The photo is sourced from yuz.uz
Aomori is located on the coast of Mutsu Bay, which is surrounded by mountains. Because of these geographic conditions, airflows of different temperatures collide, resulting in stratus clouds and precipitation. This makes Aomori the snowiest city in Japan, with about 8 meters of snow accumulating there in an average winter.
A pilot unit for power generation with the use of snow was assembled late last year in a swimming pool based in one of Aomori’s abandoned schools. The unit consists of closed-loop pipes filled with coolant – a liquid substance that can transfer cold or heat from one heat carrier to another. The lower part of the rectangular pipe system is placed in the snow while the upper part heats up under the sun. The resulting temperature difference between the upper (warmer) and lower (colder) parts of the closed-loop system sets in motion the liquid that rotates the turbine built into the pipeline, thus setting off the power generator. The experiment was supposed to conclude in March 2023, but its results have yet to be announced.
The unit is essentially a hydroelectric generator because it generates electricity via liquid flows. As a rule, unusual hydro power plants are employed for independent power supply. For instance, BladeRunner Energy has created a small-scale hydroelectric power plant with a rotor (rotating part of an electric generator) resembling a fish with a small head, an expanding body and a bushy tail. The rotor is fastened with a steel cable to a floating platform with a static generator, power electronics, and a battery are installed. This simple design makes it possible to use the generator in an autonomous mode.
