Mini Hydro Turbine concept could bring renewable energy production to your bathroom
By Tim Stevens 
posted April 6th 2009 8:13AM
posted April 6th 2009 8:13AM
[Via Gadget Lab]
posted April 6th 2009 8:13AM
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How can you say that let the water run while not necessary doesn't put unnecessary pressure on the enviroment? It's a contradiction in terms. I hope I didn't get the irony.
YES there is "FREE" energy.
This guy's invention is crazy but it is a beginning.
I am working on installing turbines in tidal areas, do you people think that this is "free" energy.
I'd like to hear your responses.
Also who leaves the water running while brushing their teeth?
well turbines cost quite alot, so not free in that sense.
But in terms of where the energy is coming from, then its mother nature.
Shes powerful enough, so she can suck a lemon
I wouldn't exactly call this guy's device a new invention, as commercial plumbing fixtures are already on the market with this same concept, except instead of charging an external device, the turbine charges an internal li-ion battery to operate the faucet's proximity sensor, prolonging battery life to 19+ years. Typically in commercial installs, they either hard wire the touchless faucet (expensive) or change batteries every year or two (also expensive).
http://cleantechnica.com/2008/06/22/ecopower-faucet-saves-energy-by-recharging-with-each-use/
NYC only uses electric pumps for about 5% of it's water to maintain desired end-line pressure. Their supply is up in the Catskills, a lot of pressure differential between there and the city.
Boston's water supply is in the western part of the state, most of their pressure aqueducts that deliver to the metro area are gravity driven.
Also, a lot of utilities will store water in raised tanks; they'll pump during off-peak hours when energy is cheaper, and then use gravity to distribute to the system.
More municipalities than you'd think were built with this in mind, b/c it is of course a lot easier to get water to the people when it can go downhill.
Of course it's not free energie, but that machine is supposed to win back some of the energy wasted to bring the water to you. The only thing that's puzzeling me is why he needs to put that machine where the water comes out?!? Why not build it in the drainage? Like..AFTER you've used the water.
It also looks like a gadget you'd find in a public restroom too, imo.
Putting things at the drain end of things is not advisable. There are issues about flow speed that are very important to ensure your waste actually makes it to the main sewer line. If the head speed is not enough you end up with - errr - crap blocking your drain. Which is mighty bad.
Low flow toilets make up for lower volume of liquid by increasing the velocity of the -err - load to ensure it does not block up your drains.
Also the water going down your main sewer line can be a wee bit dirty so that can quickly clog up any turbine trying to capture the energy of the waste leaving your house.
The bigger issue is pressure. You need a sizeable pressure differential to extract the energy... the drain line simply doesn't have it.
So your wee will power your Wii?
Interestingly, I'd been thinking of this recently, though more associated with the shower. Then started wondering whether the concept be used on at a more central point in the house. Now, you'd still not want to run water when not necessary, but for when you're already doing so, recovering some energy from the process seems reasonable and possibly be part of an overall house system.
I think the taps in my apartment might be able to run a water boiler. I don't know what mistake they made when putting in the plumbing, but turning any of my taps on all the way give me a stream of water under enough pressure to cut aluminum like a water jet (well, maybe not, but at least enough to create a massive splash back that soaks everything within 10 feet).
Wow, impressive, you see some weird things with water don't you, with me the cold water is actually below freezing for instance (it IS possible), even in most of the summer.
As for your issue, you could try turning the main tap, once you found it, to halfway closed to get a bit of a more normal response.
If he gave actual numbers on input, output and the means then we'd be able to tell for sure if this is a PMM. Unfortunately, he does not, leading me to suspect that thats exactly what this is; a PMM of the 1st law.
This has nothing to do with ppm. Go back to your undergrad thermo text.
attach it to the end of your dick. voila. free energy whenever you pee.
That sounds like it would hurt, and it's probably costly/messy. So, not free.
pee energy
Who needs this when my perpetual motion machine will soon be providing enough power for the world to run, fossil fuel free. I just need a few billion in VC and this thing will take off.
This guy seems legit.
I would help him out if I had that kind of money.
Oh, sure, we SAY we'll install one of these, but we ALL know, the best use of a faucet end is an LED gadget to make your hot water red and your cold blue.
http://www.thinkgeek.com/homeoffice/kitchen/8122/
Seriously, this has got to be the stupidest idea I've heard in a long time.
Even if we assume that the water presssure to your house is provided via gravity and not an electric pump (not the case at my house, but most houses in my part of the country are fed by water towers), even if we assume I take a really long time to brush my teeth, how much energy is this thing capable of putting out? How many decades just to replace the energy it took to build the thing? Plus it's an eyesore.
Can we please get this put at the top of the crap-gadget list? Just because it's made under the guise of "green' doesn't mean it's not crap!
dude this thing is pointless
Oh great, all I have to do now is run my bath water 2weeks straight to get the light above it to stay on. WILL BUY ASAP
Hey - thought I read somewhere that it was illegal to use mains water to power anything.
Typical - regulators stifle initiative again ! The trick must be not to get caught with your tap running.............
LOL, now why doesn't that surprise me. I can see the government now "Your not stealing energy from us! If you want it you have to pay for it!" My response would be "But I do pay for it. Every month. Thank you!"
On a serious note I can see this idea working. I think connecting a device like this to the water coming into your house and to the water leaving your house. This would make better sense because no matter what water outlet you use you are capturing PE while doing so. The amount of PE you capture depends on a many variables (i.e. PSI, Type of motor that is connected to the prop. The size and shape of the prop.)
The "renewable energy" movement sets a new record in stupidity.
Last i checked, most places are *lacking* fresh water supply, if not in crisis now or in the near future.
Fresh Water Supply = Source of water + reserves + sterilization facilities + delivery infrastructure (pipes and pumps). This is expensive, hard to accomplish, and requires a lot of power. Some places in the world would be disgusted by us literally flushing fresh water "down the toilet".
So, as a "sign" on the end of your water tap that you are a "Stupid, Harmful, Freeloader", it would be great!
To make it a bit more interesting for the powerwasting crowd: you can add a powermeter to this gadget, connect that to a computer, and tweet how long/hard/when you use your taps, imagine the enrichment of your subscriber's life's!
Why don't you put this kind of thing on the main pipe; so every time you need water in your house it will produce something.
Sylvania has a more practical application for this idea. They Power an LED shower light. Check the link below.
http://www.smarthome.com/46214/Sylvania-LED-Ecolight-Water-Powered-Shower-Light-72450/p.aspx
@ unityblue: I feel your frustration and understand where you are coming from. You can always call up your congress man/woman and tell them you rather have your money go to helping other countries improve or develop ways to create fresh water. I have already called and sent a letter telling them I don't want my money going into the pockets of people who caused their company to go belly up.
@ travis: Please explain how a device like this steals "energy" from the water company. Do you not get a bill every month for the water that you used from the previous month.
not a bad idea. good to get some energy back. depends on the cost of the product and how long it will last?
The theory behind this machine is sound. If used correctly you convert mass flow on the user end to electricity. Given that mass flow is most certainly excessive for bathroom sink tasks, the municipality doesn't do extra work and you probably conserve water. That said, I find it hard to believe the device is practical. It may work for charging small capacitor based machines, but as soon as you begin to run the water to get power you have corrupted the entire philosophy. People will inevitably do this and defeat the purpose. At least the inventor's heart is in the right place. Our energy problem would be an order of magnitude less if more of us at least thought about these issues.