Hydroelectricity without a Raging River

April 10, 2012

“Our system generates one to five watts of electricity,” says HydroSpin CEO Gabby Czertok. “That's enough to power a network and send the data forward every five minutes or so instead of once a day in other smart water network systems. We concentrate on small-scale power production using water as it flows through pipes. Managers can add our device to their existing SWANs, anywhere on the network, and our device will generate enough power to support low-energy devices throughout the water network; such as sensors, probes, and transmission devices. The device does not stop the flow of water through the pipes.”

“With HydroSpin, sensors and measuring devices are no longer limited to locations that have accessibility to electricity,” Czertok adds. Water shortages require managers to keep an eye on leaks and water quality, while too much rain can overwhelm water distribution and sewer services. SWANs ensure that every drop is accounted for, with sensors providing real-time data on leaks, water pressure, usage and water quality.

Most SWANs run on batteries, but sooner or later, batteries die and have to be replaced or recharged. That's a major hassle and expense, and since SWANs do not constantly update servers, a problem in a water or sewage system could remain undetected for days because of a dead battery.

One solution is batteries that can be recharged via attached solar panels. But Czertok says that solar energy doesn't play well with SWANs. “There is a major problem with theft of the solar panels and batteries, and the sensors on the network are disabled when their power source is removed.” For more information: +972-74-713-6666; [email protected]

Source: Excerpts of an article by David Benovadia, www.israel21c.org

Photo Credit: Israel21c