Electric Power Generation From Overhead Water Tanks

In developing countries like Pakistan, we are facing severe energy crisis, economic problems, environmental issues and problems like load shedding. Most parts of the world are struggling to generate more power for adequate power supply while others are battling to keep up with the high electric tari

Project Title

Electric Power Generation From Overhead Water Tanks

Project Area of Specialization

Electrical/Electronic Engineering

Project Summary

In developing countries like Pakistan, we are facing severe energy crisis, economic problems, environmental issues and problems like load shedding. Most parts of the world are struggling to generate more power for adequate power supply while others are battling to keep up with the high electric tariff, which indicates a need of cheaper power source. Nearly all the residential societies have overhead water supply tanks, generating electricity from water tank will facilitate people, as it will provide an alternative electrical energy source, which will be cost effective, environmental friendly and can be installed at remote and off grid areas to fulfil the basic needs.Our plan is to install small turbines at the end of the pipes, when water will fall over the turbine blades, it will make them move. Through that motion we will produce power, we will charge a battery and use the power generated. We will require turbine, battery and an inverter (for conversion of DC to AC) in order to supply power.

Project Objectives

Pakistan is among the top 10 countries facing severe energy crisis. The problem includes power shortage, high cost power generation, and dependency on foreign oil, economic crisis, blackouts, and increased electricity bills. Economies around the globe are facing high-energy demand to achieve sustained economic growth. However, the challenge is not only to meet the rising demand but also to put less reliance on the depleting fossil fuels, which cause damaging environmental effects. Affordable and sustainable energy supplies not only bring prosperity for the population at large but also help eradicate poverty through various direct and indirect channels. Pakistan's Vision 2025, while accepting energy security as a challenge, aims to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 7 “Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all” by 2025.

So contributing towards the solutions for these issues we propose an environmental friendly and renewable solution, which would act as a backup and alternate source of power. The idea is to use overhead tanks of residential societies and generate electric power out of it as the water falls down those tanks. Even the remotest of places have water-tanks.

Project Implementation Method

Our approach is to harvest potential energy of water present in residential overhead water tank. Through pipes, water would fall down onto the turbine. The kinetic energy of water would be used to rotate the turbine blades which would drive the generator to produce electricity. As the water flow would not be continuous, so during the peak hours when the water usage is maximum we would try to generate enough power that would recharge a battery and later through an inverter the DC voltage can be converted to AC voltage that can be utilized by an AC load.

Benefits of the Project

Midst the global concern of energy conservation, the idea of harvesting energy emerges. From making re-usable rockets to saving a few Watts we can save is a behavior and ethical concern we all should share. 
The benefits of harvesting energy from a pipe of an overhead tank becomes significant if deployed at a large scale. If reversing the electricity consumption meter by only a small percentage of the total power consumed during the process, we can save enough equivalent just to a salary of a person at the maintenance of an overhead water-tank, the idea tells its worth. Deployed on a large scale it can save the municipal a lot of money. This project is a onetime cost and doesn’t require any detailed maintenance. In the terms of money by harvesting energy, our idea is cost-effective on large scale and long-term.. As water would be used to generate power, this approach would be renewable and environment friendly. This would be an unconventional way to generate power so it will help shoulder the wheel of ongoing energy crisis by minimizing the burden on existing sources. 

Technical Details of Final Deliverable

The final deliverable would be a complete prototype to extract energy from overhead water tanks. The following items would be included to design the prototype.

1) Battery:12V - 70Ah – Lead Acid

2) Generator: 500W-1000W – 12V/24V DC Generator

3) Turbine: Would be constructed according to the model of the generator.

4) Inverter:  AC Voltage: 230 volts

                    Voltage regulation range: 10%

                    Output frequency: 50Hz

                    Output frequency regulation:+/-0.1Hz

                    Output waveform: Sine wave

Final Deliverable of the Project

Hardware System

Core Industry

Energy

Other Industries

Energy

Core Technology

Clean Tech

Other Technologies

Clean Tech

Sustainable Development Goals

Affordable and Clean Energy

Required Resources

If you need this project, please contact me on contact@adikhanofficial.com