Jump to content

Taking the pee

Wanted

By Wanted
in Boat Equipment

 Share

Featured Posts

Wanted Experienced

Wanted

Posted
Posted (edited)

We've seen flower pot heaters and Deans infamous recycling shower, now, it would seem that we can run on Pee power!

 

I think if this could be developed to work alongside a composting toilet we'd be on to a winner!

 

http://www.offgridworld.com/urine-powered-generator-produces-electricity-for-6-hours-on-1-liter-of-pee-power-your-home-with-waste/

Edited by Wanted
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Alastair Rising Star

Alastair

Posted
Posted

It needs electricity to work.

 

The clever bit is a cheap and more efficient electrolytic cell, with a nickel catalyst. Seems it is more efficient than splitting plain water with electricity.

 

So you'll need a blooming big wind turbine or solar cells to power this.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Alastair Rising Star

Alastair

Posted
Posted

Brilliant if it does actually work and can be compacted in to a user friendly size. Are they using the same process as for extracting Hydrogen from water though, is there more Hydrogen in pee maybe?

Seems that the nitrogen in pee makes it easier to 'crack' the water to extract hydrogen and possible to do so using a cheaper catalyst.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Wanted Experienced

Wanted

Posted
  • Author
Posted

It needs electricity to work.

 

The clever bit is a cheap and more efficient electrolytic cell, with a nickel catalyst. Seems it is more efficient than splitting plain water with electricity.

 

So you'll need a blooming big wind turbine or solar cells to power this.

Could it not eventually become self surfitiant?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Ex- Member Veteran II

Ex- Member

Posted
Posted

Could it not eventually become self surfitiant?

 

The electricity or energy required for the process must be less then the output otherwise there would be little point in doing so, so taking Hydrogen from water that is currently being produced, so in that respect it must already be a viable fuel. these kids might have stumbled across something that cheapens or even does away with the cost of current production process. I could possibly be able to be done in some kind of unit operated by the end user so they can produce their own fuel.

 

Nice thought anyway.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Machpoint005 Veteran II

Machpoint005

Posted
Posted (edited)

Have a look at the generator in the photo and estimate its fuel consumption per hour. Say 0.5 litre?

The blurb says one litre of urine for six hours, so 0.17 litres an hour.

 

This means the energy density of the pee-derived fuel is about three times that of petrol. I don't believe that for a second.

 

Ergo, snake oil. Or the gas cylinder contains propane and adding the pee derivative makes a marginal difference.

 

 

(wouldn't you like to be a trader in pee derivatives?biggrin.png)

Edited by Machpoint005
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Alastair Rising Star

Alastair

Posted
Posted

 

The electricity or energy required for the process must be less then the output otherwise there would be little point in doing so, so taking Hydrogen from water that is currently being produced, so in that respect it must already be a viable fuel. these kids might have stumbled across something that cheapens or even does away with the cost of current production process. I could possibly be able to be done in some kind of unit operated by the end user so they can produce their own fuel.

 

Nice thought anyway.

Nope, that would make it a perpetual motion machine.

 

The point of it (I believe) is that it produces a fuel that can be stored and used when required. Much like the point of using petrol!

 

The kids didn't invent the process, btw ( I found this out when looking it up). The process was well documented and published as a scientific paper. The kids built a pretty sophisticated working prototype, which is a heck of an achievement.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
BlueStringPudding Veteran II

BlueStringPudding

Posted
Posted (edited)

Wow! I shall offer my services as the first narrowboat to have one of these installed tongue.png

 

I have plenty of wee spare! The electricity generated can power my electric flush toilet which I'll be flushing less because I'll be peeing into the generator instead. It's a win-win situation

Edited by BlueStringPudding
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Tony Brooks Veteran II

Tony BrooksDonate to Canal World

Posted
Posted

CAN YOU RECIRCULATE PEE?

 

Have you never gear of a recirculating toilet. Very popular when pump outs were in their infancy. It involved sitting on a large plastic or GRP "tank" with an inset bowl a bit like a dump through. A screen was inserted to keep solid away from what was usually a manual bulge pump or on really swish setups the pick up for an electric pump. It was fine for a short while after a pump out but over the days the nice blue (Racasn or Elsan in those days) flush gradually went through green to some shade of brown. The smell also increased.

 

Or did you mean something different, I assume not being a boater smile.png

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.