CHAPTER 1 TITLE: Feasibility Study on Staircase Power Harvesting OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY: To make a device that will convert

human energy to electrical energy. BACKROUND OF THE STUDY In todays fast moving world, energy demands and use is even increasing. Energy has always been an issue for sustainability. The coal reserve, which the main fissile fuel to generate electrical power, is estimated to last only for about 200 year more. ( B.B. Biswas, 2002) Walking is the most common activity in day to day life. When a person walks, he loses energy to the road surface in the form of impact, vibration, sound, etc., due to the transfer of his weight on to the road surface, through foot falls on the ground during every step. This device, if embedded in the footpath, can convert foot impact energy into electrical form. The working principle is simple. When a pedestrian steps 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. ( S. S. TALIYAN, 2006 ) Staircase electricity generation as such is not new concept. There were many attempts in the past using pneumatics, piezoelectric materials etc. but all of them proved very costly and were not practically feasible in day-to-day real life. (Yuji Osaki, 2005)

The Staircase Electricity Generator is specially planned to design and fabricate the conversion unit for utilizing the available unconventional energy source. (R.K. Patil, 2004) If such devices are embedded in places where there is continuous human traffic such as in city malls, railways platforms, city footpaths etc., the electricity generated from these devices can be used for street lights. (G.P. Srivastava, 2003) Statement of the Problem In this research, the researchers aim to find another energy source that is available to everyone and is not costly at all, by building a device that will convert Human energy to Electrical energy. The following questions are considered: 1. What mechanism should be made to convert human action into electrical energy? 2. How efficient is the device in generating electricity? 3. Can this be applied on a general or common basis? CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK The study is base on the principles on Elements of Mechanism and Machine Design. The setup is to design a machine that will convert mechanical energy to electrical energy. Mechanical Energy will come from human motion specifically human footsteps, and the mechanical energy will be converted to Electrical energy through the conversion of reciprocating motion in to rotary motion. The rotational motion will be stored in a flywheel which is coupled to the rotor of an alternator. As the Flywheel rotate the rotor also rotates that will generate electricity. The

mechanism that the researchers used to convert Linear Motion to Rotational motion is the Scotch Yoke mechanism as illustrated on Figure 1.

Figure 1 Scotch Yoke Mechanism CONCEPTUAL PARADIGM The conceptual paradigm presents the Input-Process-Output phases of the study. Input Phase describes the maximum and minimum loading, the Speed of Rotation and the materials to be used in building and fabrication of the prototype. The Process Phase of the study involves the manipulation of the input variables and testing of the prototype to achieve the desired output.
Input Design Factors - Loading - RPM - Materials for Prototype

Process Prototype Design Prototype Fabrication Experimentation and testing

Output Power Generated Efficiency

Figure 2. Conceptual Paradigm

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

If Staircase power harvesting is proven to be feasible, the project will help in the conservation of Electrical Energy and solving Energy crisis. For the students, this study provided knowledge on the concepts relating to the application of Elements of Mechanism and Machine Design . It demonstrate the conversion of Mechanical Energy to Electrical energy by means of transforming reciprocating motion to rotary motion.

SCOPE AND DELIMITATION OF THE STUDY The study is limited to the down scaled model prototype which is one step staircase which will only show the fundamental mechanics of the project. The locale is in the vicinity of Saint Louis University specifically at the first floor of the Otto Hahn building. The time allotted for the project was 8 months including the fabrication of the prototype.