RT Journal Article
T1 Sustainable Hydrokinetic Energy System for Smart Home Applications
A1 Caparrós Mancera, Julio José
A1 García Chica, Antonio
A1 Chica Moreno, Rosa María
A1 Rodríguez González, César Antonio
A1 Rodríguez Pérez, Ángel Mariano
AB The exploitation of hydrokinetic resources represents a sustainable and efficient alternative for renewable energy generation. This study presents the design and real-world implementation of a compact hydrokinetic system capable of converting rainwater runoff into electricity within smart homes. Unlike conventional large-scale hydrokinetic technologies, this system was specifically engineered for intermittent, low-flow conditions typical of residential rainwater collection networks. The turbine was manufactured using 3D-printed biodegradable materials to promote environmental sustainability and facilitate rapid prototyping. Through CFD simulations and laboratory testing, the system’s hydraulic behaviour and energy conversion efficiency were validated across different flow scenarios. The complete system, consisting of four turbines rated at 120 W each, was integrated into a real smart home without structural modifications. From an academic perspective, this study contributes a quantitatively validated hybrid hydrokinetic–low-head framework for residential rainwater energy recovery, addressing intermittent and low-flow urban conditions insufficiently explored in existing literature. Field tests demonstrated that the hydrokinetic system provides complementary energy during rainfall events, generating up to 6000 Wh per day and enhancing household energy resilience, particularly during periods of low solar availability. The results confirm the technical feasibility, sustainability, and practical viability of decentralized hydrokinetic energy generation for residential applications.
PB MDPI
SN 2306-5338 (electrónico)
YR 2026
FD 2026
LK https://hdl.handle.net/10272/28025
UL https://hdl.handle.net/10272/28025
LA eng
NO Caparrós Mancera, J. J., García-Chica, A., Chica, R. M., Rodríguez González, C. A., & Pérez, A. M. R. (2026). Sustainable Hydrokinetic Energy System for Smart Home Applications. Hydrology, 13(1), 39. https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology13010039
NO This research has benefited from the support of the project “Biodegradable Hydrokinetic System for Smart Homes: Energy Generation from Rainwater,” awarded by Resolution of the Vice-Rectorate for Innovation and Employability of the University of Huelva, dated 25 March 2025, which approves the Fifth Call for ACTÚA Grants for the Sustainable Development of Huelva, of the Aguas de Huelva Chair of Social Innovation (2025 Call) [Secure Verification Code: +gT9BtwgeS0pwsDYupuTig==]; and the support of the Andalusian government through the Research Group ‘Engineering and Modeling’—INGENIO [TEP-1006].
DS Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Huelva
RD 31 may 2026