Energy from streaming current and potential

It is investigated how much energy can be delivered by a streaming current source. A streaming current and subsequent streaming potential originate when double layer charge is transported by hydrodynamic flow. Theory and a network model of such a source is presented and initial experimental results are given, showing a supplied power of 20 nW obtained by a pressure difference of 1 atm over a glass plug of 60 mm in diameter and 3.5 mm thickness with pore sizes of 1.0–1.6 μm, using a 1 mM KCl solution. An expression for the power transfer efficiency is derived and discussed.