Power Generation from Staircase (Steps)

Abstract

We are using the non-renewable energy sources such as petroleum as well as renewable sources like solar, wind, tidal power etc., but still we couldn’t overcome our power needs. So we have to generate electricity through each and every possible ways. Power can be generated through we are stepping on the stairs; the generated power will be stored and can be used for domestic purposes. This system can be installed at homes, colleges, railway stations, where the people move around the clock. The utilization of waste energy of human foot power is very much relevant and important for populated countries like India and China. A special mechanical arrangement such as crankshaft mechanism is employed on the stair case. This arrangement will convert the foot power applied on stairs, as a rotary motion. This rotary motion will be used to generate efficient electricity. It’s an eco-friendly; easily accessible and non-conventional power generation system when compared to existing systems.

Keywords

foot step power, crowd power, renewable energy, human power to electricity, step power

INTRODUCTION

This project 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. The generated power can be stored by batteries, and it will be used for lighting the building.

II. SCOPE OF THE PAPER

The utilization of energy is an indication of the growth of a nation. For example, the per capita energy consumption in USA is 9000 KWh (Kilo Watt hour) per year, whereas the consumption in India is 1200 KWh (Kilo Watt hour). We can say that to be materially rich and prosperous, a human being needs to consume more and more energy. A recent survey on the energy consumption in India had published a pathetic report that 85,000 villages in India do not still have electricity. Supply of power in most part of the country is poor. Hence more research and development and commercialization of technologies are needed in this field. In India, unlike the developed countries we do not have elevators or lifts in the buildings of rural area. There are still conventional steps are used for steps on the floor. From our point, the energy can be utilized by just placing a unit “Staircase Power Generation system”. By placing this system in a rural building or in places like railway stations, so much of energy can be tapped. This consumed energy can be used for the lights on the rural area or the crowded places like railway stations, colleges etc

III. WORKING PRINCIPLE

This project is concerned with generation of electricity from ‘power step’ set up. The human load acts upon the Power step-setup will produce linear reciprocating motion on the power step. Here the reciprocating motion of the power step is converted into rotary motion using the crankshaft arrangement. A flywheel is used to produce rotary motion. The flywheel and the power step pedal are connected by means of connecting rod. The rotary motion of large flywheel is given to the small pulley by belt or chain. Hence the speed that is available at the flywheel is relatively multiplied by the rotation of the smaller pulley. This speed is sufficient to rotate the rotor of a 12V generator. The rotor which rotates within a static magnetic

IV. CONSTRUCTION

The following arrangements are made to make it as a good energy transfer system. A. Stationary Plate: It is a base plate which is connected to other rigid RCC steps and it provides operating platform for the moving power step by means of bearing support.

B. Power Step: It is rectangular Cast Iron plate which is supported by two deep groove ball bearings with stationary plate.

C. Open Coil Helical Spring: Two compression springs are used to carry the load on the edge of the power step. Springs are also to provided for the continues oscillation of the power step. D. Connecting Rod: It is to connect the power step and crank shaft. It transmits the linear motion of the power step to the crank.

E. Crank Shaft: One end of the crank shaft is fixed and supported by a ball bearing. Another end is connected to the flywheel. F. Fly Wheel: The circumference of the flywheel is in the form of pulley type to guide the belt drive which connects the flywheel and generator shaft.

G. Belt Drive: It is to connect the flywheel and the gen shaft. It multiplies the power from the flywheel to the small pulley shaft (generator shaft).

V. LAYOUT OF THE SYSTEM

A. Power step assembled with Base stationary plate:

VI. EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION

A. Voltage generated VS load: When the load of person passing through the step is increased the voltage generated will increase considerably.

VII. ADVANTAGES

• Simple technology and easy maintenance

• No labour required.

• No fuel required.

• Pollution free power generation.

• This system does not depend on the weather like solar, wind and hydro power generations. So the energy available all around the year.

• This unit has minimum cost of installation.

VIII. CONCLUSION

This method generates the electric power without polluting our environment. The waste energy supplied by human is utilized in this system. This energy source is continuous and renewable. Moreover we are confident that this method of power generation will be used for rural electrification and to fulfil our power needs. Also this system looks very eco-friendly from the environmental point of view.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

We hereby acknowledge that this is our original paper towards the development of power sources in India. We thank our parents, our guide Mr.B.Suresh Kumar, Assistant Professor, Our Head Dr. Srinivasa Raman for helping us to develop this project.

References

Mukherjee, Chakrabarti , Fundamentals of renewable energy systems New Age international limited publishers, New Delhi, 2005. Sharma, P.C., Non-conventional power plants, Public printing service, New Delhi, 2003. Arora, C.P., Fundamentals of renewable energy systems, New Age international limited publishers, New Delhi, 2005. PSG Tech, Design Data, Kalaikathir printers, Coimbatore 2007 V B Bhandari, Design of machine elements, Tata McGraw-Hill Education publisher, 2010 International Journal of Advances in Electrical and Electronics Engineering ISSN: 2319-1112/IJAEEE