March 28, 2024

Atmospheric moisture as a promising source of renewable energy

Atmospheric moisture as a promising source of renewable energy

Due to climate change exploring sourcesRenewable energy is not only concerned about scientists, but also about politics. In addition to the development of solar panels, wind generators, hydroelectric dams and geothermal wells, researchers are also looking for new promising sources. In recent years, there have been developments related to the generation of energy through atmospheric moisture.

Energy from the air

Water has many special properties, including the transfer of electric charge when molecules collide with each other and the creation ofa kind of static electricity due to their friction.

We all observed powerful energy surges duringthunderstorms in the form of lightning, which are formed only due to water in its various phases. The process of cloud formation demonstrates how in about 20 minutes atmospheric moisture and raindrops can generate huge electrical discharges of several kilometers.

Curb the energy released this wayit’s very difficult, and to capture it would require the installation of a huge number of rods with the appropriate infrastructure. The efficiency and productivity of such systems would depend only on the whims of nature.

However, back in the 19th century, the English physicist MichaelFaraday discovered that water droplets can also charge metal surfaces as a result of friction between them. Moreover, recent studies have shown that some metals spontaneously accumulate an electric charge when exposed to moisture.

Atmospheric battery

We are used to static electricity.occurs in dry air, for example, when a door handle is shocking. Water is usually considered a good conductor, and not something that can accumulate a charge on the surface. However, according to the researchers, everything changes when the relative humidity exceeds a certain threshold.

During the experiments, scientists from Tel AvivUniversity found that in dry air the voltage between two metal surfaces (one of which is grounded) is completely absent, but with an increase in humidity level of more than 60%, a potential difference arises between the isolated metals. They observed this in the laboratory and in natural environments.

Subsequent measurements showed that wetair can serve as a source of charging surfaces to a voltage of about one volt. For comparison, the current small batteries of the form factor AA have a nominal voltage of 1.2 V to 1.6 V. Therefore, scientists have already begun to develop special batteries that can be charged by moisture in the air.

In the future, the development of thistechnology can expand the list of renewable energy used by mankind. However, such systems will work most effectively in regions with a tropical climate.

Atmospheric moisture as a promising source of renewable energy

Moisture Generator

Team of researchers from MassachusettsUniversity of Amherst recently introduced its own development related to the extraction of energy from atmospheric moisture. Their device is an air generator with electrically conductive protein nanowires, which does not need special environmental conditions, can work around the clock and even indoors. Scientists have named their system Air-gen.

The main element of the generator is a thin film with a thickness of less than 10 microns, located between the two electrodes. Moreover, the upper electrode only partially covers its surface.

The principle of operation of the device is based on the fact thatthe film adsorbs water vapor from the atmosphere, and then, due to the chemical composition and structure of the surface, generates an electric current between the two electrodes.

Existing prototype can only feed smallelectronics, but able to function even in the desert. In the future, the development team plans to create large-scale systems for industrial needs.

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