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CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Energy crisis is one of the major concerns in today’s world. As the demand of

energy is increasing every day, the ultimate solution to deal with these sorts of

problems is to implement renewable sources of energy a newer method, that are a

lot less damaging, and does not threaten the environment have gained much interest

in these years. Walking is the most common activity in day to day life. During the

movement of a person, energy is lost in the form of impact or vibration on the

walking surface, due to the transfer of this weight on to the road surface, through foot

falls on the ground during every step. This energy can be tapped and converted into

a usable form such as to electrical form. Lost energy conversion of human

locomotive force into electrical energy is a relevant and important proposal of power

production for highly populated countries of the world.

This technology already exists in certain countries, where, piezoelectric

sensors are used for this purpose. In a country like India, implementation of that

technology is way too expensive in a wide scale and hence, a cheap alternative

using mechanical alternative is used here. Man use and need energy at an

increasing rate for his/her nourishment and well-being. Due to this a lot of energy

resources have been wasted. This project proposal for the use of waste energy is

very much relevant and important for highly populated countries where the roads,

railways, bus stands, museums, etc.

The system generates voltage using footstep force. The system serves as a

medium to generate electricity using non-conventional sources (force) and /store/use

it. The project is designed to be useful at public places where a lot of people keep

walking through all day. At such places these systems are to be placed at any entry

points where people travel through entrance or exits and they have to step on this

device to get through. These devices may then generate a voltage on every footstep

and when mounted in series they will produce a sizeable amount of electricity.

This device, if embedded in the footpath can convert foot impact energy into

electrical form. The working principles is simple. When a pedestrian step on the top

plate of the device, the plate will dip down slightly due to the weight of the

pedestrian. The downward movement of the plate results in rotation of the shaft of an

electrical alternator fitted in the device to produce electrical energy. The top plate

reverts back to its original position due to negating springs provided in the device.

If such devices are embedded in places where there is continuous human

traffic such as College of Engineering the electricity generated from these devices

can be used for street lights. In this project we are generating electricity just with the

help of the rack, pinion and flywheel arrangement along with alternator and gear or

chain drive mechanisms. For its proper functioning such that it converts force into

electrical energy, the mechanism consists of rack, pinion, flywheel, gear and chain

drives, alternator and battery.

IMPORTANCE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The results of the study were expected to be beneficial to the following:

Students. They shall be totally aware from other alternative and renewable

energy sources to build new devices that will help not only the society but also the

environment to reduce the use of fossil fuel.

Teachers. They shall motivate and guide the students accordingly in

determining appropriate intervention measures that would be of great help in the

study.

Parents. They shall be able to realize their important roles and functions in

extending their support for their children.

Community. They will be benefited by this innovation because this

community or environment device designed to sustain balance eco-technology and

alternative/renewable energy which is environment friendly and not hazardous to

human health.

The College of Engineering of UEP. This will provide the college a visible

outcome which can be used for accreditation purpose and practical application

demonstration of theories in engineering and technology.

The Technology Department. The final product of this study will serve as a

device useful in conducting laboratory experiments in technology courses in the

University to demonstrate its components and its use.

Researchers. The findings of this study shall be useful to other researchers

who wants to explore extensively the variables that were included in the study

CHAPTER TWO
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REVIEW OF LITERATURE

“Power Generation Footstep” by Shiraz Afzal, Farrakhan Hafez”. This paper

is all about generating electricity when people walk on the floor. If we are able to

design a power generating floor that can produce 100W on just 12 steps, then for

120 steps we can produce 1000W; and that if we install such type of 100 floors with

this system then it can produce 1MW. As a fact only 11% of renewable energy

contributes to our primary energy. If this project is deployed, then not only we can

overcome the energy crises problem but this also contributes to create a healthy

global environmental change. In this project, a gear system is attached with flywheel

which causes to rotate the dynamo as the tile on the deck is pressed. The power

that is created is saved in the batteries. In addition, we will be able to monitor and

control the amount of electricity generated. When an individual passes it push the

tile on the ground surface which turn the shaft beneath the tile, turn is limited by

clutch bearing which is underpinned by holders. Primary shaft is rotate approximately

twice by a single tile push. The movement of the prevailing shaft turn the gearbox

shaft which builds it 15 times (1:15) then its movement is smoothen by the help of fly

wheel which temporary store the movement, which is convey to the DC generator (it

generates 12V 40 amp at 1000 rpm). [1]

“Power Generation from Steps” by Ramesh Raja R, Shrien Mathew”. This

research paper attempts to show how energy can be tapped and used at a

commonly used floor steps. The usage of steps in every building is increasing day by

day, since even every small building has some floors. A large amount of energy is

wasted when we are stepping on the floors by the dissipation of heat and friction,

every time a man steps up using stairs. There is great possibility of tapping this

energy and generating power by making every staircase as a power generation unit.
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The generated power can be stored by batteries, and it will be used for lighting the

building.[2]

“Generation of Electrical Energy from Foot Step Using Rack and Pinion

Mechanism” by Md.Azhar, Zitender Rajpurohit, Abdul Saif, Nalla Abhinay, P.Sai

Chandu” In this research paper authors used regulated 5V power, 500MA power

supply. Bridge type full wave rectifier is used to rectify the AC output of secondary of

230/12V step down transformer. A rack and pinion is a type of linear actuator

including a pair of gears which convert rotational motion into linear motion. The

“pinion" engages teeth on the rack. In this paper, since the power generation using

foot step get its energy requirements from Non-renewable source of energy. There is

no need of power from external sources and there is less pollution in this source of

energy. It is very useful to the places like all roads and as well as all kinds of

footstep which is used to generate the non-conventional energy like electricity.[3]

“How fossil fuel use threatens kids’ health” By Elizabeth Grossman”. The

burning of fossil fuels — coal, oil and gas — creates pollution that not only can harm

health but also foster climate change. Together these impacts pose an outsize risk to

children, studies show. Their data point to a growing need for society to better

protect kids. That’s the conclusion of a new report.[4]

It was prepared by Frederica Perera. She is a leading expert on health at

Columbia University, in New York City, where she runs the Columbia Center for

Children's Environmental Health. She and her colleagues have been studying the

health effects of pollution and stress. Their findings have shown, again and again,

that both can produce measurable harm to children. Youngsters who live in poor

households and those of color tend to face an especially high risk of breathing
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polluted air and encountering stress, her team has shown. What kind of stress? It

might be the anxiety of not always having enough food to eat. Stress also can

develop when children must move because their parents have lost their homes or

jobs. Or it can develop in any number of other ways.[5]

‘’Design and analysis of a Mechanical Device to harvest energy from human

footstep motion’’ by R.S.Pokale1 1PG student, Department of Mechanical

Engineering, Prof. Ram Meghe Institute of Technology & Research Badnera-

Amravati, India. T.R.Deshmukh2 2Professor , Department of Mechanical

Engineering, Prof.Ram Meghe Institute of Technology & Research Bandera –

Amravati, India This paper deals with design and modeling of components of the

prototype model of the foot step power generation system using 3D modeling

software creo parametric-2 Feasibility of the components of scaled model can be

investigated using finite element analysis software for deflection of the spring for

application conditions. Displacement of the connecting lever can be investigated

using FEA. The output involves electric power generation from the prototype model

developed.[6]

EXPERIMENTAL SETUP: Voltage output measurement: To analyze the

performance of the output generated by the Foot Step Power Generation unit, setup

was placed on the floor. a weighing instrument is kept on the top surface of unit. A

voltmeter is connected to the output terminals of the unit as shown in figure. During

experimentation Weight on the top plate is observed for the range 27 kg (265 N) to

60 kg (540N) for 60 seconds for 25 numbers of steps and voltage for the load range

is tabulated as under.

CHAPTER III
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3.1 MATERIALS AND METHODS

A. Materials

1. Rack and pinion

Is a type of linear actuator that comprises a circular gear

engaging a linear gear which operate to translate rotational into linear

motion.

2. Stepping platform Steal

It will serve as the platform of the pedestrian. If the pedestrian

stepped on the platform the device will automatically pump down and

the machine will work.

3. Return spring

A resilient device, typically a helical metal coil that can be

pressed or pulled but returns to its former shape when released used

chiefly to exert constant tension or absorb movement.

4. Battery

A container consisting of one or more cells in which chemical

energy is converted into electricity and used as a source of power.

5. Alternator

An electrical generator that converts mechanical energy to

electrical energy in the form of alternating current.

6. Chain
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A connected flexible series of metal links used for fastening or

securing objects and pulling or supporting loads.

7. Gear

One of a set of toothed wheels that work together to alter the

relation between the speeds of a driving mechanism.

8. Flywheel

A heavy revolving wheel in a machine that is used to increase

the machine’s momentum and thereby provide greater stability or a

reserve of available power during interruptions in the delivery of power

to the machine.

9. Bearing

A machine element that contains relative movement to the

desired motion and reduces friction between moving parts.

RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURE

The footstep arrangement is used to generate the electrical power.

Nowadays, power demand is increased, so the footstep arrangement is used to

generate the electrical power in order to compensate the power demand. In this

arrangement the mechanical energy is converted into electrical energy.

1. The device is composed of the following:

a) Stepping platform with a dimension of 40x50 cm steal plate

and a return spring that will hold the pressure from the

pedestrian which is transferred to the rack and pinion.

b) Rack and Pinion converts linear motion into rotational motion

connected from the same shaft (shaft A)

c) Shaft – used to connect moving parts, the researchers use two

shafts. Shaft A compose of the pinion, flywheel and the sprocket

A. Shaft B which is composed of the Sprocket B and the gear.

d) Flywheel - will store rotational energy of the sprocket.

e) Chain and sprockets - used to transfer rotational energy from

shaft A to shaft B.

f) Spring - use to distort when loaded and to recover its original

shape when the load is removed.

g) Bearings – to lessen the friction of the rotation of the shaft.

h) Gear - connected to the DC motor that will create electrical

energy storing in the 12V rechargeable battery.

i) Inverter – used to convert 12 volts DC battery to 230 volts AC.

j) Battery – the researchers are using secondary type 12 volts DC

battery. It is rechargeable type. A battery is one or more

velectrochemical cells, which store chemical energy and make it

available as electric current.

k) Voltage Regulator – is designed to automatically maintain a

constant voltage level. A voltage regulator may be simple “feed-

forward” design or may include negative feedback control loops.

l) Emergency Light (Bulb) – it serves as the load of the

researchers’ device which have a 2pcs 3 watts Bright LED.

2. Research Design
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The Design and Fabrication of Kinematic Power Harvester will use

experimental method of research for emergency purposes. Furthermore, the

research will identify the specification of tools, materials, numeric calculations,

design, and components required in the fabrication and testing.

The researcher made an assumption based on the study of S.S. Taliyan,

B.B. Biswas, R. K. Patil and G. P. Srivastava( Electricity From

Footstep 2010) where he calculated the energy stored by foot steps.

No. of footsteps Total Energy Energy/step

250 600 2.4

500 1200 2.4

750 1800 2.4

1000 2400 2.4