Pedal Power Generator HISTORY: Human power is basically as old as mankind. As long as there have been people they have used their muscles to pick up, carry and handle things. Human began making small tools which are the first examples of ‘Human powered products’. The first human powered product to convert human work into electricity was the Philips dynamo torch. Which was invented during second world war. The torch was widely used in those years because electricity was often not available and the use of bright lights was forbidden. It would take until 1992.After that number of devices were commercially available in the market, some of those were…Wrist watch powered by micro generator introduced by SEIKO. South African company Freeplay introduced BayGen radio in 1996. M.W.Naseem 1
A seminar report on Pedal Power Generator, Prepared by M.W.Nasim
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Pedal Power Generator
HISTORY:
Human power is basically as old as mankind. As long as there have been
people they have used their muscles to pick up, carry and handle things. Human began
making small tools which are the first examples of ‘Human powered products’. The
first human powered product to convert human work into electricity was the Philips
dynamo torch. Which was invented during second world war. The torch was widely
used in those years because electricity was often not available and the use of bright
lights was forbidden. It would take until 1992.After that number of devices were
commercially available in the market, some of those were…Wrist watch powered by
micro generator introduced by SEIKO.
South African company Freeplay introduced BayGen radio in 1996.
The radio was powered by constant torque spring that has to be wound up. About half
a minute of winding was required to listen to the radio for 30 minutes. Many winds up
radios were introduced by other manufacturers. Freeplay also introduced other human
powered products like torch and mobile phone charger.
But all these applications were only for very low power devices and not for
general use.Even those were only applications and didn’t play major role in
generation of power for general use.
The term human power is used in this topic as an abbreviation of the more
accurate term “Human powered energy systems in consumer products”. For this the
effective medium is Pedal Power Generator.
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Pedal Power Generator
INTRODUCTION:
Human power is an alternative energy source like solar power. Short definition
of human power can be given; “Human power is use of human work for energy
generation to power an electronic device” Human power is user friendly and available
anywhere.
In the modern age three are more and more electrical devices which do the
work that human being once had to do physically. In the field of power generation we
can take use of human power in the form of PEDAL POWER. Pedal powered
generation simply involves the activity just similar to the pedaling a bicycle.
Normal daily activities engaged in by humans often involve movement that
can be harnessed as a source of energy without interfering with the performance of
those normal activities. The energy harnessed from the movement associated with
normal daily activities can be used as any of the following; direct power, alternating
power, regulated power, or battery charging power. The amount of such energy is
sufficient to power portable electric devices such as cellular telephones, notebook or
palm-top computers, cameras, drills, artificial limbs, and other medical devices, all of
which would otherwise draw their power from wall sockets, or other less efficient
batteries. If this human generated energy was used on a wide spread basis, then the
total energy savings to society as a whole could be substantial.
Now human power can be considered with some different aspect that is pedal
power. Pedal power can’t be used only for ‘electricity’ generation; it can be used
directly for converting pedalling in to some useful mechanical power.
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Pedal Power Generator
BASIC PEDAL POWER STUDY:
There are at least two different ways that pedal power can be put in to practice,
1. By transmitting rotational motion to the device by means of belts and pulleys
directly to run the devices.
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Pedal Power Generator
2. Through spinning rotors that in turn drive the generator that produces electricity.
Above picture is about generating electricity using a stationary bike coupled to
some sort of generator which in turn generates electricity.
This phenomenon can be understood in better way by studying the “Human Power
Generator”.
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Pedal Power Generator
HUMAN POWER GENERATOR:
a. System Description:
It is a system that harnesses a readily available source of renewable energy
– Human Power. It is user friendly, portable and available whenever you have the
need for it. The power output is directly proportional to the effort put into it, the
Human Power Generator can be a valuable tool in teaching an appreciation of the
power we tend to take for granted. The Human Power Generator is primarily designed
to charge 12-volt batteries, which can run dc lights and small appliances. You can also
run AC appliances with the Human Power Generator by using a dc-ac inverter
connected to a battery. It is also possible to directly power certain dc appliances, such
as water pumps, without using a storage battery.
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Pedal Power Generator
The amount of electrical power that can be generated by the Human Power
Generator is determined by the energy available to turn the crank. The stronger the
user, the more electrical power can be produced. The Human Power Generator
consists of a heavy steel frame holding a bicycle-like crank, with a step-up chain drive
attached to a permanent magnet dc generator. Either foot pedals or cushioned hand
cranks can be attached to the two crank arms.
b. Electrical Connections:
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Pedal Power Generator
A cable with connectors on both ends is supplied to interconnect between the HPG
and the device you are powering (stock number 289070). To attach the connector to
the HPG.
1.Align the connector with the receptacle matching the keyways.
2. Insert the connector into the receptacle until it is fully inserted.
3. Human power generator with rear view with power cable. Rear Connector To
disconnect the cable, gently pull back on the gray sleeve until you can rotate it
counterclockwise, then you can pull the connector straight out to remove the cable.
Connect the other end of the cable to the device you are powering up. The standard
cable with twist-lock connectors on both ends is used to connect the HGP to our
Portable Power Pack. Insert the connector as below.
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Pedal Power Generator
c. Positions of Human Power Generator and Pedaling Notes:
A typical setup for using your HPG might look like the photo at right. Please note the
rug under both the HPG and the stool. The rug is a key element in preventing the HPG
and stool from slipping apart. When moving the unit, please grasp the base of the unit.
Do not pick up by the chain guard. If the stool or chair is too low, the HPG may tip
backwards during use as shown. If a fixed position of the HGP is desired, the four
rubber feet can be removed from the bottom of the base and the HPG can be screwed
to a surface using the screws and washers provided in the accessory kit. You may
want to use the HPG in the recumbent position. In this case, the HPG can be mounted
on a vertical surface using the same screws and washers. The HPG may also be used
with hand cranks as shown by adding the optional Hand Crank Accessory Pack. The
power output with hand cranks will be 30 to 50 watts due to the smaller muscle mass
of the upper body.
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Pedal Power Generator
d. Battery Charging:
The terminal voltage of a fully charged battery will be between 12.5 and 13.8
volts, depending on the type of battery. A battery should not be allowed to discharge
below about 10 volts, as most 12- volt appliances will malfunction or shut down if the
battery voltage drops below that level. To charge a battery, a dc power source of a
higher voltage than the battery is connected to the battery, positive to positive and
negative to negative.
As long as the charging source is of higher voltage than the battery, current
will flow into the battery until it is fully charged. In other words, if your battery is at
11.5 volts, you must produce 11.5 volts or more to further charge that battery. If the
voltage of the charging source is less than the battery voltage, no current will flow
into the battery even though the charging source may be capable of supplying power.
The Human Power Generator will not deliver a charging current to a battery
until it is turning fast enough to develop a voltage higher than that of the battery.
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Pedal Power Generator
Consequently, very little effort is required to start cranking or pedaling, but as soon as
the generator voltage reaches the battery voltage, a considerably greater mechanical
resistance is felt as energy begins to be transferred into the battery.
When the battery has been fully charged, it will no longer absorb electric
current, so if a higher voltage continues to be applied the battery, it will heat up and
possibly emit gas. This is referred to as "overcharging" the battery, and can damage
the battery and its surroundings.
When using the Human Power Generator, the effort required to turn the cranks
or pedals decreases as the battery becomes fully charged. At the same time a
voltmeter would indicate a rising voltage, meaning that it is time to stop charging the
battery before overcharging occurs.
Battery Voltages:
While the Human Power Generator is designed primarily to supply 12 volt
circuits and to charge 12 volt batteries (with typical float voltages of 13.6 – 14.0v), it
can also be used, without modification, for 6 volt circuits and batteries. Due caution is
required to avoid overcharging. The typical "float" voltage for a 6 volt battery is
between 6.3 and 6.8 volts.
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e. Measurement of Human Power:
Pedal Power:
While human beings vary widely in weight, strength and endurance, the typical
maximum amount of power that a person can generate for short periods by pedaling is
about 125 watts. The average continuous power that can be generated sustainably by
pedaling is about one-sixth of a horsepower, more or less, depending on the strength
and weight of the person pedaling. This is equal to the maximum current for which
the Human Power Generator is rated, for intermittent duty.
If human power is measured by pedaling from a recumbent position, it is
primarily a strength and endurance measurement, whereas the subject’s weight is a
factor if pedaling is done by standing on the pedals.
Hand Crank Power:
The maximum power typically available through hand cranking is about 50
watts, or about one fifteenth of a horsepower.
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Pedal Power Generator
Applications:
•Emergency power generation and battery charging - land and marine.
• Exercise systems that do useful work generating power while exercising.
• Measurement of human power and endurance.
• Remote or off-grid power for water pumps and small appliances.
• Independent radio or radiotelephone systems; emergency communications.
• Classroom projects and educational exhibits to demonstrate the amount of effort
required to generate electrical power
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Pedal Power Generator
Possible Inventions:
Pedal Power Potential: What is possible?
There are many other possibilities that we can think of for this device. The
efficiency and variable speed of the output are two features that can be exploited.
Since it requires no fuel, and is not affected by time-of-day or weather, it would make
an excellent Human-powered emergency generator, ready for any blackout. Here are
some other devices that could be powered by the basic unit:
Pedal powered charging system for portable "Jump Start" systems. These
devices feature lights, air compressors, battery chargers, power meters, 12
Volt DC outlets, and of course jumper cables. It can be plugged directly into
the 12 Volt DC output of the PPPM for charging, and then moved to wherever
the power is needed.
Pedal powered biodiesel circulation pump or biodiesel transfer pump - direct
drive, with no electricity and no battery. The Pedal Generator design is
perfectly suited to circulate, agitate and then transfer a batch of biodiesel.
Pedal powered washing machine (this would be a tremendous workout,
especially with the spin/sprint at the end!)
Pedal powered whole-house ventilation fan (15 minutes in the evening to cool
off an entire house)
Pedal powered pump and watering system when combined with a cistern to