« Algae Energy | Main | Phase Change Materials »
Wednesday
Nov042009

Energy from Raindrops

A question was posed asking whether the energy of raindrops might be converted to electricity.  A study on this was done in Grenoble, France, with the use of a PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride) polymer, which is a piezoelectric material that converts mechanical energy into electricity.  The vibration created by a raindrop impacting a PVFD membrane produces electrical charges, which are then captured by electrodes in the material.  Since the material used is a plastic, it could be used to cover the roof of a greenhouse.  According to the study, for continental climates in France, nearly 1 Wh of energy could be produced per square meter in one year.  Adjusted to the rainfall in Pullman, that would be slightly less (0.73 Wh).  Applied to the 600 sq. ft. greenhouse currently on the farm, that would mean an annual output of 40.84 Wh.  While this seems to be an insignificant number, it would be enough to power such devices as sensors. 

Piezoelectric materials could also be used along with small generators to store energy from appliances and tractors, which produce vibrational energy.

 

                                                                         Calculus sheet

 

For France - for Continental Climate (e.g. In Vaucluse) :

             Rainfall :  693.4  mm/year  =  27.3 in/year

             Energy per area :  1 Wh /m2

 

For Pullman,

             Rainfall :  20 in/year

  so,    Energy per area :  20*1/27.3= 0.7326 Wh/ m2

 

Our current greenhouse has an area of 600sf = 55.74 m2.

The rainfall in Pullman will allow us to obtain : 40.84 Wh/yr

 

For a greenhouse of :

    1 acre (= 4046.86 m2), we will produce : 2964.73 Wh/yr

    5 acres:  14823.65 Wh/yr.

 

If we use a 60W fluorescent light bulb (LB) - which is 23 incandescent watts :

The 600 sf greenhouse roof will power : almost 2 LB for 1 hr

1 acre: 128.9 LB for 1 hr

5 acre: 664.5 LB for 1 hr

 

While this does not seem like much, some sensors require a lot less energy to be powered.

If we use for instance the Hewlett Packard power sensor 8481B that requires 1 mW (=min. power range) to be powered :

For the 600 sf greenhouse roof we can power :  40.84/ (10^-3 * 24*365.25) = 4.66 sensors / yr.

For 1 acre: 2964.73/(10^-3 * 24*365.25) = 338.21 sensors / yr.

For 5 acres: 338.21* 5 =  1691 sensors /yr.

Christophe Parroco and Jennifer Johnston

Reader Comments (13)

<p>You will need to do a little bit of Prom Dressesand visit some Cheap Prom Dress to find out the important information you are not familiar with buying Prom Dresses 2010. It's always good to take the Prom Dress and check prices and see Prom Dresses 2010 you can afford. Everybody has a Cheap Prom Dresses taking some time out to check your local <a href="http://www.wholesale-weddinggowns.com/modest-

May 17, 2010 | Unregistered Commenterwedding111

Not even as I shook womens ugg boots and trembled uncontrollably in the trenches, did I forget your ugg boots face. I would sit huddled into the wet mud, terrified, as the ugg australia hails of bullets and mortars crashed down around me. I would clutch my uggs bailey button rifle tightly to my heart, and think again of that very first day we met. I would cry out in bailey button boots fear, as the noise of war beat down around me.

July 29, 2010 | Unregistered Commenterwomens ugg boots

power balance
silly bandz
EFX bracelet
mbt shoes develop quality for discerning customers and Experience the comfort, free shipping.Buy mbt women's shoes with a price guarantee and top rated customer service.enjoy
discount mbt shoes
mbt chapa Find exactly what you want today Looking for discount Mbt shoes.
wedding dresses develop quality for discerning customers and Experience the comfort, free shipping.
Buy evening dresses with a price guarantee and top rated customer service.enjoy
monther of the bride dresses Find exactly what you want today Looking for discount Mbt shoes.

October 19, 2010 | Unregistered Commenterpower balance

Jordan Retro VI
retro jordan 1
Air Jordan 5
nike air jordan 8 retro
discount air jordans
jordan basketball shoes
air jordans
cheap air jordans for sale
jordan shoes for sale
air force one shoes
buy air jordans online
nike jordan retro 9 ix
Air Jordans Retro I
air jordan retro 10
authentic air jordan 5
Jordan Flight 45 Shoes
new jordan shoes
wholesale jordan shoes

January 14, 2011 | Unregistered Commenterretro 11 history

A great post but How to select a cool shoes. we sell cheap shoes We are the best store provided various cheap designer shoes but only a little white to make coach shoes online

May 31, 2011 | Unregistered Commentercheap shoes

This is a great post. you got cheap shoes online .I like cheap designer shoes as well give you designer shoes outlet http://www.cheap-shoes-online.org

June 23, 2011 | Unregistered Commentercheap shoes

Wedding is every person's life the most important moment in the wedding the most beautiful wedding dress is every woman's dream in mind. In our case, we provide many types of wedding dress, for example:classic wedding, bridal gowns style .

July 3, 2011 | Unregistered Commenterbridal gowns

New Air Max 2011 is the most popular of running shoes. The Nike Air Max 2010 shoes design, by high performance style. Nike Air Max Zenyth is a kind of wear-resisting, deft, comfortable and fashion Mens Nike Air Max LTD shoes.
Nike Air Max Skyline is special for sports and of the design.This is a high quality of Nike Air Max BW shoes and wear comfortable Air Max 90 shoes, easy. If you are a sports, that we suggest you buy Cheap Air Max 2011|Women's Nike Air Max 4-27|Nike Air Max TN shoes, you will not regret it.
Every woman longs to have set their own victoria bikini,Put on fashionable and beautiful victorias Secret bikini| Sinful Bikini playing on the seashore is every woman's dream,But, there are other words of good, the most beautiful may not be the most suitable, the most suitable is the most beautiful。Wear on the, the world is you. This summer, you wear Ed Hardy Bikini ?
Life has a lot of fun and beer and skittles is indispensable to life。Many people in the holiday with his family to climb up the mountain,Mountain climbing can exercise, it is a kind of fun, exciting and dangerous things.Mountain climbing, our security to our feet, a pair of good wear comfortable Vibram FiveFingers Sprint|Vibram FiveFingers Bikila will bring us a good luck. Have good vibram five fingers kso|Vibram FiveFingers shoes|vibram five fingers shoes sale|Vibram FiveFingers Womenwith happiness, friends, the happy home with you.
Want to buy a sexy Chanel Bikinis|Sinful Bikinis|ED Hardy Bikinis|Hollister Bikinis that can win you all the attention this summer? Get into this for the latest collection of sexy Louis Vuitton Bikinis|Gucci Bikini|juicy Bikinis swim wear swim wear and oakley sunglass sale.

July 22, 2011 | Unregistered Commenternike air max 2010

PostPost a New Comment

Enter your information below to add a new comment.

My response is on my own website »
Author Email (optional):
Author URL (optional):
Post:
 
Some HTML allowed: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <code> <em> <i> <strike> <strong>