An Intelligent Floor Drain System for Self-Powered Disinfection via Low-Velocity Wastewater Energy Harvesting

Rapid urbanization intensifies hygiene and sustainability challenges in drainage systems, where conventional floor drains suffer from odor backflow, bacterial growth, and pathogen transmission. Existing disinfection methods depend on external power or chemicals, increasing energy consumption and environmental pollution. Herein, we develop an intelligent floor drain system that enables self-powered disinfection by recovering wastewater energy. By synergistically integrating a turbine blade drain valve, a magnetic levitation module, a contactless drive module, and an electromagnetic power generation (EMG) module, the intelligent floor drain system recovers energy from wastewater for power generation while maintaining its traditional functionality. The EMG module is able to produce a peak power output of 0.8 mW at a drainage rate of 4.15 l/min. A voltage-multiplying circuit boosts energy output by 55%. The system was able to achieve 98.2% sterilization efficiency after 50 min of operation. This work contributes to the global goals of sustainability and energy efficiency.