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DWT
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From small generators attached to the gutters of your house to large ones in the storm sewers, is it efficient enough to make the effort?
DWT said:From small generators attached to the gutters of your house to large ones in the storm sewers, is it efficient enough to make the effort?
For a typical small hydro system the turbine efficiency would be 85%, drive efficiency 95% and generator efficiency 93%, so the overall system efficiency would be: 0.85 x 0.95 x 0.93 = 0.751 i.e. 75.1%
Is that the right measure of "efficiency"?CWatters said:Is 75% efficient good enough?
It's awesome to have ideas, but as jb Riggs showed, you can quickly do some basic calculations to see if they might be viable...to get them out of your head and at least on to the back of a napkin. We can help!DWT said:I think the rain gutter generators would be useful for "off the grid" households. Solar and wind are already popular I thought why not rain gutter/grey water pipe generators.
I have had this idea for a decade or so thought it was time to share it.
Yes, generating electricity from rain water can be a viable source of energy. Rain water can be used to power hydroelectric generators, which can generate electricity on a large scale.
The efficiency of generating electricity from rain water depends on the method used. Hydroelectric generators have an efficiency of around 90%, making them a highly efficient way of generating electricity from rain water.
Generating electricity from rain water has several environmental benefits. It is a renewable source of energy, meaning it does not deplete the Earth's resources. It also does not produce harmful emissions, making it a clean source of energy.
One limitation of generating electricity from rain water is that it requires a large amount of rain to be effective. This means it may not be a viable option in areas with low rainfall. Additionally, hydroelectric generators can be expensive to build and maintain.
Generating electricity from rain water does not significantly impact the water cycle. The water used in hydroelectric generators is usually returned to its natural source, such as a river or lake, after use. However, large-scale hydroelectric projects can alter the natural flow of water and impact the surrounding ecosystem.