Ch3

Chukwuma Agubokwu

Chapter Three

Engineering Design and Development Procedures

 

Introduction

Traditional sources for electronic energy over the past years have been by outlet by way of transformer by way of a fossil-fuel-based power plant. Recently the feasibility of eliminating all of the steps and the waste and damage caused by them has been brought about by the advent of something that's been around before all of that existed: movement. In technical terms, this is called kinetic energy harvesting. I aim to conduct research in this area. There are a few methods which have been engineered to conduct such a task including using naturally occurring, electrically charged crystals or ceramics that output electricity when pressure is applied; electroactive polymers which behave the same way but are significantly lighter; and electrostatic plates of a charged varactor  in which vibrations are converted into electrical energy.

I have settled on using a system of electromagnets and a pendulum to collect ambient (present, but untapped) energy. I then will collect physics and kinetics information on the dynamics of pendulums and the human gait with specific attention on the hips (where most personal electronics are placed.) I must find a practical and efficient way in which to produce electrical energy by means of regular, everyday movement.

To save time on costly and dangerous mistakes in wiring, I will be using a CAD-based program that will aid in circuit design. The program is called SPICE and I will be using their student edition which is called PSpice The design on computer will be based in the graphic representation of wiring theory and less the actual physical configuration. Once safely tested  on this design simulator, I can begin creating a live version of my system and begin testing outputs in various degrees to collect extensive information.

This paper will be the formal documentation of the exact procedures and techniques that will be involved in the various stages of research and development of the energy harvesting unit. Much information will be gleaned from my day-to-day journal/blog, as it is there that I keep specifically up to date on all of my operations.

Proposed Design Solutions and Evaluations

 

     Using naturally occurring, electrically charged crystals or ceramics that output electricity when pressure is applied and electroactive polymers which behave the same way but are significantly lighter. There are naturally occurring, electrically charged crystals or ceramics that output electricity when pressure is applied and that detract or crontract when electricity is applied to them. These materials characteristic is described as peizoelectricity and have been used for many applications such as in light up shoes, quartz watches and even pressure activated garages. In the context of my project, they could be put in shoe soles to accrue energy from the pressure of each step.

 

     Electrostatic plates of a charged varactor  in which vibrations are converted into electrical energy. When you rub your feet against a carpet vigorously and then touch someone and they get a slight shock, that is the phenomenon of static electricity in action. That is the basic principle behind this method. Plates that easily polarize already present electronic particles are planed strategically to take advantage of high friction areas such as metal stair rails which require constant contact to be properly used. This could be implemented in sweaters as far as my project goes, so that they could double as a way to stay warm and keep your cellphone charged, for example.

 

     Using a system of electromagnets and a pendulum to collect ambient energy. If connected to a pendulum, electromagnets can produce electrical energy by constantly swinging back and forth in/on/along/around an electrically active contact. 

Solution Selection

I have settled on using a system of electromagnets and a pendulum
to collect ambient (present, but untapped) energy. I then will collect
physics and kinetics information on the dynamics of pendulums and the
human gait with specific attention on the hips (where most personal
electronics are placed.) This method combines pendulums
and electromagnets to take advantage of the human's biometric affinity
for an inefficient gait cycle. 

Program Design Outline

 

The chosen method will involve:

1. 
   
   Collecting information from the fields of biometrics, electrical circuitry, physics, practical/ergonomic/industrial design and magnetics.
   
   
2. 
   Learn to operate the various simulation, design and analysis programs needed to develop the project conceptually including, but not limited to SPICE (virtual circuit design/testing), MATLAB (graphically interfaced mathematical situation design)
   
   
3. 
   
    Collect/postulate/develop test and theory information based on factual data from above programs.
   
   
   
4. 
   
   Present data with conclusions on projected efficiency of apparatus.
    

Summary

 

     By combining knowledge on Accutron watches, SPICE (things discussed in the previous chapter), and the kinetics of pendulums and the human gait, I can develop a process by which ambient energy could be harvested and stored for the charging of energy-guzzling mobile devices like laptops, cell phones and more. The mechanical and electrical aspect would be lent from that of the watches, the design, testing and planning done on SPICE, and the physics models of pendulums would be the basis of the physics behind it all.