A team of mechatronics engineers at the University of Waterloo has developed a method to generate energy using water and walnut shell waste. A key aspect of this discovery is the natural transport system formed by the material’s nooks and crevices. The unique structure of walnut shells, in particular, enables flowing water to produce electrical power—enough to operate small devices such as a calculator.
Mechatronics
Mechanical engineering integration of different engineering fields such as electronics, computer science and robotics with the goal of creating intelligent, automated systems.
“I was eating hazelnut… So, and I saw the naughty structure. Something came in my mind. So, we can utilize this nutshell structure to harvest energy.” Nazmul Hossain, UofW PHD candidate
Naughty structure
It suggests a playful or disobedient element in how nature, through geological or biological processes, produces something that defies our expectations.
The team is doing further research to power other common devices.
Sources & References:
Uuniversity of Waterloo: https://uwaterloo.ca/mechanical-mechatronics-engineering/news/harvesting-energy-nuts-0
CTV News: https://youtu.be/KBiiZ101Bk0
Photo Credit: Pexels Jutyar Barzan