Wind Energy-Powered Electrocoagulation System for Decentralized Rural Drinking Water Treatment
Keywords:
Wind Energy, Electrocoagulation, Decentralized Water Treatment, Rural Drinking Water, Renewable Energy Systems, Sustainable Water PurificationAbstract
Access to safe drinking water in rural and remote regions remains a major global challenge due to limited infrastructure, unreliable electricity supply, and inadequate treatment facilities. This study presents a wind energy-powered electrocoagulation system for decentralized rural drinking water treatment aimed at providing a sustainable and energy-efficient water purification solution. The proposed framework integrates renewable wind energy generation with electrocoagulation technology to remove suspended solids, turbidity, dissolved contaminants, and microbial pollutants from raw water sources under varying environmental conditions. A comprehensive experimental and analytical investigation was conducted to evaluate the influence of wind power availability, electrode material, current density, treatment duration, pH, and hydraulic flow conditions on treatment efficiency and system stability. The electrocoagulation process facilitates pollutant removal through in-situ coagulant generation and electrochemical destabilization of contaminants, while the wind energy subsystem provides autonomous electrical power for continuous operation in off-grid environments. Performance evaluation demonstrated significant reductions in turbidity, total dissolved solids, heavy metals, and microbial contamination under optimized operational conditions. The integrated renewable energy system also exhibited stable treatment performance and reduced dependency on conventional energy sources, thereby improving operational sustainability and economic feasibility for rural deployment. Comparative analysis indicated enhanced water treatment efficiency and lower lifecycle environmental impact compared to conventional decentralized purification systems powered by fossil-fuel-based energy sources. Furthermore, the decentralized design supported flexible installation, low maintenance requirements, and improved water accessibility for rural communities.
