.
The Dark Side:
The machine looks fantastic, but we are really worried about the performance of such the generator once the water pump has been removed from the external power source. We doubt that the pulley-belt mechanism will be able to provide enough power to the pump for continuous electricity generation, without any other external aid.
Via: Create The Future Contest
