In an exciting development for energy decarbonization, Japanese imaging and electronics company Ricoh has used 3D printing to make compact, light, and efficient power generators. Made in conjunction with Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) along with Seabell Incorporated and Masashi YAMABE – Masahiro SETO Laboratory at Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kanazawa Institute of Technology, these hydroelectric power units were successfully deployed at sewage treatment facilities, where they were able to make waste treatment more efficient.
By using less energy and fewer materials, with an overall lighter design, these kinds of mini hydroelectric pumps could be used across the world in sewage treatment. Although this may seem like a small project there are currently estimated to be over 109,000 water treatment facilities worldwide. This…
