Innovations in home-based energy generation are aiding efforts in developing decentralized energy models. A recent development from the Indian Institute of Technology-Guwahati (IIT-G) has paved the way for producing energy from flowing or stagnant water in households, offering an avenue to transfer the excess energy to energy-deficient areas. Researchers have leveraged different methods to harness the elusive ‘Blue Energy’, a term now popularly used to signify energy derived from different forms of water, including river flow, ocean tides, and even raindrops.
Going Beyond Traditional Blue Energy
While traditional forms of blue energy have always been a focal point for energy creation, scientists at IIT-G have ventured beyond the conventional. Electrokinetic energy, a novel source of blue energy, has become a game-changer in this field.
There are two distinct methods developed by these researchers to harvest energy from both flowing and stagnant waters. Each method employs strategic techniques that allow energy production from varying water sources within a household setup.
Electro-Kinetic Streaming Potential
The first method focuses on generating energy from flowing tap water, harnessing what is known as the Electro-Kinetic Streaming Potential. This phenomenon occurs when fluids stream through tiny charged channels, producing an electrical voltage that can be harnessed through miniaturized generators.
Despite knowledge of this potential energy source dating back over half a century, it has remained largely untapped due to low efficiency arising from the unsuitability of channels for fluid streams. However, this advancement promises a revitalization of this formerly impractical method.
Contrasting Inter-Facial Activities
The second method addresses the extraction of power from stagnant water by employing varying types of semiconducting materials. The process involves fabricating devices with doped graphene flakes, which are then immersed in stagnant water to generate power through “complementary charge transfer activities”.
Graphene, a sheet produced by the oxidation followed by reduction of natural graphite flakes, is modified in this context to manipulate its electron density. Through this process, even stagnant water in contact with this altered form of graphene can generate energy.
Table: Summary of Energy Production Methods
| Method | Water Source | Operating Principle |
|---|---|---|
| Electro-Kinetic Streaming Potential | Flowing tap water | Generation of electrical voltage through liquid flow in charged microchannels |
| Contrasting Inter-Facial Activities | Stagnant water | Use of doped graphene flakes for power generation |
Understanding Streaming Potential
Streaming Potential refers to the potential difference generated at zero current, which is created by the convective flow of charge due to a liquid’s pressure gradient flowing through a charged capillary, membrane, plug, or diaphragm. This concept is integral in the case of Electro-Kinetic Streaming Potential and forms the basis of this energy harvesting technique.
These developments from IIT-G not only showcase the growing potential of blue energy but also underline the possibility of harnessing underutilized energy sources within household confines. With these methods, every home could soon become a pseudo power station, contributing to an efficient decentralized energy model.
