Hydroelectric generator can produce up to 1kW of power in rivers flowing at a slow rate. Students at Cambridge University look towards hydropower to light up homes in developing countries. Deniz Erkan, Li Jiang and Ned Stuart-Smith have developed a portable hydroelectric generator that is capable of producing up to 1kW of power when installed in free-flowing rivers. The 500kg device designed by these third-year students does not require special infrastructure or equipment, it is very easy to install.

Dubbed the “FloDrive Turbine”, this generator was exhibited at Cambridge Manufacturing Engineering Design Show last month. Unlike current water technology that mainly exploits the flow energy either in the form of tidal energy or potential energy created manually by huge dams or naturally in mountainous area, this hydroelectric generator is designed to exploit flow energy created by rivers flowing at a slow rate.

The FloDrive Turbine works well with a minimum flow rate of 1m/s and a uniform flow rate profile. The team has also developed a brushless generator to increase the device’s robustness and lifetime. Several university consultants have shown keen interest in purchasing their innovative product, but the team believes the design needs another year to become more efficient before going for commercialization.

By ecofriend.org