DC GENERATOR POWERED BY DC MOTOR WITH PEDAL AS A START-UP MECHANISM | A Proposed Project Design Dedicated to the People Living in the Islands | Support Us In This Project !!!

rejzons (58)in #community • 7 years ago (edited)

To All Dearest Steemians :

Hello everyone! I’m glad that you are able to visit this latest blog of mine :) What’s up there?! Having fun on steeming?! Wohhhh… Great !!! :)

Anyways… In this latest blog of mine, I would be sharing to all of you the First Chapter of our Project Proposal. A project proposal in which on the next semester of our journey as a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering students, as part of the partial fulfillment of our chosen degree, we will be making Prototypes of our chosen project designs.

For the first chapter of this proposal, I will be sharing and introducing the very own machine from which we will be inventing or shall we say innovating? :) Well… it’s up to you to decide :)

Ladies and Gentlemen… With pride and honor, I am proud to present to all of you, our proposed project design which we called…

DC GENERATOR POWERED BY DC MOTOR WITH PEDAL AS A START-UP MECHANISM

A Short History of the Proposed Project Design

Since we are now in our fifth year of studies in college as a BS-Mechanical Engineering students, we will be having our thesis or project proposal. Since one of my classmates originally live in an island, a classmate of mine which is also a groupmate of mine now in our project proposal, he shared a lot of stories about the said island during our years of being together. He shared that one of their problems there in the island where he live in is the insufficient supply of electricity. He said that their electricity supply is only from 6:00 pm until 10:00 pm in which it is only a limited time for him to study in the evening. I, and the two members of the group from which I belong are all working scholars of the university where we are studying. Electricity nowadays became a part of human's lives. And so now, we are able to come up with a strategy or way to help those people like him who lived in the islands. We came up with a project called Pedal Powered DC Generator with Battery Storage System in which all they have to do is to pedal the machine that we will be making soon. This project we came up would be a very big help for them for sure. Aside from having an exercise during early in the morning, they can also store electrical energies in the generator as they pedal the machine for a 24 hour usage. At first, as stated, the name of our proposed project design is Pedal Powered DC Generator with Battery Storage System. After the preliminary defense of the said project, the title has been changed by the members of the panelist. In addition, there were revisions that has been recommended and thus, as of this moment we are still working on it. :)

INTRODUCTION

To maintain the life of the human community, and in order to facilitate the life, many important inventions were discovered. There is no doubt that the most important of these inventions is electricity, which we depend on in the current modern time. As stated, electricity is a very essential part of human’s life nowadays. It is a primary source of power in which it supplies light, helps in providing human comfort, making possible and supports modern daily human activities. From the moment we open our eyes in the morning, we use electricity. At home, office or school, anywhere and anytime, until the time we go to bed in the evening. Thus, it verifies the fact that electricity became one of the most basic necessities for daily living nowadays.

For people living in places such as islands or isles, obtaining a sufficient (twenty-four hour) electrical power supply or electrical power supply scarcity is a very big deal. Unlike in the mainland, the electrical power supply in islands is lesser and for a limited time only. The researchers believed that in order to solve the issues on the scarcity of electrical power supply, by means of human’s ability to pedal and by using a machine which converts mechanical energy to electrical energy will be an alternative way to provide enough electrical power.

The researchers of this study have observed that one of the most common problems in the islands is the insufficient electrical power supply. Because of this, the researchers have decided to propose “ DC Generator Powered by DC Motor with Pedal as a Start-up Mechanism ” that can be used by islanders in providing sufficient electrical power supply for lighting of their homes.

THE PARTS OF THE MACHINE

The DC Generator Powered by DC Motor with Pedal as a Start-up Mechanism is composed of the following major components: Pedal, Generator/Alternator, Battery, Battery Controller, Bearings, Belts and Pulleys, Electric Motor, Flywheel, Load (light Bulbs), and a Shaft. Each component plays important roles that will able to sustain the functionality of the project.

HOW IT WORKS?

A generator produces electricity by converting mechanical energy into electrical energy. The researchers then proposed a design on having a continuous production of electricity by using a bicycle pedal to be an initial prime mover for the generator to produce enough electricity that will be then stored into the battery.

The components of the machine (generator, flywheel and motor) are connected to each other by means of belts mounted on pulleys. The pedal of the bicycle (pinion) is connected to the generator by means of shaft and bearings. The generator now then, is connected to the battery. The battery is connected to the motor as well as the load (light bulbs). Note: The motor and the bicycle are movable parts. There is a roller with a lock attached into it in order to make it move from one position to another.

In order to actuate the PPDCGBSS machine, the pedal of the bicycle which is the preliminary prime mover must be pedaling in order to rotate the pinion of the pedal as well as the armature of the generator (the part of the generator which has been connected to the pinion of the pedal of the attached bicycle).The generator operates as the bicycle is being pedaling since it they are attached to each other by means of shaft and bearings. As stated above, a flywheel is also connected to the generator by means of belts mounted on pulleys. Since the generator and the flywheel are connected to each other, therefore, by the time that the generator operates, the flywheel is also in operating condition (rotating).The purpose of connecting the flywheel into the generator is because a flywheel can store rotational energy. Flywheels have an inertia called the Moment of Inertia and thus resist changes in rotational speed. The amount of energy stored in a flywheel is proportional to the square of its rotational speed. Energy is transferred to a flywheel by the application of a torque to it, thereby increasing its rotational speed, and hence its stored energy.

The energy produced by the generator and flywheel will then be stored into the battery. By the time that the battery had stored enough energy, the energy stored will be discharge into the load and at the same time into the motor to maintain the rotational motion of the system. In order to maintain the rotational motion of the system, the preliminary prime mover which is the bicycle will be disconnected from the generator (the connected shaft and bearings on the generator will be removed as well).Thus will be replaced by the motor. The motor will be connected to the flywheel by means of belts and pulleys. By the time that the motor will be connected to the flywheel and generator connection, pedaling is no longer required since the motor will now serve as the secondary prime mover for the generator. The cycle is now then closed so the production of electricity will become continuous because of the energy stored in the battery which has been supplied to the motor and the load. The generator will continuously generate electricity and stored it into the battery and so the cycle would exist.

PROJECT FLOW DIAGRAM

POTENTIAL IMPLICATIONS/ASSUMPTIONS

In order to implement this design, the following details are assumed.

♣ There would be a permanent prime mover of the machine.
♣ There will be sponsors that will be in charge for the payment of the Bill of Materials and how to manage the system last longer.
♣ The researchers may face difficulties in finding some parts of the machine; however, the researchers will work it out.

THE PROBLEM

Statement of the Problem

This study determined the scarcity of electrical power supply in Barangay Pangan-an, Olango Island, Lapu-Lapu City from the PICCD supplier which can now be solved with the help of DC Generator Powered by DC Motor with Pedal as a Start-up Mechanism.

Specifically, this study answered the following questions:

Is electrical power supply an immenseproblem in Barangay Pangan-an,Olango Island,Lapu-Lapu City?
What are the problems that the respondents encountered in terms electrical power supply?
2.1. scarcity
2.2. span of time of having electricity supply
2.3. usage for daily activities and house lightings
Do the respondents have any idea that by pedaling, electricity can be produced?
How much electricity output does this design can produce?
Do the respondents willing to try and invest with this proposed project?

Significance of the Study

This study will particularly be beneficial to the community of Barangay Pangan-an Olango Island, Lapu-Lapu City in their problem in terms of electrical power supply.

♣ Rural Areas - Most of the rural areas, especially islands or isles are far away from the city or mainland. Seldom of them only are connected to electrical power supply from the mainland and so scarcity of electrical power supply is an immense problem to them. This project fits to their needs in order to have an alternative energy that could generate electricity.

♣ In Local Government Unit - This will give them an idea to find ways on how to help the communities specifically communities on rural areas by promoting this proposed project to them.

♣ People Living in Small Islands - They will be able to live a comfortable life by having sufficient electrical power supply that they could be usedfor their daily consumption.

♣ To the researchers - They would be able to apply and enhance the knowledgeand skills they acquired from their chosen profession and put them into practice.

♣ To the developers - They can gain ideas from this proposed project and develop new features of it.

Scope and Limitations

This study covers only from designing the said project which has an important aspect in producing energy through DC Generator Powered by DC Motor with Pedal as a Start-up Mechanism. The researchers used Pedal as prime mover. The Pedal was connected to the generator through the shaft. By pedaling the bicycle, it produces energy that makes the generator’s armature to rotate and it converts mechanical energy to electrical energy. This study is suitable only to small islands in the Philippines, specifically in Barangay Pangan-an, Olango Island, Lapu-Lapu City that has an immense problem in terms of electrical power supply.

Objectives of the Study

♣ To design a DC Generator Powered by DC Motor with Pedal as a Start-up Mechanism.
♣ To produce electricity supply that could support three (3) bulbs in a residential house using Pedal as a prime mover.
♣ To produce an alternative energy supplyfor the consumers in the community of Barangay Pangan-an. (Note: Limited only for the output capacity of our design.)

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Methods of Research

The researchers used a descriptive method and survey approach. The descriptive method is used to describe records, analyze and interpret the prevailing conditions and then presented in tabular form with analysis. The survey method indicates the gathering of data from the respondents. A survey questionnaire was used in the gathering of data.

In addition, the researchers used the same methods to determine the problems encountered by the respondents with theelectrical power shortage and their solutions to the problem. After testingthe project, the researchers used the same methods to identify if the design will be suitable in the island, the attitudes of the respondents towards the DC Generator Powered by DC Motor with Pedal as a Start-up Mechanismand the willingness of the respondents to invest theproposed design.

Research Environment

The research study was conducted in the community of Barangay Pangan-an, OlangoIsland, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu.

Vicinity Map of Pagan-an, Olango Island, Lapu-Lapu City

The community of Barangay Pangan-an, Olango Island, Lapu-Lapu City has a total land area of 1,041hectares. The total numbers of registered voters is1,601in which the numbers of male and female are 962 and 639 respectively. Based on the data, there are total of 406 families and 392 households living the community, but there were only 163 families that have access of electricity supply and 229 families that don’t have an access of electricity supply. The community of Barangay Pangan-an, Olango Island, Lapu-Lapu City is ample from the mainland. Thus, this makes the island don’t have enough electricity to sustain in 24 hours of consumption.

Research Respondents

The respondents for this research are the people living in the community of Barangay Pangan-an, Olango Island Lapu-Lapu City. They are selected by household.

Research Instrument

The researchers used the following instruments to gather information that helped solved the research problem.

♣ DCGPDCMPSM Survey Guide. The researchers used the said survey guide with a given specific questions to be answered by the respondents.

♣ Voice Recorder. The researchers utilized Voice Recorder to record the responses of the respondents.

♣ Smartphone. The researchers utilized smartphone for the documentation of this research and to capture the significant places of the island which will be used as the basis of this research.

Gathering of Data

The researchers sent a letter requesting for approval of the chieftain of the community of Barangay Pangan-an to conduct a survey. After the request was granted, the researchers conducted a community mapping to identify the numbers and locations of the respondents to be surveyed. Then, the researchers personally met the respondents and asked questions with regards to their problems about electrical power shortage.

Treatment of Data

The researchers used simple mean percentage to determine the common problems encountered by the respondents in terms of electricity supply and their temporary solution to the problems.

To treat the data gathered, the researchers introduced DC Generator Powered by DC Motor with Pedal as a Start-up Mechanism (DCGPDCMPSM) to the respondents in which it will be able to generate electricity supply and store it to be used for the lightings of their houses.

ESTIMATED COST OF THE PROJECT

DEFINITION OF TERMS

The following terms are defined operationally for the purpose of clarifying important concepts presented in this study.

♣ Prime Mover – is the part of the machine that impacts power or motion to other part of the machine which is connected to it. This refers to the Attached Bicycle.

♣ Immense - the level of the problem encountered by the respondents with regards to the amount of electricity being supplied.

♣ DCGPDCMPSM - the acronym for DC Generator Powered by DC Motor with Pedal as a Start-up Mechanism

♣ PICCD - the acronym for Pangan-an Island Cooperative and Community Development

♣ Pedal Actuated DC Generator - the machine is being actuated using pedal.

♣ Electricity supply - the amount of electricity supplied to the consumer during a given period.

That would be all :) Hoping that this proposed project design would be put into reality. As of this moment since we, the researchers of the said project are all Working Scholars, we are in the middle of crisis when it comes to financial. However, since we have proposed this design and in order to help the community of Barangay Pangan-an, we will strive hard and will do our best to make it possible. So much the better if we can get enough budget to make the proposed design as soon as possible since we will be having our Prototype Presentation this coming February 2018. We are looking forward to that !!! :)