Performance Evaluation of a 3D Printed Rainwater Energy Harvester for Household Application

The quest for alternative sustainable energy sources has led to innovative solutions, such as harnessing energy from rainwater. This study aims to evaluate the performance of a 3D printed pelton wheel turbine for a household rain gutter application with a height of 3m and 5m. The design and simulation were done via SolidWorks with varying number of buckets: 15, 18, and 20, evaluating the shaft power and rpm. Initial design parameters were calculated and simulated. The actual prototype and test were done. The results show an overall turbine efficiency of 71 percent and was able to produce an 8W power output. In this research, a 3D printed pelton turbine for a household application during rainy season was designed, simulated, fabricated, tested, and analyzed.