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The Green Pipe: Saving the World, One Pipe at a Time |
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The Green Pipe: Saving the World, One Pipe at a Time |
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The Green Pipe is an innovation designed to help the environment by making use of the water running down drains that would have otherwise gone to waste. After attaching the Green Pipe into the piping system, the water that is used in sinks or bathtubs will go down the pipe, spinning a turbine in the pipe. The turbine spins a generator, conducting electricity that will be wired back into household lights and appliances. Therefore, the Green Pipe will be able to create clean energy without using resources nor creating waste.
If the Green Pipe is used throughout a household, then the water used in sinks and tubs can be used to conduct electricity for other uses because the movement of water will be able to spin a turbine in the Green Pipe, running a generator that will create 1 volt of energy.
A prototype was made using household materials: wood planks, two bar magnet, copper wire, metal rod, nails, pipes, pipe connectors, a turbine (with a hole in the centre), an old plastic cup, piece of cardboard, an old thermos and one old bottle.
This innovation can be easily built. For the generator, drill centred holes through the peice of wood. Glue on two magnets. Wrap the cardboard around the magnets and wind the copper wire around it. Attach the peice of wood and secrure with duct tape and screws. Drill a hole through both sides of the thermos, so that the metal rod will be parallel to the surface. Drill a third hole on the bottom to attach to your original pipes. Next, put the turbine inside the thermos, and slip the rod through all holes. Attach a plastic cover over the inner hole to prevent leakage. After drilling a hole through the lid of the thermos, glue on a water bottle or funnel. Attach pipe connectors from the Green pipe to the normal piping. Attach any wire for electrical appliances to the two ends of the copper wire, and electricity will be created!
After trying out the Green Pipe with different variables of water, we have concluded that out innovation will be able to conduct a maximum of 0.07 volts of energy. The Green Pipe will be able to reduce the use of energy considerable over the course of a year.
Overall, the Green Pipe would be a successful innovation for the market and the environment. Not only is it easy to create and assemble with easily accessible materials, it also uses many recycled prod0ucts and is able to generate 0.07 volts of energy without consuming any resources nor producing any waste. Our hypothesis was thus proven true.