Evaluation of the energy generation potential of rain cells

Abstract

Raindrops carry mechanical energy which with proper transducers can be converted into electrical energy. Several promising transducer technologies have been developed and tested in the laboratory, but it is also necessary to incorporate the characteristics of real rain in order to be able to assess the energy generation potential of such technologies. In this paper, we present a new model for predicting the electrical output of a rain cell exposed to real rainfall parameters. We review the important parameters characterizing rain, and identify how they contribute to the available kinetic energy of a rain shower. Most significant is the rainfall intensity, which together with the physical characteristics of the transducer governs the electrical output energy of the rain cell. Here we show that under the simplifying conditions of no wind and realistic rainfall intensity distribution, the electrical output energy can be predicted based on meteorological data combined with knowledge of the characteristics of the specific rain cell under study. Future planning of the impact of rain cells on the renewable energy market requires knowledge of potential locations and performance, thus suggesting the need for such a model.