2021 International Conference on Information and Communication Technology

for Sustainable Development (ICICT4SD), 27-28 February, Dhaka

Generating Hydroelectricity using Recycled Water

2021 International Conference on Information and Communication Technology for Sustainable Development (ICICT4SD) | 978-1-6654-1460-9/21/$31.00 ©2021 IEEE | DOI: 10.1109/ICICT4SD50815.2021.9397032

Umama Farah∗, Sadia Yasmin†

∗†Dept. of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, American International University-Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Email: ∗[email protected], †[email protected]

Abstract— Renewable energy, such as solar, is one of the can be removed from the wastewater so that water
main reasons for changing the scope of the electricity sector. could be unadulterated enough
However, their availability depends on the climate so they
cannot be a constant source of producing electricity. • To generate sustainable and reliable hydroelectricity
Considering all these aspects, water is considered a steady The rest of the paper is organized as follows: Section II
source for generating power. The main motive of the system,
provides a very concise literature review of the general topic
proposed in this paper, is to generate hydroelectricity by
utilizing wastewater through the recycling process. Different
of water recycling and generating hydroelectricity. Section III
chambers are provided with exclusive features to make the explains the methodology and modeling of the project where
recycling process for getting reliable and sustainable energy. guidelines for utilizing the filtrating process and generation of
One motorized pump has been incorporated to maintain the hydroelectricity are explained. Section IV provides the result
constant water flow during the recycling process and this DC analysis part of the project. Similarly, section V provides the
motor has been powered by the solar panel accordingly giving cost analysis part of the project. And finally, concluding
energy based on the utilization of sunlight. By utilizing this remarks and some future directions are provided in Section
prototype device, a succeeding amount of electricity can be VI.
generated as an output with continuous recycling of water.
Approximately, 119.3 mA of electricity and 12.69 volts DC II. LITERATURE REVIEW
controlled output can be measured after the proper With the advancement of innovation, sufficient research
implementation of the project. Therefore, 1.51 watts of power is work has been done on hydroelectricity generation by using
possible to generate by utilizing this prototype device. wasted water. The outline of a portion of the research works
Furthermore, one of the main utilizations of this project is to are exhibited as follows:
install it in the mosques where ablution water will be used as a
flow of source as this water is not too much contaminated. Thus In 2005, a paper named "Electricity Generation from
it can be a possible source for generating hydroelectricity. Artificial Wastewater Using an Upflow Microbial Fuel Cell"
was published. Where the upflow microbial fuel cell (UMFC)
Keywords— water recycling, hydroelectricity generation, solar was created for producing power while at the same time
power treating drain water. Throughout a five-month time of
I. INTRODUCTION nourishing a mixture as the electron benefactor, the UMFC
constantly produced power with a most extreme power
Science and innovation have been enhancing step by step. thickness of 170 mW/m2 [1]. In the year of 2008, Dr. R. K.
Every experiment always tries to invent something greater for Saket published a research paper named "Design,
the improvement of innovation. In the past few years, power Development and Reliability Evaluation of Micro Hydro
has become a part of our everyday life and one cannot think Power Generation System based on municipal wastewater".
about a world without electricity. However, the cost of power This research paper represented a new different efficient
is expanding quickly since Bangladesh has become a method for generating power based on municipal solid waste.
financially developing nation. Similarly, the request for pure An approach for assessment of the creditability of any mini-
water is another universe crisis. hydropower generation arrangement applying the Gaussian
In this paper, we present a framework where power can be distribution method and Simpson's 1/3rd rule was narrated in
produced less expensively by using wastewater. The filtration that research paper. The professor described a sewage power
process will be used to purge wastewater so that, water can be system where a day by day stream duration curve of the
unadulterated enough from different various poisonous sewage control generation can be induced for planning and
chemicals as well as different particles. Therefore, it may help improvement of the framework. A few perspectives like plan
for diminishing the measure of water contamination in weight, technique for associating, the cruelty of the pipe's
Bangladesh as well as for the world. The main consideration inward surface, maintenance, accessibility of gear related cost
of the project is to generate hydroelectricity and the had been pondered for making a particular penstock for
supplementary unique addition of the project is purifying the reliable execution of sewage framework. And a mini-
wastewater through the recycling process. Another handiness hydropower creation system had been planned, and
of the endeavor is to give lower power to working the pumping realistically constructed to supply dependable power energy
engine for keeping up the steady active vitality during to appropriate load on the campus of the Institute of
recycling wastewater which may help to attain the high power Technology Banaras Hindu University Varanasi, (Uttar
as hydroelectricity. The project has been implemented in order Pradesh) India [2]. In the same year, a research paper named
to accomplish the following: "Electricity generation and treatment of paper recycling
wastewater using a microbial fuel cell" was published. Where
• To develop a systematic structure where various researchers represented that the efficiency of electricity can be
poisonous chemicals, as well as different particles, increased by using a microbial fuel cell [3]. In 2011, an article

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has been published in the USA named "Improving energy when the blades of the turbine rotate, it makes the generator
efficiency and enabling water recycling in biorefineries using works on the principle of magnetic induction and generates
bioelectrochemical systems†" was published. This article electricity. Basically, the turbine works like a prime mover
mentioned that the efficiency of energy can be improved by and it changes the kinetic energy of the falling water into
using a bioelectrochemical system for water recycling [4]. It mechanical energy. That mechanical energy can be converted
has been written on paper "Electricity production coupled with into electrical energy by the generator. Therefore, direct
wastewater treatment using microbial fuel cell" that the current (DC) has been produced by connecting a generator
microbial fuel cell (MFC) provides the direct production of with a turbine.
power from various wellsprings of wastewater. The authors
presented that technology for the treatment of wastewater can B. Hardware Implementation
be developed by utilizing microbial fuel cells [5].
III. METHODOLOGY AND MODELLING
Hydroelectricity can be generated in different ways. We
focus on modeling a recycling process where wastewater can
be utilized for hydroelectricity generation.
A. Block Diagram of the Implemented System

Fig. 2. Water Pumping using Solar Energy

Fig 2 represents a structure where a 6 volts DC motorized

pump is connected with the 6 volts solar battery in our project
so that it can operate by utilizing the solar energy which is
stored in the battery. Basically, the DC motorized pump has
been utilized in our project for flowing the wastewater to the
wastewater tank. So, 8 volts solar panel is connected with the
solar battery.

Fig. 1. Block Diagram for Water Recycling and Generation of

Hydroelectricity

Fig 1 shows the block diagram of the project. Here, the

wastewater is using as an input for generating hydroelectricity.
Solar energy is utilized as another source to charge up the
battery for operating the DC motor. DC motor is utilized for
pumping the wastewater to the wastewater tank so that the
water can be recycled with having a constant flow. Fig. 3. Uses of Trash Rack
Wastewater will come from the industry or any water sources
such as a drain. We tried to make such a construction where Fig 3 represents a trash rack that is utilized to counteract
different chambers are used to remove poisonous chemicals as trash, for example, sticks, plants, plastic, and creatures from
well as different particles from the wastewater. According to entering tempest water in our hardware structure. We have
our planning, there are five chambers for purifying the utilized a 6 volts DC motor for pumping the wastewater to the
wastewater. The first one is a wastewater tank, the second one wastewater tank. It can easily damage the motor if the
is a rock and sand filter tank, then there is a filtering tank wastewater is directly passing through the DC motor. To solve
where we used bio ring for biological filtration, after that the this issue, we came out with an idea where a trash rack is
fourth one is a carbon filter tank and the last one is a reserve utilized for removing any kind of trashes from the wastewater
tank. At first, a trash rack is used to remove the trash such as before entering the tempest water inside the motor so that the
polythene, plastics, sticks, or any creatures from the motor can run properly according to our attempt.
wastewater. Then water will flow to the wastewater tank
which is our first chamber. Next, the second chamber, which
is a rock and sand filter tank, is used for trapping the little earth
particle. After that, we used bio rings in a chamber where it is
used to remove bacteria or microbes from the wastewater. The
next one is a carbon filter tank. Toxin molecules and
impurities can be extracted by the activated carbon in that
chamber. This procedure is known as chemical adsorption [6].
The last chamber is a reserve tank where the filtration water is
reserved. Then, the filtration water will hit the turbine blades
by passing through the inlet valve. Because of that, blades will Fig. 4. Front View of a Fig. 5. Bottom View of a
Wastewater Tank Wastewater Tank
start to rotate. The generator is connected to the turbine and

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 Fig 4 and Fig 5 represent the different views of a Fig 9 shows a picture of an inlet valve. The inlet valve is
wastewater tank respectively. It stores wastewater and supply used to confine compression losses. Similarly, it is used for
water to the rock and sand filter tank. controlling the water flow when the water is flowing from the
reserve tank to the micro-hydro generator.

Fig. 6. Rock and Sand Used in Filtering Tank Fig. 10. Storage Tank and an Inlet Valve
Fig 6 shows a sand and rock filter tank which is utilized Fig 10 shows a picture of a reserve tank or a storage tank
for a stage in the water filtration process of water cleansing. It where an inlet valve is connected with it. Our last chamber is
is generally used to isolate limited quantities from watery a reserve tank where the filtration water is reserved.
arrangements. So, it helps to clean the water supply, and when
water goes through these modest spaces that the time when
little earth particles can be trapped. Generally, it helps to
remove rock and sand from the wastewater [7].

Fig. 11. Micro-hydro Generator Fig. 12. 12 Volts LED

Fig 11 represents a micro-hydro generator having a power

output of 125 mW whereas fig 12 shows a picture of 12 volts
Fig. 7. Bio ring LED that we have used to show the outcome of our project.
Fig 7 shows a picture of the bio ring. It is broadly used to
expel microbes from the wastewater. Bio ring is utilized in the
third assembly of our filtering procedure. The rings have a gap
in the inside that permits water development all through the
media to guarantee ideal contact time for effective biological
filtration [8].

Fig. 13. Output Showing in LED

To expand the power production in Bangladesh, our aim

was to generate hydroelectricity in a cheaper way where after
implementing once, there will be less maintenance cost.
According to planning, we have generated hydroelectricity by
Fig. 8. Black Activated Carbon utilizing wastewater where wastewater has been utilized by
Fig 8 shows black activated carbon that is used in the the recycling process. Fig 13 represents the outcome of our
fourth chamber of our filtering cycle. Toxin molecules and project where the 12V DC controller output is attained in an
impurities can be extracted by the activated carbon in the efficient and cheaper way.
carbon filter tank [6]. The wastewater has been used as a source in our project.
Wastewater will come from the industry or any other water
sources such as a drain. We have used a DC motor for
pumping up the wastewater to the wastewater tank. As a
result, water can flow to the reserve tank or the storage tank
and maintain the rate of kinetic energy for recycling the
wastewater. We have utilized solar energy for running the DC
motor that is stored in the solar battery. We tried to make such
Fig. 9. Inlet Valve construction where different chambers are used to remove

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poisonous chemicals as well as different particles from the A. The outcome of Recycling Wastewater
wastewater as a recycling process.

Fig. 15. Wastewater Before Fig. 16. Wastewater After

Recycling Recycling

The filtration process is used to remove various poisonous

chemicals as well as different particles from the wastewater.
Fig 15 shows the wastewater before recycling and fig 16
represents the wastewater after recycling.

Fig. 17. Value of TDS Meter Fig. 18. Value of TDS Meter
Fig. 14. Complete Structure of Water Recycling and the Generation Before Filtering After Filtering
of Hydroelectricity A TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) meter is a small hand-held
Fig 14 represents the complete structure of the project. device used to indicate the total dissolved solids in a solution
According to our planning, there are five chambers for [9]. Fig 17 represents the value of the TDS meter of
purifying the wastewater. The first one is a wastewater tank, wastewater before filtering. Similarly, fig 18 shows the value
the second one is a rock and sand filter tank, then there is a of the TDS meter of wastewater after filtering. So, the value
filtering tank where we used bio ring for biological filtration, of the TDS meter of wastewater before filtering is 350 ppm
after that the fourth one is a carbon filter tank, and the last one (parts per million). On the other hand, the value of the TDS
is a reserve tank. At first, a trash rack is used to remove the meter of wastewater after filtering is 214 ppm (parts per
trash such as polythene, plastics, sticks, or any creatures from million). A value of 350 ppm means that from one million
the wastewater. Then wastewater tank is used to store particles there are 350 dissolved ions and the rest (= 999650)
wastewater and supplied water to the rock and sand filter tank. are water molecules. Likewise, a value of 214 ppm means that
Next, there is our second chamber that is a rock and sand filter from one million particles there are 214 dissolved ions, and
tank. Our second chamber is used for trapping the little earth the rest (= 999786) are water molecules [10].
particle. After that, we used bio rings in a chamber where it is B. Hydroelectricity Generation
used to remove bacteria or microbes from the wastewater. The
next one is a carbon filter tank. Toxin molecules and
impurities can be extracted by the activated carbon in that
chamber. Our last chamber is a reserve tank or a storage tank
where the filtration water is reserved. Then, the filtration water
will hit the turbine blades by passing through the inlet valve.
Because of that, blades will start to rotate. The generator is
connected to the turbine and when the blades of the turbine
rotate, it makes the generator works on the principle of
magnetic induction and generates electricity. That is why a
micro-hydro generator has been used for producing electricity
in our project.
IV. RESULT ANALYSIS
Top to the bottom investigation is a crucial part of any
task. It is important to estimate project results after completing
Fig. 19. Generator Voltage Fig. 20. Generator Current
the hardware implementation. This part portrays the output of
the project where hydroelectricity is generated through the After purifying the wastewater, we have utilized that water
recycling wastewater. to generate hydroelectricity by using a micro-hydro generator.

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12.69 volts and 119.3 mA current had been measured by generates electricity. As a result, a high amount of voltage can
utilizing a multimeter as shown in fig 19 and fig 20 be generated.
respectively. Therefore, we got 12.69 volts DC controlled
output from the micro-hydro generator that had been utilized The same thing goes for hydroelectricity generation. In the
for generating hydroelectricity. beginning, a high amount of electricity cannot be generated
due to a sufficient amount of water not to be presented in the
storage tank. But the generation of hydroelectricity will be
increased over time.
V. COST ANALYSIS

TABLE I. COST ANALYSIS OF THE PROJECT

Serial No Product Quantity Cost (Taka)

01 Solar Panel 1 260

02 Battery 1 200

03 Motor 1 250

04 Trash Rack 1 100

Fig. 21. Variation of Voltage with Time
05 Bucket 4 (big), 2 (small) 1500
Fig 21 shows the variation of voltage with time. 7.61 volts
is generated in the first hour. In the same way, 10.65 volts had 06 Sand and Rock 3 kg 30

been generated after two hours. It was observable that, 11.07 07 Bio Ring 1 kg 700
volts and 12.3 volts are generated after three and four hours
respectively. Then as time goes on, the amount of voltage is 08 Activated Carbon 0.5 kg 350
increased. This way, 12.69 volts DC controlled output from
the micro-hydro generator is measured after six hours. 09 Pipe 3 200

10 Generator 1 1100

11 12 Volt LED 1 10

12 Miscellaneous - 300

Total 5000

To keep up the supportability, we have to deal with the

expense of our undertakings so that others can acknowledge it
with its expense. We have presented a list of products that we
have used to implement in our project. Only 5000 taka was
required to implement the project commercially.
Fig. 22. Variation of Current with Time
VI. CONCLUSION AND FUTURE WORK
Fig 22 shows the variation of current with time. 26.5 mA The undertaking denotes the foundation of the
current is generated after one hour. Similarly, 54.1 mA current construction of hydroelectricity generation by using
is produced after two hours. It was noticeable that 73.9 mA wastewater. Through equipment execution, the objective was
and 93.7 mA current had been produced after three and four achieved by keeping up the possibility. The advisable
hours respectively. So, as time goes on, the generation of execution of equipment was performed with the use of a
hydroelectricity is increased because the amount of water in micro-hydro generator, LED, a DC motor, and battery. The
the storage tank had been increased. Finally, 119.3 mA current solar system was incorporated to give clean vitality. Because
had been measured after six hours. of the connection of all these utilization, hydroelectricity had
After completing the filtration process, water will be been created in a productive manner.
stored in the storage tank. At the beginning of time, not much There are many disadvantages in traditional sources (coal,
water can be presented in the storage tank. At that time, if the
oil, gas, GTCC, GTCHP, IGCC) based power generation
inlet valve is opened then there will not be sufficient water
flow and water cannot hit the turbine blades at a high speed. plant. If we consider making the comparison between the
As a result, the voltage of hydropower will be not that high. coal-based thermal power plant and the project that we have
But voltage will be increased over time. Because after a few implemented then it is clearly notified that in the coal-based
hours, the storage tank will be filled up with water and water thermal power plant, the initial capital cost is very high in
can easily hit the turbine blades at a high speed. Because of comparison to our implemented project. Because it takes
that, blades will start to rotate. The generator is connected to completely different facilities to treat the coal in the coal-
the turbine and when the blades of the turbine rotate, it makes based thermal power plant where the sources that we have
the generator works on the principle of magnetic induction and utilized in the project are sunlight and wastewater. Both of

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