Harnessing of rain water energy and solar power

• Main Author: Han, Wei Teng.
• Other Authors: Zhang Daming
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2009
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Mechanical engineering::Alternative, renewable energy sources
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/17878
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

This group project presents a research on the idea of using rain water that is collected from the rooftop or highland for electricity generation via hydroelectric system. The project comprises how the rainwater is formed and collected, the use of hydropower and the types of turbines available. A study on the weather climate in Singapore is also carried out. Calculation and formula are necessary to determine the amount of hydropower available for the site. Fossil fuel has been the primary source of energy and they are not limitless. Therefore there is a need to look for a new source of energy like the renewable energy where its technology is “clean” or “green. One of the most effective and harmless energy sources is the solar energy which can be used in many applications. The understanding of solar power and the types of solar concentrator will be covered in this report. A parabolic dish reflector was used as the focus of this project as it has the highest efficiency among the types of solar concentrator. In order to control on the rotation of the parabolic dish reflector, a motor control device has been introduced. A LabVIEW program is also written for the motor control device so that functions such as the speed of the motor and position of the rotating rotor can be controlled.