Unlocking Energy Potential Through Hydrovoltaics: The Future of Electricity Generation

2024-03-13 19:11:00

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13.03.2024 22:11, Gennady Detinich

The process of evaporation of moisture on our planet never stops, which makes the idea of ​​​​generating electricity through this process very valuable. Water is everywhere: in reservoirs, plants and in the air. All that remains is to study the process in all its intricacies and use the knowledge gained. Scientists from Lausanne took the first step in this direction. They created experimental platform for studying “hydrovoltaics”.

Image source: scitechdaily.com

The platform consists of nano-sized vertically arranged silicon rods. Channels are formed between the rods through which the liquid, subject to capillary effect and evaporation, passively rises to the surface. On the surface—at the interface where evaporation occurs—a surface charge is formed, which provides ionic conductivity in the channels.

This method of generating electricity appeared to researchers from an unexpected angle. Previously, it was believed that energy might only be generated using clean, pre-treated water. During the experiments, it turned out that water can have any concentration of salts. It is only necessary to expand the channels as the salt concentration increases, and the system will generate energy. Thus, the process will take place both in fresh water and sea water. The “generator” can be created without any special modifications for water of any salinity.

Scientists from the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) have achieved a more detailed understanding of physical phenomena and processes by modeling and characterizing fluid flows, ion flows and electrostatic effects caused by solid-liquid interactions to ultimately create an optimally performing hydrovoltaic device .

Top view of an array of silicon nanopillars. Image source: Tarique Anwar, LNET EPFL, CC BY SA

“Thanks to our new highly controlled platform, this is the first study to quantify these hydrovoltaic phenomena, highlighting the importance of various interfacial interactions. But in the process, we also made an important discovery: hydrovoltaic devices can operate over a wide range of salinities, which contradicts the previous understanding that highly purified water was required for best performance.” – say scientists.

The proposed solution can also help with waste heat recovery. Heat speeds up evaporation and will help produce better electricity. In addition, the evaporation process is often used to desalinate water in hot climates. In the future, the desalination process can be combined in one installation with electricity generation. The prospects for the development are impressive, but they still need to be developed.

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