We are all too familiar with the high-level exploitation of non-renewable energy sources, and its consequences on the environment. The need to utilise renewable and clean sources of energy is paramount, but at the same time, the cost, logistics and power generation density might not always be viable.
A team of mechanical engineering students from Karukutty, Kochi, have engineered a device that can utilise naturally flowing water to generate electricity. The team from SCMS School of Engineering and Technology (SSET) consists of six students—Christo Varghese, Delo Devassy, D Achuth, Dion C Mathews, Anand Rajeev and Gijo George Netticadan. Mentored by their professors, Sheeja Janardhanan and Vidya Chandran, the students have engineered a device called Hydro Vortex Power Generator (HVPG) that could generate electricity from the irrigation canal that runs near their college.
HVPG is capable of generating around 5 watts of power on water currents flowing as slow as 0.5m/s. Needless to say, such devices can be beneficial to bring electricity to the remote areas of Kerala as well as other parts of India.
HVPG includes an elastically mounted horizontal cylinder that vibrates. The device works on the principle of vortex-induced vibration of bluff bodies. Computational Fluid Dynamics experts in SSET helped optimise this device.
The source of energy can be regarded as a revolutionary step towards harnessing power through clean sources.
According to SSET, “It [HVPG] can be made useful as a single standing power unit, which can light up remote and tribal areas of Kerala, and also as a multi-unit module which can supply power to the grid. HVPG can harness power not only from rivers and streams but also from currents of [the] ocean.”
In addition to being able to generate electricity through clean sources, HPVG also does not harm or affect the aquatic or marine life. It is the perfect way of lighting up lives without harming the environment!