A New Dimension in Electricity Production: Electricity from Livestock Live Energy
A New Dimension – Electricity Production from Livestock | Electricity from Livestock Live Energy | Live Energy Production. Electricity is the most desirable Energy for civilized society. It can be produced from both environment affecting and environment friendly sources. This article is written by By Dr. Zafar Iqbal, Ex Senior Veterinary Officer
Environment affecting sources produce pollution, leading to disasters related with climate change while others do not produce pollution during process of electricity generation. Environment affecting sources of electricity include: Organic (Fossil) Fuel as Coal, Petroleum, Biogas etc., Nuclear Fuel and Chemicals. Environment friendly sources include Radiant (Sun Light) source, wind, Water, Sea, Geothermal and Animals.
Role of Animals in Electricity Production from Livestock Live Energy
Animals have live energy that can be converted to electricity through some scientific procedure but animals remained ignore for electricity production throughout the world. Domestic animals remained utilized in older era just like engines and machines. Those were utilized for agricultural operation and transportation, the horses and cattle were the main engines of transporting carts.
Horses themselves act as transporting vehicle and also used as war vehicle. Cattle and Buffalo were used as engines for irrigation machinery installed at wells, agriculture machinery especially for cultivation, for transporting carts etc.
Decline and Current Utilization of Livestock Live Energy
After the continuous supply of faster and attractive automobile vehicles and electric machines, the utilization of animals reduced gradually for transportation and other purposes. Such circumstances ignored and reduced the utilization of live energy of animals even then it is still available as reserve energy in form of a surplus pool. In rural areas of Pakistan, buffalos, cattle and horses are still utilized mostly for transportation.
In desert areas, the camel is also utilized for the purpose of transport. Pakistan Army utilizes the mules for transportation in the higher mountain areas where all other means of transportation are failed except helicopters. In forest related areas of the world the live energy of elephants, while in ice lands live energy of dogs and reindeers is also utilized for transportation purpose.
Potential of Electricity Production from Livestock Live Energy in Pakistan
Available live energy in Pakistan can be estimated from the population of the domestic animals. Among the animal keeping countries of the world, Pakistan stands at the position four on the basis of total population of domestic animals. We keep millions of cattle, buffalos and horses which means millions of animals with live energy.
Leaving the high milking, pregnant females plus younger animals remaining population can be freely utilized for energy utilization purpose. This energy is unseen but available like a sea, out of which only a few cups are under utilization. This energy or Electricity from Livestock is in our hands, it can be utilized best if it is converted into electricity.
Need for Electricity from Livestock Live Energy
The question arises that is there any need to utilize this energy for electricity? No doubt it is needed at least for Pakistan, because Pakistani nation is looking to be the enemy of hydro-power generation that is the most effective, economical and environmental friendly source of electricity. Hurdles created for construction of Kala Bagh dam is a clear example. Results of power failure are tolerated mostly by the innocent people in form of load shading plus higher amounts of bills.
Last governments tried to overcome this situation, but that tried mostly the environment affecting sources, that is not a human friendly policy. For long term policy we have to reduce the utilization of environment affecting sources and to increase environment friendly sources gradually.
In Pakistan we have to work out all the means of power generation excluding environment affecting sources. We should recognize that live energy is also a desirable economical mean for electricity production as Electricity from Livestock. It is looking to be impossible to produce electricity by utilization of animals. However, I am sure that if we try again and again, we can develop proper ways to achieve our objectives.
Biogas and Indirect Electricity Production from Livestock
It is already verified that animals are indirect source of electricity. Their feces are utilized for Biogas production then Biogas can be utilized as a fuel for electricity production. In Pakistan Biogas production has not been propagated by government and is production is negligible for electricity production.
A new dimension in electricity production is that animals can be utilized as direct source of electricity. Electricity from Livestock – Live energy in form of draught (traction) power of animals can be utilized for production of electricity. For this purpose I am going to propose a mechanism through which we can convert the live energy into electric energy. I am sure that after extensive research on this mechanism, we will succeed in production of electricity with the traction power of the animals.
Proposed Mechanism for Electricity Production from Livestock Live Energy
This mechanism of Electricity from Livestock is the oldest method of extraction of water by the help of water from the well but modified. In older mechanism the water from the deep well was pulled from underground to the surface of ground. My idea is to push this water of well from underground to at least 100 feet above the surface of ground in a tank. In this way live kinetic energy of the animals will be converted into the potential energy of the water being available in higher tank. The engineers are already converting the potential energy of water of dams into electricity.
This potential energy of water can also be converted in to electrical energy. Once the water tank is filled completely, after that the process of electricity production can be regulated for continuous or interrupted manner. After electricity production both the electricity and eliminated water will be available for the use of human beings. The water can be utilized afterward for irrigation or for domestic supply. So this mechanism will become multipurpose. That will make it more economical. Further its environmentally friendly nature will make it a desirable project.
Feasibility of Electricity from Livestock
Now the question is that can animals push so heavy quantity of water to 100 feet above the soil surface? I am sure it is possible.
In older times only one buffalo or cattle may be male or female extracts the water from the well where the water was 50 to 100 feet (may be more) below the level of soil. The animal was extracting sufficient water for irrigation daily. Hundred feet above the ground means that 200 feet from the level of water in the well.
One animal can be tried for this purpose but if one animal feels fatigue then two or three animals can be tried in the research. Use of more animals cannot be uneconomical as the main product “electricity” that is very costly and useful while the by-product is useful water that is also most valuable. However, the research will open the feasibility and significance of this project.
Working Mechanism of Livestock Live Energy System
This mechanism of Electricity from Livestock will be based on the technique of revolving a chain of buckets over two wheels for extraction of water from the well. One wheel will be on the ground and will revolve by the circular movement of the animals in an older way of extraction of water from the well. The second wheel will be at the 100 feet above the ground at the level of a water tank. This wheel will move by the pushing force of the moving lower wheel. The chain of buckets will take water from the well and will move over first or the lower wheel.
It will touch to the sides of this wheel and will move upward toward second wheel. The chain will return back toward lower side while passing over the second wheel. The buckets will pour water in the water tank only when it will move over the second wheel. Instead of extracting water from the well, this project can be erected over the canal. It will increase the efficiency of the water extraction. Further research can improve the efficiency and feasibility of this mechanism.
Livestock Types Suitable for Electricity from Livestock
In older time cattle and buffalo were the species of animals utilized for extraction of water. Mostly male members or non-productive and non-pregnant females were utilized for this purpose. In some areas the camels were also utilized. Horse’s family was not utilized and not trained for this purpose.
Because the horses / donkeys were busy for transportation and other jobs. Now the horses are not so busy for transportation and other jobs. Thus the horses and donkeys can be utilized for the job of extraction of water (modern power generation). This species can be trained for the purpose of extraction of water, because most of the domestic and pet animals have the ability of learning through training by repeated physical and mental exercises.
Implementation and Policy Recommendations for Electricity Production from Livestock Live Energy
These projects of Electricity from Livestock can be initiated on community based or at individual level. Initial capital and running costs are not so high. This project will not require higher number of animals. Major expenditures are used in the construction of a well and a water tank reserve. Any resourceful farmer can run this project individually. As the electricity shortfall is a critical problem of this country.
Government should provide incentives for production of electricity through this mechanism. For example if a farmer make this project over the canal. The water removed from canal should be allowed to use freely for irrigation of his land. Further provision of loans for infrastructure development of the project will stimulate the small farmers to initiate this project. In this way we can solve the problem of electricity shortfall without pollution on self help basis.
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