[News] Urine power! (alternative power source?)

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Chibibar

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-15636544
The article
'Urine power' tests at UWE in Bristol are successful

Scientists say "useful" levels of power could be produced in future
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Research into producing electricity from urine has been carried out by scientists at the University of the West of England (UWE) in Bristol.
It is claimed the publication of a research paper into the viability of urine as a fuel for Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs) is a world first.
They say tests have produced small amounts of energy, but more research could produce "useful" levels of power.
Dr Ioannis Ieropoulos said he was "excited by the potential of the work".
MFCs contain the same kind of bacteria that is found in soil, the human gut or waste water from sewers.
'Regulating the flow'
The bacteria anaerobically (without oxygen) respire just like any other living organism, and this process gives off electrons.
Those electrons are then passed through an electrode and a measure of electricity is generated.
Bacteria feed on the urine, which they effectively use as a fuel to continue to breathe and give off electrons.
"Urine is chemically rich in substances favourable to the MFCs," said Dr Ieropoulos.
"Through this study... we were able to show that by miniaturisation and multiplication of the number of MFCs into a stack and regulating the flow of urine, it may be possible to look at scales of use that have the potential to produce useful levels of power, for example in a domestic or small village setting."

So I guess we all have been pissing away power.
I can see it now, people will have party and use the bathroom to power your TV and Computers! ;)

Note: interesting idea, granted they are in testing phase, but still interesting. I wonder if it works on cars. "Hold a min hon, I need to refill the tank before we drive to El Paso"
 
"Look, I know this is going to sound weird, but i need you to piss on me."

"What? No!"

"Like it said, it doesn't sound right, but I'm wearing an exosuit and I've run out of power. Urine is enough to get me back to my charging station, so, just get about it and piss on already!"

"Piss off, you git!"

"I'd love to! Truly I would, but I'm fresh out of it - I used the last bit to get me this far - just a bit more, please, ok? Pretend I had a jellyfish sting!"

"Go on!"

"No, really, pretend I was your best friend, dying on the beach, because of a jellyfish sting, right? So what would you do? You'd piss on him, right? Just close your eyes, imagine yourself saving your friend, and let fly!"
 
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Chibibar

I just thought about "breaking the seal"

A cop pulls a car over. "Have you been drinking?" "No sir!" "your buddies look a bit drunk" "Yea, but they are my refueling station!" ;)
 

Necronic

Staff member
They say tests have produced small amounts of energy, but more research could produce "useful" levels of power.
It's amazing how much distance the phrase "but more research could" inevitably implies.
 
Didn't someone post the link to that tricycle that runs on poop? If not, please do. I'm on iPod and can't embed.
Found it, it's from Toto.

--Patrick
 
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