Channel NewsAsia 15 Dec 07;
SINGAPORE : A group of teachers and students at Kranji Secondary School has taken something old to create something new.
They have come up with a special design that has been adapted to Singapore's geographical features, to generate electricity.
Their concept uses a curving tube called a siphon, which allows water to fall from a higher level, to drive a turbine and other components to produce electricity.
This group's idea was inspired by what Singapore does not have - tall natural formations such as mountains.
So teachers and students at the school developed the concept of water falling from a height through a tube to produce electricity.
The water travels through a curving tube called a siphon.
It can suck up and supply water, from a height and channel it to a lower level to drive a turbine and other components to produce electricity.
The water starts at ground level and is pushed to the siphon hydro-generator far below on the seabed.
The distance the water falls generates the force to turn the turbines.
Joseph Tan, Teacher, Kranji Secondary School, says: "It's like drinking water from a can of soda from a straw. So as I put the straw to my mouth and I suck the air in, the pressure which is lower here and the pressure is higher here will force the water upwards into my mouth and I have to drink the water - the concept of this is the same."
The water enters the housing into an air cavity before being pumped out.
The water falls onto a turbine.
The turbine is connected to what's called a dynamo.
When the turbine turns, the dynamo produces about nine volts of electricity, similar to a rectangular sized battery.
Increasing the height and diameter of the siphon tube, raises the falling mass of water inside.
So the makers say increasing the mass of water can turn larger hydro-generator turbines.
The school is looking for a partner like a polytechnic or university to develop the concept further. - CNA/ch
