FEATI UNIVERSITY-CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT THESIS AND RESEARCH 2004

ELECTRICITY GENERATION THROUGH RAINFALL

(Best Student Research Entry in FEATI Expo 2004)

By

Alfredo Abejero (Researcher)

Engr Tomas U. Ganiron Jr and Engr Alex H. Balaan (Advisers)

Engineers are always upon the innovation of advance science and unique technology, making them an infinite designer of the modern world. Considering the Philippine economic crisis calls the need of power scarcity. Furthermore, with the unpredictable weather condition, of which rain is mostly experienced, we have come up to formulate new innovation of generating electricity through rainfall. This innovation involves the principle of structural design of houses built in two-storey located in Zone 1 of the Philippine Code (as to NSCP specification), thermodynamics (converting potential energy to kinetic by turning the turbine, then to mechanical energy which will then produce heat and then to electrical for electricity) and hydrology.

Philippines and other countries are suffering from economic crisis that results to the depreciation of oil price and primary family needs. In this case, it is necessary to look for an alternative that will help reduce family expenses particularly electric consumption.

During wet season, excessive rainfall is usually the main problem of our country, which results to floods and sometimes-unexpected electric cutout. With this, through the principle of hydropower generating electricity, we have come to think conversion of rainfall to electricity. With the fast flowing jet of water directed onto the blades of the impulse turbine makes the rotor spin to generate electricity.

In the simplest form of hydropower, flowing water turns a turbine, which then turns the generator to produce electricity. The available water depends on the amount of water flowing, and also the pressure or the head of the water which will struck the blades to rotate.

As in the model house prepared, fill water into the container. Switch on the pump so as water will flow to the pipes with small bored-holes located above the model house. This serves as artificial rain. The rain will then flow down to the roof and then to the gutter so designed with an elevation that will give enough pressure in able to rotate the dynamo or blades of the turbine. As the blades rotate, this will now run the generator which will then produce electricity through heat.