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Hydro Turbine Energy Generator Powered by Rainfall CHAPTER I JM Version3 (1) Igyiuguiggyouggygyugypooi (Psuopusiusppusupspusup
Hydro Turbine Energy Generator Powered by Rainfall CHAPTER I JM Version3 (1) Igyiuguiggyouggygyugypooi (Psuopusiusppusupspusup
S.Y. 2023-2024
Design, Fabrication and Evaluation of Rain Gutter Downspout Pico Hydroelectric Power
Generator
Submitted by:
October 2023
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Table of Contents
Title page.....................................................................................................
Chapter I......................................................................................................
Introduction...........................................................................................
Objectives.............................................................................................
Definition of terms.................................................................................
Chapter 2.......................................................................................................
Local Literature......................................................................................
Chapter 3.......................................................................................................
Research Design.....................................................................................
Methodology ....................................................................................
Bibliography.....................................................................................
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CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
In recent years, there has been an increase in the use of rainwater collection to create
renewable energy. To facilitate this, a micro-hydropower system utilizing the gravity flow of
electricity. Although the construction and functioning of such systems can be costly, utilizing
them has several advantages. Since rain replenishes rainwater on a regular basis, using pico
hydropower generators offers a reliable source of electricity without the release of any
greenhouse gases or pollutants. Furthermore, as they are made of basic supplies and don't
require a lot of maintenance, they are ideal for use in rural areas with limited financial
resources. This research study will look at the design and construction of a low-cost pico
hydropower generator that can generate electricity from rainwater collected by a roof drainage
system. This generator could produce below 5kw that can possibly used in the Philippines,
allowing for greater access to renewable energy. We intend to significantly advance the search
for ecologically responsible and sustainable energy sources by investigating this intriguing
The small-scale hydropower generators use the energy from the flowing water in
rivers, streams, and even home pipes to generate electricity. They are cost-effective to build
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and maintain and can provide a reliable source of power for homes, schools, and small
communities. This study presents the design and construction of a pico hydro generator using
PVC pipes, generally found in domestic pipelines. It then evaluates the different turbine and
generator types to find the most suitable for the meagre water flow of home pipes, which turns
out to be a Pelton turbine and an axial flux permanent magnet generator. Testing the
developed model further revealed it could handle variable loads and speeds. This research is a
major step towards making sustainable energy options available to Philippine rural areas. Pico
hydro generators offer a solution to lower overall electricity costs while providing an assured
power supply for villages with no connection to the grid. (Asor, 2013)
It is crucial to address the demand for sustainable energy production now. In order to
minimize carbon emissions and create energy in a renewable manner, new energy systems
have been developed over time, utilizing various natural resources like water. Water is one of
the primary and common sources in the Philippines for the clean energy due to the vast
number of hydroelectric resources that can be utilized in many ways by use of turbines,
The most well-established renewable energy source for producing electricity is hydropower.
for advancement. Given the power's dependability and efficiency as well as the technology's
cost advantages, it is estimated that the capacity of hydro turbine installations worldwide is
increasing at a rate of 5% per year, doubling every 15 years or so. In particular, hydro
installations and plants survive a long time (as a result of continuous steady-state operation
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with low temperatures and mechanical strains) and produce energy at a cheap cost, which has
Rainfall is the most important climatic element in the Philippines. Rainfall distribution
throughout the country varies from one region to another, depending upon the direction of the
moisture-bearing winds and the location of the mountain systems. The mean annual rainfall of
the Philippines varies from 965 to 4,064 millimeters annually. (PAGASA, 2023)
This research addresses the critical problem of the high cost of electricity in the
Philippines puts a strain on consumers, especially those from rural areas who lack financial
means. Also, energy potential from rain water is wasted. Rain water is not effectively manage
and allowed to flow into drains, canals and eventually into the oceans, rather than being captured
and used. Lastly, power interruptions that are common during heavy rain and typhoons, cause by
the falling down of towers and breaking lines, which leads to inconvenience. To alleviate this
problems, scientists and inventors have been working on developing alternative energy solutions
to bring down these prices, use the untapped potential of rain water , to bring ease and improve
access to sustainable energy for all Filipinos. One promising and viable option for achieving this
is the use of pico hydro generators with a focus on its efficiency, output, and practical application
viable and efficient source of renewable energy and offer a potential solution to the growing
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Objective of the Study
This research project's main goal is to evaluate the efficiency and performance of a
rainwater-driven hydroelectric power generation. In this study, the claim that such a system may
offer a alternative and reliable source of renewable energy will be extensively tested. More
To assess the hydroelectric power generator's production, efficiency, and other pertinent
To methodically build and put together a rainwater harvesting system that collects
rainwater, filters it, and pumps it to a high reservoir where it powers a Pelton turbine to
provide energy.
To collect, examine, and evaluate quantitative data that was obtained through
experiments in order to make judgements about the efficiency and longetivity of the
To respect moral principles throughout the research process, including the influence on
This project's goal is to supply enough electricity with limited electrical access to run
lights and recharge phones. An alternative energy-harvesting system for homes that consists of a
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gutter assembly that collects and directs water from the roof to a downspout is the subject of the
study. This comprises conducting research, building prototypes, and testing them. The
downspout directs the water flowing to a turbine at ground level. The turbine is linked to a DC
motor that acts as the generator. When there are heavier downpours with higher flow rates, the
turbine performs well. To determine which turbine is the most effective, the study tests many
models at various flow rates. This work is significant because it has the ability to bring
renewable energy to rural areas with high rainfall levels and sparse access to electricity. The
The following are the scope and delimitation of work to be done in this study.
Scope
1. The pico hydro-turbine energy generator powered by rainfall can generate 240V of
electricity.
2. This machine will work during rainy season or thunderstorm, especially when there is
a blackout.
4. This machine is less expensive because the materials that we use can be found easily
and affordable.
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6. This machine can light up 3-4 light bulbs and 1 fan and 1 radio during a
thunderstorm.
Delimitation
thunderstorm only.
2. The machine can only light up 3-5 lightbulbs and 1 fan and 1 radio during a heavy
Definition of Terms
To show the clear understanding of the study, the following terms were operationally
defined:
Carbon emissions- are the greenhouse gas with the largest emissions in the atmosphere, they
have a considerable impact on the world. Of course, this results in climate change and global
warming.
Hydropower- is one of the biggest and oldest renewable energy sources that produces power
Hydroelectric turbine- is a machine that can convert water's kinetic energy into mechanical
energy. They operate exceptionally well and are a necessary component of hydroelectric power
plants.
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Inverter- is among the most crucial components of a solar energy system. It is a device that
transforms solar panels produced direct current (DC) electricity into the alternating current (AC)
AC/ alternating current- is an electric current that, unlike direct current, which only travels in one
direction, occasionally reverses direction, and continuously varies its amplitude over time.
Moisture Bearing winds- formed in a region of high pressure over the southern Indian Ocean,
moving to the low pressure of the Indian subcontinent, blowing across the warm waters, and
accumulating moisture.
Downspouts- allows rainwater from a gutter to fall to the ground without splashing or trickling
down the building. Although they may be routed at an angle to avoid architectural features and
discharge onto an intermediary roof, downspouts are typically vertical and typically run all the
Rain gutters- are the lengthy, hollow object fastened to the borders of the roof. Their main
objective is to divert rainwater away from your foundation by collecting it. A functioning gutter
Energy accumulation system- the mechanism that transforms electrical energy from power
systems into a form that may be stored for later conversion to electrical energy.
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Siphon- is any of a large range of apparatuses that use liquid flow through tubes. In a more
specific sense, the term refers specifically to an inverted "U"-shaped tube that raises liquid above
a reservoir's surface without the aid of a pump, instead using the liquid's fall as it descends the
tube due to gravity, before discharging at a level below the reservoir's surface from which
itOriginated.(Merriam-Webster, 2023)
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CHAPTER II
Several studies have been conducted in the field of rainwater harvesting and hydroelectric power
This review of related literature aims to bridge this gap by comprehensively examining previous
1. To explore the existing literature on rainwater harvesting systems and their potential for
energy generation.
generators.
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4. To highlight gaps in the literature and areas that require further exploration.
Water's gravitational potential energy, which is typically stored in dams, is the source of
traditional hydropower systems' ability to produce electricity. While rainwater aids in the water
cycle that eventually fills reservoirs, its intermittent and unpredictable nature makes it difficult to
use rainwater directly as a consistent and reliable source of energy. (Knight, 2013)
spatial arrangement and the gravitational force (one of the four fundamental forces) that pulls
them towards one another. The Earth's gravitational force is simply described as "down."
The interaction of gravitational potential energy, kinetic energy, and spring energy can be seen in
a potential energy simulation that can be played with. The simulation that follows demonstrates
the exchange of mechanical energy between kinetic energy and gravitational potential energy.
‘E=mgh’
• g = is the acceleration due to gravity measured in m/s2. On the surface of Earth this is
9.81 m/s2.
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• h = is the height of an object relative to where it would be if it fell, measured in metres
(m)
Some forms of hydropower indirectly harness gravitational potential energy. The water
behind a hydroelectric dam stores gravitational potential energy since it is at a higher level than
the water on the other side of the dam. As the water falls, this potential energy is converted into
Hydropower production and precipitation are directly related. increased water is available
for power generation as a result of increased precipitation, which increases the amount of power
produced. On the other hand, less precipitation will result in less water being available, which
will cut down on the amount of power produced. (Carter et al., 2023)
The rate of water flow affects how much power is produced as well. Power generation
will increase with a higher flow rate and decrease with a lower flow rate. (Li et al., 2020)
Energy that comes from a source that is not exhausted when consumed is known as
renewable energy. Despite a rise in use, the source is constantly accessible. There are several
sources of renewable energy, including wind and solar power energy (Okioga et al., 2018). On
the other hand it is believed that the precipitation lost through gutters and downspouts can be a
major energy loss. To lower this potential energy loss, a recycling process needs to be
implemented rather than letting the rainwater freely go down the drain; instead, it should be
harnessed as a usable form of energy such as electricity. Capturing rainwater and passing it
through a hydroelectric turbine is one method of converting rain energy into electricity. A
rooftop rainwater energy-collecting system harnesses rainfall waters to generate power. Utilizing
hydroelectric turbines, energy is extracted from rain water (Carter et al., 2023)
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Figure 1.
This illustrates how the turbine can be seamlessly incorporated into a house's gutter
system. Each turbine is linked to a battery storage system, enabling the stored energy to power
devices within the residence. One approach to enhancing the voltage output is by arranging the
turbines in series along the downpipe or by installing multiple downpipes around the exterior of
and converted to electricity. Building downpipes or drain spouts contain micro-turbines that are
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installed there specifically for low-flow settings. These little turbines can harness the power of
Another study conducted on the 2023 where a small-scale experimental was done to
determine how to most effectively utilize electromagnetic generators in light rain to maximize a
rooftop rainwater energy harvester. The three key factors under investigation in the study were
the generator's torque rates, the hydro turbine's locations, and the presence of a rainwater buffer.
In order to help the permanent magnet generator, generate power on a modest scale, runoff from
rooftop rain gutters was used to turn a hydro turbine inside a cylindrical housing. The generator's
electricity was utilized to power 12-volt batteries. In two different positions—high position and
low position from the ground—the hydro turbine's position was compared. The study came to the
conclusion that a high position for the hydro turbine was ideal, and the performance of the
energy harvester was enhanced by the presence of a rainwater buffer. (Idros et al., 2023)
A practice called rainwater harvesting entails gathering and storing rainwater for later
use. The study demonstrates that generating electricity in metropolitan areas utilizing rainwater
as a source of energy is feasible. Pelton turbines are generally found to be amongst the most
suitable for low flow power generation. To assess the Pelton turbine's performance in a rainwater
harvesting system for urban micro hydropower generation simulation model is used to determine
the effects of several factors including turbine diameter, nozzle diameter, and water flow rate.
The findings revealed that the turbine diameter, followed by the nozzle diameter and water flow
rate, had the greatest impact on the Pelton turbine's performance. (Zamora-Juárez et al., 2023)
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1.2 LOCAL LITERATURE
response to water shortages and flooding. Currently, the nation harvests only around 6% of its
annual rainfall, compared to India, which harvests over 60% of its 700-millimeter average.
(Mioten, E. 2022)
Philippines. RWH is a sustainable method that has been used for generations to collect and
store rainwater for use in a number of applications. Rainwater that has been collected in a
storage tank can be utilized to power micro-hydropower systems. The height of the water
tank, the water flow rate, and the turbine's efficiency are just a few of the variables that will
affect how much energy a micro-hydropower system can produce. However, research has
shown that even in regions with little rainfall, micro-hydropower devices may be used to
produce a sizable quantity of electricity. RWH has the potential to be a substantial source of
renewable energy in the Philippines. There is a rising need for renewable energy in the
Philippines, a tropical nation with plentiful rainfall. According to studies, RWH may be used
to produce enough electricity to run a small hamlet or a sizable chunk of a city's public
transport system. RWH is an environmentally friendly practice that may lessen the nation's
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A research was done in the Philippines to figure out how much energy high-rise buildings
could save by gathering rainwater. The study determined the comparable energy produced by
The energy equivalent was calculated using the average floor space provided in the
authorized building permit as of 2017 and the 40% of the time that the rainfall precipitation
equaled or surpassed the other. The study developed a mathematical formula to represent the
equivalent energy of using rainwater. The initial building height of 5 meters and an extra
succeeding height of 3 meters per floor level were used to create the equation of energy
buildings is feasible and has a 10-year payback period. According to the Department of
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using rainwater harvesting ranges from 252.62 Whr up to 1,043.19 Whr for residential
buildings, 925.70 Whr up to 3,814.60 Whr for commercial buildings, and 1,851.40 Whr up to
7,629.20 Whr for institutional buildings, using an initial water head (height of the building)
of 5 meters, average floor area of buildings, and rainfall precipitation of 215.81 mm in the
different source of electricity. A mathematical equation that considers the building's height,
floor area, rainfall precipitation, and water usage can be used to calculate the energy
equivalent of rainwater collection. Installing rainwater collection systems is feasible and can
offer a micro-hydroelectric power source on a small scale. (Andres & Loretero, 2021)
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CHAPTER III
Research Design
The researcher choose to involve an experimental research design in this project study.
This type of research typically involves conducting experiments, collecting data, and analyzing
the results to test a hypothesis or answer specific research questions related to the performance
and effectiveness of the hydroelectric power generator in this case. It may also include
quantitative data analysis to measure the system's efficiency, output, and other relevant metrics
To start the design of rainwater as a source of renewable energy, the researchers first
determine which facility should use. Reseachers chose a high-facility building for better
efficiency. Second, the researchers also considered the possible procedures and effective ways to
use the materials that are going to use. Understanding the mechanism of this machine will help to
maintain the efficiency and affordability of parts and the motion of gears and other parts. Third,
the researchers chose a quality and strong materials that will going to use for this machine, and
can now assemble the machine. Then will now conduct a test and gather all the data that we
need.
After the researchers gather all the materials, they will first make a rainwater harvesting system
wherein the water will be filtered before being directed to the elevated reservoir. The water from
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the container will be directed to the generator through the downspout. Electricity will be
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Table 1.
Materials
Bearing 2 85 170
Lock Ring/Rubber
4 36 144
Seal
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Table 2.
Tools
Tools Functions
welded.
and more.
Grinding and Cutting Disc Utilized for cutting metals sheets into the
right sizes.
The equipment listed in Table 1 is used to construct a small hydroelectric power plant that can
produce energy from a downspout of a rain gutter. The tools are used to put together the system's
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many parts, including the turbine, generator, and battery bank, and to test the system to make
Table 3.
Equipment
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Equipment Functions
Methodology
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Figure 2 shows a rainwater-powered hydroelectric energy generation system. The
Rainwater is collected on the rooftop and stored in a reservoir. The siphon is used to transfer the
rainwater from the reservoir to the hydro energy turbine. The hydro energy turbine generate
electricity from the flowing water. The electricity is then stored in an energy accumulation
P= ρgQh
ρ= Density of water.
This system has the potential to reduce the building's reliance on grid electricity and
generate clean, renewable energy. However, more research is needed to optimize the design
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Figure 2. Six components and two subsystems make up the Rain-Power Utilization System's
overall structure.
The rooftop of a building, being both elevated and spacious, serves as a readily accessible
platform for harvesting rainwater with the goal of concentrating energy. It's important to
highlight that the first batch of rainwater collected from rooftop surfaces is typically of subpar
quality due to exposure to atmospheric elements and the roof's surface, making it unsuitable for
Bibliography
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Books
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Knight, R. D. (2013). Physics for scientists and engineers: A Strategic Approach : with Modern
Physics. Addison-Wesley.
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