TWO STRANGE WAYS OF ELECTRICITY GENERATION

Electricity is one of the fundamentals for leading a normal life in this decade. From powering industries to charging mobiles, electricity is needed for everything. As we all know, electricity is generated by several methods like from Hydel-power plants (using the kinetic energy of water), thermal power plant (Using fossil fuels), Nuclear power plant (using nuclear fuels like Uranium, Thorium etc.), Wind mill (using kinetic energy of wind), Solar farm (using energy from sun) etc. But there are several other fascinating ways for electricity production and in this post, we will see two ways for electricity generation.

Two Strange ways of Electricity Generation

CONTENTS

• Electricity from Walking
• Electricity from Mud

ELECTRICITY GENERATION FROM WALKING!

What are all the outcomes of walking? Well, we can keep our body fit, healthy and free from stress. Several diseases can be prevented if we walk for at least 30 minutes a day. But can we generate electricity when we walk? Yes. There is a unique way to produce electricity using the pressure applied while walking or riding vehicles over the road/pavement which are embedded with a material called as piezo electric material. This method of electricity production from pressure application and latent heat is called as Piezoelectricity method. The primary compound responsible for this method of electricity generation is the Piezo-electric material. 

Principle:

Electricity is the term used to represent the flow of electrons. Here, when a man sets his foot up on a piezoelectric material, a deformation occurs. As a result of that process, the flow of electron occurs thereby resulting in voltage generation. Also, we know that pressure indirectly produces heat (this can be easily explained with an example where your palms get heated when you rub them against each other for a while). Heat causes the electrons to vibrate and to flow to the next atom. This also results in the voltage production. These are the two main principles associated with electricity production using piezoelectric materials. One example for piezoelectric material is Quartz. 

Uses:

In contrast to Solar farm and wind mill etc., this method of electricity production does not need a separate dedicated place. It is hard to live near the Wind mills as they are noisy. Also, solar farms need a separate field for effective functioning. But this method only needs a space under the surface (like roads, steps, pavements, speed breakers etc.). so, it doesn’t affect the surrounding people. 

Piezoelectric production can be used as a sensor for detecting pressure, heat etc. 

Disadvantages:

Low power production. A constant oscillating pressure is needed. 

It is still in the developing stage and further research is needed to create an effective piezoelectric material. 

In case of any repair in the piezoelectric material, the whole pavement has to be removed which increases the cost of repair and adds more burden. 

Where can it be used?

It is used on the speed breakers, to open the doors in the railway stations or airports etc. and in several crowded areas and also in the field of sensors which finds its application in several industries.

Now let us move on to another strange way of electricity generation. 

ELECTRICITY FROM MUD !

This will really sound like a fake thing or impossible to believe. Yet, it’s true. But the real key compound is not the mud, it is the microorganisms in the mud. The system of producing electricity from above process is called as bio-electrochemical system. It is commonly seen in the Microbial fuel cell system.   

Principle

We all know that energy can neither be created nor be destroyed but it can be converted from one form to another. The main principle behind this method is the conversion of chemical energy to electrical energy with the aid of the catalytic reaction of microorganisms. The Micro-organisms release electrons after they digest the food (glucose) present in the environment. These electrons are used to produce a potential difference within a fuel cell and these electrons are allowed to flow through an external circuit. Thus, electricity is generated.   

Uses:

The source can be anything which contains carbon-source in them. So, even wastewater can be used as a feed thereby aiding the wastewater treatment.

Microbes are available everywhere. They also multiply rapidly. A single strain is enough to start the process. 

Disadvantages:

Low power production. 

This is still in the development stage and further research is needed for effective electricity generation.

Applications:

They can be used for electricity production as well as for wastewater treatment.

This Microbial Fuel Cell also finds its application as sensor since they can be used for measuring Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD – Oxygen required to decompose the organic matter present in the sample)

Conclusion

So, you would’ve known about Microbial fuel cell, Piezoelectricity with its advantages, disadvantages and uses. The fossil fuel usage for electricity production is the main reason for environmental air pollution. Also, the depletion of fossil fuels made us to focus on sustainable power sources like solar power, wind power etc.  The above discussed methods may not be a perfect substitute when compared with other methods of electricity production. But this is surely the first step towards attaining a sustainability goal.