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Researchers Develop System to Generate Electricity from Rainwater Using Plug Flow

The innovative system converts over 10% of falling water energy into electricity, demonstrating potential for urban renewable energy applications.

Overview

  • The plug flow system channels rain-sized droplets through a vertical polymer tube, generating electricity via charge separation.
  • The system achieves over 10% energy conversion efficiency, significantly outperforming traditional continuous water flow methods by five orders of magnitude.
  • Recent experiments using a four-tube setup successfully powered 12 LEDs for 20 seconds, showcasing the scalability of the technology.
  • Researchers suggest the system could perform even better under natural rainfall conditions, as the tested droplet speeds were slower than real rain.
  • The low-maintenance design is particularly suited for urban environments, offering a promising solution for rooftop renewable energy generation.

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