Portland to generate electricity within its own water pipes
This article by Ben Coxworth for Gizmag may be of interest to subscribers. Here is a section:
LucidPipe simply replaces a stretch of existing gravity-fed conventional pipeline, that's used for transporting potable water. As the water flows through, it spins four 42-inch (107-cm) turbines, each one of which is hooked up to a generator on the outside of the pipe. The presence of the turbines reportedly doesn't slow the water's flow rate significantly, so there's virtually no impact on pipeline efficiency.
The 200-kW Portland system was privately financed by Harbourton Alternative Energy, and its installation was completed late last December. It's now undergoing reliability and efficiency testing, which includes checking that its sensors and smart control system are working properly. It's scheduled to begin full capacity power generation by March.
This represents an innovative idea but is just one example of how technological innovation is enhancing productivity. LucidPipe is privately held but the video on their homepage is worth watching just for the sheer simplicity of the concept and the benefit that accretes to the user of the technology.
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