h a l f b a k e r y"Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!"
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Have been reading about using the galvanic potential of falling
water to generate a static charge
[http://www.amasci.com/emotor/kelvin.html] and was
wondering if it could be done in pipes (I know this happens
somewhat naturally already). If so the plumbing of a house
could used as a generator.
(I'd suggest using incoming fresh
water vs previous suggestions of waste water). Given the fairly
long distance between most water supplies & the sink, and
the amount of surface area involved, one would assume a fairly
large potential could be developed and then harnessed.
Taking this further: the voltage could be used to power a
heating element in the pipe, thus generating hot water en
route (I know there was a previous baking about this).
[drinkh20]'s URL as a link
http://www.amasci.com/emotor/kelvin.html
[hippo, Mar 18 2002, last modified Oct 21 2004]
Hydroelectric Sewer Power Generation
http://www.halfbake...0Power_20Generation
[phoenix, Mar 18 2002, last modified Oct 04 2004]
microhydroelectric turbines
http://www.halfbake...electric_20turbines
[phoenix, Mar 18 2002, last modified Oct 04 2004]
Bathtub Hydroelectric Generator
http://www.halfbake...lectric_20Generator
[phoenix, Mar 18 2002, last modified Oct 04 2004]
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Mmmmmmm - I don't think so. The effect you're talking about relies on separating charge in water by breaking off drops of water with either a +ve or -ve charge. I'm not sure how domestic plumbing systems could be made to work with drops of water. Also, pipes are usually made out of copper, and they're earthed. |
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I think [drinkh20] is refering to using the flow of water for generation. I've added links to some similar HB ideas. |
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While you can use dripping water and tubes and grates to produce high voltage difference, it's a -very- inefficient way to extract energy from an elevation change in water. |
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Phoenix, he's not talking about using the water to turn a turbine. He's talking about the 'oil drop' experiment/generator. The problem is, it requires discrete drops, rather than the constant flow of a house's pipes, and they are generally vertical. |
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aside from that, static electricity is unruly, and difficult to use effectively. But, the term "galvanic" got me thinking about zinc. when water runs along a copper surface (pipes) they take on a + charge, when watter run across a Zn surface it takes on a - charge, so perhaps alternating pipes Zn and Cu and insulation connections, could generate a useable potential. (though I'm not that sure of the actual potential its just a fact I know from sailing) |
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Why not just use a waterwheel too generate your electricity? Rather than trying to use tricky statick charge you could use a magnet-driven electric generater which was powered by the water coming down from upper floors through drainage and sewage pipes, multiple could be fit in a house plumbing system and even in a chain-like sequence to generate the maximum electricity from the waste |
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