Energy Harnessing

______.______
Sukriti
Project by:

Shervin Shah

BE 1st Sem GIT. PH: 9742351392

Chennabasava Mali

BE 1st Sem KLE CET. PH: 9164344754

Kumail Barafwala

BE 1st Sem GIT. PH: 9916801773

 Concepts to harness energy:
Introduction
Solar Panels
Rainwater harvesting
Charge bumps
E-lighting
Light control systems
Innovative windows
Power strips
Conclusion
 Introduction:
Global warming is the increase in temperature of the earth’s crust and oceans
since the mid 20th century. The main reason in increase of temperature is due to increasing
concentration in green house gases, which result from human activities such a burning of fossil
fuels and deforestation. In this age where Protecting the environment is of the biggest concern,
we feel we should at least do our bit to save the environment. So in this paper we’ve discussed
a few alternate and efficient sources of energy which we can utilize to make our college greener
and environmental friendly.

Here we’re going to use the following concepts to utilize green energy:

1. Solar panels
2. Rainwater harvesting
3. Charge bumps
4. E-lighting
5. Light control systems
6. Innovative windows
7. Power strips

Solar Energy:
The Earth receives 174 petawatts (PW) of incoming solar radiation (insolation) at
the upper atmosphere. Approximately 30% is reflected back to space while the rest is absorbed
by clouds, oceans and land masses. The total solar energy absorbed by Earth's atmosphere,
oceans and land masses is approximately 3,850,000 exajoules (EJ) per year.  The amount of
solar energy reaching the surface of the planet is so vast that in one year it is about twice as
much as will ever be obtained from all of the Earth's non-renewable resources of coal, oil,
natural gas, and mined uranium combined. Hence the energy is abundant, free, highly efficient,
renewable and a future energy source.

Since an abundant amt. of solar energy is directly incident on our college we’ve decided to
harness this free energy source by using solar panels and solar roads.
 1. Solar Panels:

Solar panels use light energy (photons) from the sun to generate electricity through the
photovoltaic effect. The majority of modules use wafer-based crystalline silicon cells or thin-film
cells based on silicon. Crystalline silicon is a commonly used semiconductor.

In order to use the cells in practical applications, they must be:

 Connected electrically to one another and to the rest of the system

 Protected from mechanical damage during manufacture, transport, installation and use
(in particular against hail impact, wind and snow loads). This is especially important for
wafer-based silicon cells which are brittle.

Most solar panels are rigid, but semi-flexible ones are available, based on thin-film cells.
Electrical connections are made in series to achieve a desired output voltage and/or in parallel
to provide a desired amount of current source capability. Sunlight conversion rates (solar panel
efficiencies) can vary from 5-18% in commercial production, typically lower than the efficiencies
of their cells in isolation.

Cost & Power:

 The cost of 1sq. feet panel is `180

 Power generated by 1 sq. feet is 0.84 watts.

Thus the solar panel is just a onetime investment deal and has long term benefits.

2. Solar Roads:

A solar road is a fresh technology into solar development, developed by Scott Bursaw.

Construction:
Solar roads are nothing but photovoltaic cells which not only harness solar energy bus
also play the role of a road. A thick Weight withstanding glass transparent in nature is placed
over the solar panels which resist the loads of the vehicles.

Within the solar roadway’s makeup, power lines would be embedded along the
shoulder, giving utility companies easy access for repairs and upgrades. Solar cells, LED lights
and heating elements would be hermetically sealed between thick layers of textured glass that
would become the new road surface.
 Additional electronics would be sealed beneath the glass panels. The panels would
generate enough heat to eliminate the need to clear snow. The embedded rows of LED lights
would be able to spell out traffic warnings or create a built-in flare system for accidents. The
roadways would also include a system of pipes to capture storm water and direct it to filtration
systems so the water could be reused. A 12-foot-square prototype of the solar roadway sits in
Brusaw’s nondescript shop east of U.S. Highway 95 on Sagle Road.

Hence solar roads are

 Attractive

 Collect energy and distribute it

 They simultaneously serve as LED powered Roadways.

Cost:
A solar road will cost APPROX. 3 times more than an asphalt road. But the life time is seven
times more than that of asphalt roads and it produces electricity as well.

Rainwater Harvesting:
Rainwater harvesting is the accumulating and storing, of rainwater. It has been
used to provide drinking water, water for livestock, water for irrigation or to refill aquifers in a
process called groundwater recharge. Rainwater collected from the roofs of houses, tents and
local institutions, or from specially prepared areas of ground, can make an important
contribution to drinking water. Rainwater systems are simple to construct from inexpensive
local materials, and are potentially successful in most habitable locations. Roof rainwater can
be of good quality and may not require treatment before consumption. A 200 square meter
roof catchment catching 1,000mm PA yields 200 kLPA

Advantages:
Rainwater harvesting can

 Assure an independent water supply during water restrictions, that is though somewhat
dependent on end use and maintenance,
  Usually of acceptable quality for household needs.

Since Belgaum is a region of moderate rainfall this is one of the most important
way of conserving energy.

Requirements:

 4’’ and 6’’ pipes.

 A small water turbine.

 Syntax tanks.

APPROX. cost ` 60,000

Power generated is 32.85 KWh/year.

Thus the main motive of rainwater harvesting is to completely utilize rainwater as

well as produce electricity.

Charge Bumps:
Charge bumps are devices that convert mechanical energy into electrical energy
which is the need of the hour. This is one of the most innovative techniques which have been
developed recently.

It Basically generates electrical energy from the vehicle weight(potential energy) as input.
It can be produced used in two mechanisms.

 Crank Shaft mechanism

 Roller mechanism.

Here we’ve decided to use roller mechanisms since it is cheaper and easy to
maintain.

Roller Mechanism:
It basically consists of a roller which is connected to a turbine using a chain when a
vehicle moves over it, in-turn rotating the turbine and producing electricity.
Merits:

 Low budget electricity production.

 No obstruction to traffic.

 Easy maintenance.

 And also provides safety.

Power:

20 two-wheelers moving over the bump produce 1KW of power.

Due to heavy traffic movement around the college, this is the best position
where it can be located. Hence we’ve decided to place 4 charge bumps near the
entrance of the college.

E-lighting: LED (Light Emitting Diode)

A light-emitting diode (LED) is a semiconductor light source. LEDs are used as
indicator lamps in many devices, and are increasingly used for lighting.

Working:

When a light-emitting diode is forward biased (switched on), electrons are able to
recombine with holes within the device, releasing energy in the form of photons. This effect is
called electro-luminescence and the color of the light (corresponding to the energy of the
photon) is determined by the energy gap of the semiconductor.

Like a normal diode, the LED consists of a chip of semiconducting material doped with
impurities to create a p-n junction. As in other diodes, current flows easily from the p-side, or
anode, to the n-side, or cathode, but not in the reverse direction. Charge-carriers—electrons
and holes—flow into the junction from electrodes with different voltages. When an electron
meets a hole, it falls into a lower energy level, and releases energy in the form of a photon.

Comparison Chart:
Incandescent bulbs Compact fluorescent LED
light (CFL)

1. Life Span 1200hrs/50 days 8000hrs/1year 50,000/5.7years

2. Power 60W 13W 6W

Consumption(eq. to
60W bulb) `30 `250 `1500

3. Cost

For 30 Bulbs/Year
3285KWh 769KWh 329KWh
Power Consumed
`13200 `3040 `1280
Operating cost
2025KGs 473KGs 203Kgs
CO2 emission
85btu/hr 30btu/hr 3.4btu/hr
Heat

From the above statistics and comparisons it is clear that LED require only High
Initial Investment but are more efficient, Eco- Friendly, Have Higher life span And
are more attractive. So LED’s are the best choice in the long run.

Light Control Systems:

A Lighting control system consists of a device that controls electric lighting and
devices, alone or as part of a daylight harvesting system. Lighting control systems are used for
working, aesthetic, and security illumination for interior, exterior, and landscape lighting. They
are often part of sustainable architecture and lighting design for integrated green building
energy conservation programs.
 Lighting control systems, with an embedded processor or industrial computer device,
usually include one or more portable or mounted keypad or touchscreen console interfaces,
and can include mobile phone operation. These control interfaces allow users the ability to
remotely toggle (on-off) power to individual or groups of lights (and ceiling fans and other
devices), operate dimmers, and pre-program space lighting levels

Advantage:
A major advantage of a lighting control system over conventional individual switching is the
ability to control any light, group of lights, or all lights in a building from a single user interface device.
Any light or device can be controlled from any location.

Controlling categories
Lighting control systems provide the ability to automatically power a device based on:

 Chronological time (time of day)

 Astronomical time (sunrise/sunset)
 Room or outdoor space occupancy (motion sensors)
 Presence of daylight (lighting costs and energy conservation, and daylight harvesting)
 Events
 Alarm conditions

Benefits of light control systems are

 Reduced energy consumption

 Low power costs through more efficient usage
 Longer bulb life from dimming
 Reduced emission carbon footprints.

Innovative Windows:
Windows are the eyes of the buildings. They connect the interior to the exterior. The
basic source of light for a building is its windows and are basic aim through these windows is to
enhance the natural light coming through the windows.

Construction:
 The principle involved in the innovative windows is reflection. The lower ends of the
windows are connected with wooden planks, painted with white oil paint.

Working:
The light incoming from each window gets reflected multiple times and spreads throughout the
room, hence making the room brighter than ever.

Advantages:
 Most practical form of conserving energy
 Negligible investment
 No maintenance
 No Electricity is required.

This technique is one of the brightest features which is already implemented in

INFOSYS MYSORE.

Conclusion:
 Implementation of natural renewable sources which are vastly available and
which are being wasted.
 Using modern efficient and practical techniques to conserve these renewable
sources and convert it into useful energy.
 We surveyed the college campus and found out:
1. Excess availability of solar energy
2. Wastage of Rooftops
3. Wastage of Rainwater
4. Less utility of natural light
5. Energy mismanagement
6. Less greenery

This present scenario can be rectified by implementing the above techniques

which are just a onetime investment but will benefit us in the long run.
This is our effort to do our bit for the environment and make the
world a better place to live in.