Feasibility Study of Energy Harvesting by Paddling of Bicycles

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INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background

India is the second most populous country in the world. With on growing population the needs of people and their usage is also growing, in such cases demand of electricity is very high here. Biomass and other non –commercial fuels constitute around 40% of energy requirements in India. Around 85.49% of the Indian villages are electrified [1] ,but many of the remote villages are still without electricity. People in villages mainly use bicycle as their means of transport for small distances, in such places our system is of great use. Energy produced by pedaling can be used for driving small appliances and riding the bicycle itself. Charging of batteries can be done easily by connecting battery to the output of dynamo which is connected to pedal of bicycle. This project is meant to allow anybody to interact with a power producing mechanism, and ultimately to see how simple steps can be taken to lower our carbon footprints in environment and also helps in lowering their energy bills. World is a store house of energy ,also energy can neither be created nor be destroyed but can be transformed from one form to another .But we are not using resources effectively as if they are limited.

Humans are able to generate around 75watts of power while bicycle riding. However this power is wasting without our knowledge, but if we make use of this we can able to power many electronic gadgets. A dynamo or alternator can be used for harvesting the energy generated by a cycler while riding. Small devices, laptops, mobiles can be charged with this power. This mechanism can also be used with bikes, cars and exercise vehicles also.

1.2 Aim and Objectives

The aim and objective of this present study is to allow the user to generate electricity while traveling on the bicycle. Reduce the effort and consequently aid in conservation of limited non-renewable resources.

METHODOLOGY

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CHAPTER 2

METHODOLOGY

2.1Previous Methodology

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Figure 2.1 Photo of Bicycle [1]

2.2 Methodology Adopted

- The working is based on 24V battery using Maruti 800 Alternator having output of 24V has been incorporated in the system.

- The mechanical energy produced by the movement of the wheel is harnessed and received in the trunk of the vehicle and electrically connected to the battery by conductive wire.

- The construction includes de-attachable sprocket which would be attached on rear wheel hub by the chain drive and pulley mechanism to the alternator.

- The rotation of axle would rotate the chain drive and spin the alternator which is electrically connected to the battery.

- Battery stores energy generated and is used when needed to run motor attached to front wheel.

DESIGN OF PROPOSED MODIFICATION

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CHAPTER 3

DESIGN OF PROPOSED MODIFICATION

3.1 Solid-works Model

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[pic 6]

Figure 3.1a (top) and 3.1b (below) Solid-works Model of Proposed Modification to Bicycle

SYSTEM ANALYSIS

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CHAPTER 4

SYSTEM ANALYSIS

4.1Power Levels

The power levels that a human being can produce through pedalling depend on how strong the peddler is and on how long he or she to pedal. If the task to be powered will continue for hours at a time, 75 watts mechanical power is generally considered the limit for large, healthy no-athlete. A healthy athletic person of the same build might produce up to twice this amount. A person who is smaller and less well nourished, but not till, would produce less; the estimate for such a person should probably be 50 watt for the same kind of power production over an extended period. The graph in figure 3 showed various record limits for pedalling under optimum condition. The meaning of these curves is that any point on a curve indicated the maximum time that the appropriate class of person could maintain the given average power level.

4.2Alternator

An alternator differs from a dc motor in that it contains no permanent magnets. Instead, there are two concentric wound coils of wire within the alternator: a stator coil (the outside coil which does not rotate) and a rotor coil (the inside coil, attached to the alternator’s pulley, which does rotate). The rotor is also referred to as the alternator’s "field."

An electromagnet is created when current flows through the field coil. The strength of the magnet is directly proportional to the amount of current flowing through the field.

For this process to begin, the alternator’s field must start with some kind of current. Rotating the rotor coil itself does absolutely nothing, unless there is current flowing through the coil, producing a magnetic field. Thus, it is necessary to have the alternator hooked up to a battery to supply this initial current.

Alternator Connections

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Case is ground; connect the case to the battery's negative terminal.

The metal post on top of the alternator flows current to the battery's positive terminal.

The regulator connection (high resistance to case) connects directly to the battery's positive terminal.

The field connection (low resistance to case) connects to a switch, then to resistors,