In a context in which blackouts are the daily rule, a surprising invention has captured attention to Maker Faire Africa of Lagos, Nigeria. The protagonists are four teenagers between 14 and 15 years: Hard-ina adbola, Akindele Abiola, Faleke Oluwatoyin And Nice Heniole. The girls conceived a generator he uses urine as fuelable to produce Up to six hours of electricity from a single liter.
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The project, presented during the annual event dedicated to African innovation, has received great interest in its creativity and potential social impact. In a continent where generators are essential tools to deal with frequent current interruptions, this invention offers an unprecedented perspective on renewable energy.
How it works
The functioning of the generator conceived by the students is based on a chemical process structured in several phases:
To ensure the safety of the entire system, the girls have installed unidirectional valveswhich prevent the risk of explosions, inherent in the manipulation of hydrogen.
Sustainable energy and waste water treatment
Although the project has a powerful symbolic impact, his energy efficiency remains limited. The teacher Gerardine Botteexpert in chemical and biomolecular engineering at Ohio University, underlines that the process currently consumes more energy than it produces. However, it highlights the educational and experimental value of the invention: “Despite the negative energy balance, these girls deserve enormous recognition for their commitment and their inventiveness.”
Botte works on a similar project in the academic and industrial fields. Founded E3 Clean Technologies In 2011 to develop a waste water treatment system on a large scale through theurea electrolysisfrom which hydrogen is obtained as a by -product. This technology, called Greenboxis already being tested at US military baseswhere the urine converts in drinking water And electricitycombining two vital needs in remote contexts: access to water and fuel.
The professor states that, although it is not possible to obtain a net gain of energy, this method represents one of the most efficient solutions to treat liquid wastewith the added value of electricity cogeneration. According to his calculations, a university like theOhio Universitywith about 22,000 studentscould transform the urine collected into sufficient energy to feed Up to 150 homes For a whole year.
Towards a hydrogen future?
The idea of the Nigerian girls fit perfectly into the vision of a sustainable energy future. If on the one hand the system is still far from an application on an industrial scale, on the other it suggests a new approach to decentralized energy production.
READ ALSO: Urine also recycles: 10 uses of the pee that you don’t expect
A fascinating perspective is the possibility of convert internal combustion engines to work hydrogenhypothetically opening the road to Vehicles powered by urine. Although today you look like a provocation, science has shown that hydrogen can be a clean and efficient fuel.
The merit of the four young inventors does not only reside in their technical ability, but in their ability to imagine an alternativein a country where access to electricity is still a privilege. Their gesture is a concrete example of how youth ingenuity can face great global challenges starting from simple and available solutions everywhere.
