Clean Energy for Clean Water

At present, I believe that we are facing an issue in limiting the usage of non-renewable energy sources. Approximately 80 percent of the overall amount of electricity consumed worldwide annually comes from fossil fuels, which of course is a non-renewable energy source that causes damage to the environment.

Limiting the dependency on non-renewable energy sources.

If the forms in which clean/renewable energy sources could be applied were widened, then the dependency on nonrenewable energy sources would be decreased, since the use of non-renewable energy sources decreases as the use of clean/renewable energy sources is optimized. For instance, a new form of hydropower could take place is in desalination plants.

There are multiple energy sources that we use in order to extract or recover energy. These energy sources are divided into types, renewable energy sources, and non-renewable energy sources.

1. Non-renewable energy sources

Non-renewable energy comes from sources that will run out or will not be replenished within our lifetimes. The most common non-renewable energy sources are fossil fuels. Approximately 80 percent of the overall amount of electricity consumed worldwide annually comes from fossil fuels. Fossil fuels were created as the remains of marine creatures that have been decomposed under immense pressure and heat millions of years ago. Most fossil fuels are burned to generate energy and electricity. Another non-renewable energy source is nuclear energy. Nuclear Energy and radiation are released during Nuclear fusion or Nuclear fission.

Most non-renewable energy sources cause damage to the environment and the human body. The burning of fossil fuels emits multiple greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. All greenhouse gases contribute to the greenhouse effect, consequently effecting Climate change/Global warming. These gases could also affect the well-being of humans by causing issues in the respiratory system. Nuclear energy also emits enormous amounts of radiation.

Exposure to radiation could weaken and break up DNA, damage cells enough to kill them or cause them to mutate in ways that may eventually lead to cancer. structural changes in the DNA could disturb regular cell processes such as the mechanisms that control cell division. Cells that can't control their division grow out of control, therefore, becoming cancerous. Radiation also affects plant-life and soil. Radioactive material can damage plant tissue as well as disrupt plant growth. Mutations are also possible due to the damage caused to the DNA. Radioactive material in the soil can prevent nutrients from being taken in by plants, causing the soil to be infertile.

However, non-renewable energy sources are still being used around the world for multiple reasons. Non-renewable energy sources are efficient, meaning that small quantities could generate huge amounts of energy.

2. Renewable energy sources

Renewable energy sources are energy sources that do not deplete and can be replenished within a human’s lifetime. The most common renewable energy sources are wind energy, solar power, geothermal energy, Bioenergy, and hydropower. Renewable energy sources produce 13.5% of the world’s total energy supply and 22% of the world's electricity. Renewable energy systems are better for the environment and produce fewer emissions than conventional non-renewable energy sources. Wind energy utilizes the kinetic energy of wind in order to generate electricity. Solar power utilizes solar panels in order to capture energy emitted from the Sun. Hydropower uses the movement of water bodies in order to generate power/electricity. Bioenergy utilizes biomass for energy. Geothermal energy is the production of energy using the internal heat of the Earth’s crust.

Due to lockdown and lack of supply caused by the current COVID-19 situation, it was needed to resort to developing a 3D model of the concept. The following are the materials required:

1. Laptop: Necessary for access to Tinkercad.com
2. Tinkerkcad: A 3D modeling program known for its simplicity and ease of use.
3. Calculator: Makes solving equations easier.

1. Prepare:
   1. Create a sketch of the model
2. Organize the materials
   1. Sign Up on Tinkercad.com
   2. Create an empty 3D model template
3. Prepare the Innovation:
   1. Design a pipe
      1. Rotate the pipe 45-degree angles down
      2. Create a circle in the pipe
      3. Generate a model of the turbine in order to mount it in the pipe
      4. Create a model of a DC motor (Small-sized Generator)
   2. Design two models
      1. Design Storage model
         1. At the lower end of the pipe
         2. Acts as storage to the saltwater collected
      2. Design Sea/Shore model
         1. Box
         2. Design a model to look like water
            1. Waves
            2. Blue
            3. Transparent
   3. Design decorations
      1. Generate a house model
      2. Extend it to look like a desalination plant
      3. Add cylinders to look as smokestacks
4. Find results
   1. Use the dimensions on the 3D in order to determine how much power it would generate.
   2. Compare with the power requirement to desalinate a metric cube of saltwater.

Using the dimensions of the model in order to how much power the model would generate, this is the data collected. The law used in order to determine the amount of power generated by a hydroelectric turbine is:

P = m x g x Hnet x η

1. Where P is power
2. m is mass flow rate
   1. Density
   2. Multiplied by Flow Area
   3. Multiplied by velocity
      1. Which I've calculated using vf2=v02+2aΔx
         1. I've calculated Δx by finding the distance between the turbine and the beginning of the pipe
         2. I've calculated the acceleration using F=ma.
            1. I've neglected friction
            2. The only force (on the x-axis) is mgsinθ
3. Hnet is 90% of the Hgross
4. η is the product of all component efficiencies
   1. Efficiency of Pelton turbine
   2. Efficiency of DC Motor

   3. Average efficiency of Drive

The model is able to generate 0.137592 watts/second.

According to the mass flow rate, which is equivalent to 0.30789 kg/s, approximately 3.0881644 x 10^-4 cubic meters pass through the turbine per second. Therefore, it would be determined that each metric cube that passes through the turbine would generate approximately 0.445546 kilowatts.

0.445546 kilowatts is approximately 51.8076% of the overall volume necessary for the desalination of a metric cube of saltwater, which is estimated to be 0.86 kWh / m^3. This percentage means that a portion of the energy demand could be achieved through hydropower.

The model is able to generate 0.445546 kilowatts through every metric cube of saltwater that passes through the turbine. Therefore, 51.8076% of the overall volume necessary for the desalination of a metric cube of saltwater could be powered by a renewable energy source, which would be hydropower.

Overall, it is possible to limit the use and dependency on non-renewable energy sources through optimizing the use of renewable energy sources and widening the forms in which renewable energy sources could take place.

The concept has the potential to have a vital impact on energy and how it would be produced/managed. -As mentioned above-, there are numerous negative effects that are induced by the excessive use of non-renewable energy sources, including:

The burning of fossil fuels emits multiple greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. All greenhouse gases contribute to the greenhouse effect, consequently effecting Climate change/Global warming. These gases could also affect the well-being of humans by causing issues in the respiratory system.

Exposure to radiation could weaken and break up DNA, damage cells enough to kill them or cause them to mutate in ways that may eventually lead to cancer. structural changes in the DNA could disturb regular cell processes such as the mechanisms that control cell division. Cells that can't control their division grow out of control, therefore, becoming cancerous. Radiation also affects plant-life and soil. Radioactive material can damage plant tissue as well as disrupt plant growth. Mutations are possible due to the damage caused to the DNA. Radioactive material in the soil can prevent nutrients from being taken in by plants, causing the soil to be infertile.

Thus, the concept will significantly mitigate such negative effects, and protect human well-being as well as the environment.

ATL skills:

1- Research skills: Research skills have improved for me, this is due to the research I've done for background research as well as the research I've done in order to calculate the quantity of energy the model is able to produce.

2- Self-management skills: Self-management skills were adequate. Time dedicated to the innovation was inconsistent. However, the submission of the project was on time despite the huge quantity of work by other subjects.

3- Thinking skills: Creative thinking has been put into determining what the final product would be. Creative thinking was also put into the way the final product would be delivered.

What would I improve:

Next time, I would focus on hydropower as the main subject rather than a possible option for renewable energy sources. For instance, I would determine which factor could create the biggest change in the energy output when altered, and in what way should it be altered in order to maximize the energy output.

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