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SMART ENERGY HARVESTING USING PHYSICAL EXERCISING MACHINES

Conference Paper · December 2016

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 SMART ENERGY HARVESTING USING PHYSICAL
EXERCISING MACHINES

Zeeshan Khalid1, Muhammad Usama Zafar2 and Hasnain Kashif

1
Department of Electrical (Electronics) Engineering, COMSATS Institute of IT, Lahore, Pakistan
[email protected]
2
Department of Electrical (Electronics) Engineering, COMSATS Institute of IT, Lahore, Pakistan
malikusama1@hotmail,com
3
Department of Electrical Engineering, COMSATS Institute of IT, Lahore, Pakistan
[email protected]

ABSTRACT
The Smart Energy Harvesting using physical exercising machines which are feasible enough to
harvest power seems to generate a new source of renewable energy. Biomechanical energy
harvesting constitutes a clean, portable energy alternative to the fossil fuels currently being used.
Biomechanical energy harvesting is a novel approach for producing energy for small devices. The
energy expended in a typical workout at the gym is usually wasted in the mechanics of the equipment.
This project will harness the mechanical energy of the machine and convert it to electrical energy
using a generator based system. The exercise equipment will be attached to a generator. This creates
a dc voltage which will be fed into a DC-DC converter and then sent to a battery where it can be
stored for future use. This proposed system will help consuming our physical energy in some useful
way.

KEYWORDS
Biomechanical energy, Harness, DC-DC converter.

1. INTRODUCTION
The proposed discipline of energy conservation is becoming an increasingly extraordinary
subject of study among the scientific neighborhood at present. Brainiacs of all times use their
knowledge to extract ways of providing cheap and green energy. The purpose of this venture is
to build a human powered generator from a used exercising machine and to use it to power
mild lights, mobile telephones and other small appliances. It will aid and strengthen
engineering expertise and learning about an easy approach to produce electrical power which
can be gained from various mechanical sources.
1.1 Overview
Over the past decade, scientists and engineers around the world had been designing exceptional
energy-harvesting programs, drawing energy from a form of sources. One of the vital ingenious
and unlimited sources to be had is the kinetic energy produced during human exercise [1]. Even
though latest designs of energy-harvesting undertaking apparatus have been offered into the
market which can convert the mechanical energy wasted during physical exercise, these
systems are expensive , inefficient and do not produce an obvious output of power [2].
These systems need to be improved, expanded and designed for highest energy output, price-
affectivity, and marketability. Engineered to be used for retrofitting current undertaking laptop,
this venture involves an effective yet controllable energy storage through multiple devices into a
single energy storage battery and distribution procedure to various appliances. The objective of
 this is to create and develop a regenerative energy source based round a piece of undertaking
gear [3]. Also, environmentalists who are interested in minimizing environmental impacts due
to current energy producing means and people who need to preserve the atmosphere will use
and will support this form of electrical power new release thereby lowering the emission of
hazardous gases and matter to the surroundings. The energy used in an average exercise on the
gym is as a rule lost in the process of the application of the apparatus. The course of action
lessens the automated energy and is modified to electrical energy utilizing a generator-based
process [4]. Thus, it reduces the power usage coming from the electricity distribution companies
and produces eco-friendly and low cost energy. The energy harvesting equipment might be
attached to the channel of the generator based system [5]. Thus, producing electrical energy
used in powering a piece of gear such as lamp, bulb or laptop while exercising [6].

2. LITERATURE REVIEW
Energy harvesting systems relies on several groups of devices/machines which can convert the
waste energy into usable energy. The groups of the devices which function in these systems are
piezoelectric crystals, dynamos/generators, solar cells and other thermoelectric generators.

Piezoelectric convert the mechanical stress produced into the electrical energy. This can be seen
in many devices used in our everyday life. This type of effect can be seen in many materials
which have the ability to produce electric potential. This effect can be seen in Quartz clocks and
cigarette lighters.

Dynamos and generators both have nearly same kind of functionality. They convert the
mechanical (rotational) energy into electrical energy by rotating a magnet within the several
loops of wire thus producing electromagnetic effect within. This can also happen if the wire is
rotated keeping the magnet stationary. Such device and machines can already be seen in wind
turbines and hydro electric motors.

Electromagnetic collectors are the machines that convert the solar energy into electrical energy
thus used as solar cells which converts the energy coming from the sunlight directly into
electrical energy. Other types of such systems are the RF collectors which produces electricity
through EM spectrum produced.

2.1 Examples of Energy Harvesting

Energy harvesting process can be achieved from various method and devices thus harvesting the
waste energy into electrical energy except the use of electromagnetic harvesters. Scientists of all
times have deduced different ways of harvesting energy with different levels. There are large
number of everyday actions which can be used in energy harvesting which includes walking,
running, breathing and even finger or toes movement (keyboard typing).

1. One main example of energy harvesting by walking and running is the use of piezoelectric
materials. Such materials have been placed in jogging shoes which produce energy by
piezoelectric effect when the foot touches the ground. Harvesting energy through walking has
always been a major focus of the scientists and the researchers due to mobile energy
requirements.
2. Another focus on harvesting energy through walking or running is by the bending motion
around the knees. A “Biomechanical Energy Harvester” was introduced by some students
with the help of some professors at Simon Fraser University which generally focus on energy
harvesting by knee bending movement. The device weighing 3.5lb was attached with the
body part and it can produce up to 5W of energy which is enough to charge 10 cell phones.
3. Similarly many other stationary systems have been introduced which can harvest energy.
 Researchers at a well-recognized university MIT introduce the concept of a piezoelectric
floor which produces energy when someone walks on it.

The most important thing in the process of energy harvesting through mechanical systems is the
amount of power applied on the machine. The action applied on the machine should be less
resistive for the user. According to the law of energy and keeping in and the energy balance of a
human body, the maximum energy harvested cannot exceed the amount of energy applied. Thus
if a large amount of energy is required then the power exerted on the specified system should be
much larger. The energy harvesting system should be efficient enough to offset the initial cost
spent on the development of that system and the cost per kilowatt hour (kWh). To make a
system more efficient to harvest maximum amount of energy, the harvesting machine may hold
up the natural flow of that mechanical motion under which the system is working.

2.2 Prospective of Man Energy

Power consumption of man is viewed on various facts, a gigantic and large number of
capabilities appear obvious on observation. For the reason that the ordinary 2000kcal of
everyday utilization by a human body (97W of power in, on ordinary), people soak up about
8.368MJ or 2324Wh of energy daily. This is roughly the identical amount of energy saved
within the average car battery (2400Wh). Nevertheless, the outflow of energy for original tasks
is quite excessive as well as seen in table 2.1. This table show maximum amount of power that
may be captured as a consequence of human exercise.

Table 2.1

.Action .Energy Used (W)

.Pressing Switch .0.63

.Squeezing Handle .13

.Revolving Crank .29

.Racing Bike .>10

For that reason, the existing power which can be taken for little interval of time is truly fairly
confined. Exchange simply some of the biggest ability firewood vigor crops in the US would
need roughly the populace of 2 NY city metro areas to be using human vigor generating bicycle:

The apparent uselessness of determine suggests why the choice for that reason some distance in
human power new release has been restrained to lessen energy functions similar to customer
electronics producing 1799 watts for a couple of unit time must be inside the variety of the
satisfactory vigor cranes. Recall 1W approach making use of a drive of 1N via a distance of 1m
in 1s.For those who lifted 1kilogram that is 9.8N of drive, about 10N, for 1m in 1s that may be
10W.
2.3 Unit Conversion
First hold in mind that Watts and energy are two unique items of dimension that are not able to
be instantly modified backward and forward. However when usage of Watt-Hours rather than
simply "Watts" then we definitely have a way to transform it to energy. Listed here are the
steps: Convert Watt-Hours to Watt Seconds (Joules), then convert Joules to calories, then alter
energy with human body effectively element. So for this instance let's assume that you just
furnish pedal power to a one hundred W TV for 1hour. In view that 1J is equal to 1W * unit
time we do dimensional analysis and get:
100Wh * (3600 s / 1 H) = 360,000 Joules
1 calorie = 4.184 J to transform J to energy
360,000 J / four.184 = 86,042 energy

Whilst you appear on the label of Oreo cookies or different meals objects on the shop, the term
"energy" is particularly (k-energy). So we divide by way of 1000 to get 86 calories energy.
Presume that your physique provides 24.9% effective energy when riding cycle you divide by
way of 0.25 calories burned during brisk walking a 100W television set for 1 hour = 86 / 0.25 =
344 which is ready identical to the energy obtained by eating 1 piece of pizza.

Another military based project carried out by University of Pennsylvania (Dept. Of Electronics
Engineering) was the production of Electricity by the rubbing movement of backpack when
attached to the piezoelectric sensors. This project proves that if it is used correctly then the
harvested energy produced can be much higher than that electro-active system itself.

A similar research explores that energy can be harvested by the bobbing motion of a backpack
produced during walking or running, thus, converting the whole body motion into a power
source, allowing the backpack to move up and down and converting this linear motion of
backpack into the electrical motion. Researchers concluded that around 4W to 7.5W of energy
can be generated by this bobbing motion of backpack which can be used to power many devices
simultaneously.

Military in this manner have gone so far that it has modified commercial technologies to energy
harvesting. Hand cranks have always been used to power small devices in faraway areas where
onsite energy is required. Hence, the need of onsite energy is still apparent and small scale
energy harvesting systems are considered as energy harvesters.

Consequently, it's seen that man power build-up many purposes in contemporary society. This is
beneficial when operators are lonely with natural disaster, or are in a faraway discipline. This
supplies for a natural, convenient for enforce also moderately little fee project which is certainly
valuable in countryside areas of setting up countries because skill in working equipment and
funding budget is constrained. Achievement of energy via no adequate man energy can also be
viable because it may be beneficial for more than a few novel portable electronics functions.
Additionally, it might allow for energy new release to be accomplished socially, taking out the
sense of adequate energy whilst growing the energy production meaningfully. The notion of
making use of man power as a substitute and regenerative power foundation is attaining repute
to the near that companies have made round changing activity gear comparable to stationary
bikes and elliptical to electrical power generators.

3. PROBLEM STATEMENT AND MAIN CONTRIBUTION

The sector’s energy consumption is all time high with the claim constantly growing. The trouble
cause many irreversible problems that have got to be spoken and taken care of.
• Reduction of sources due to finite accessibility of non-regenerative energy sources, e.g. bio
gas
• Air pollution, e.g. Firewood usage in vigor crops
• Growing population, specifically in constructing international locations with deficiency of
fresh energy.
• Environmental pollution related with local weather variations and hostile implications

These cause a lot dispute within the developed countries; nonetheless, past results have
additionally exposed a much more normal undertaking of accessibility in the less developed
countries.

Information got by the arena bank acquired just lately in 2014 appraised that about 34.9%
sectors population have no reach of electrical power. Many incorporate that have very
constrained availability to electrical energy. Additional, many countries with the cheapest prices
for part of population through electrical power even have cheap prices of city people percentage.

4. PROBLEM SOLUTION
The most feasible way of energy harvesting is during exercising using machines. The actions
performed on these exercising machines help to burn calories and to improve muscle movement
and shape with repetitive motions and resistive movements. The main purpose of these
machines is to provide certain motions and resistances to the human body again and again
respectively. The desire of these repetitive motions and resistance can result in producing
electricity when these machines are connected to certain power generating devices [7]. So, the
mechanical power exerted on these exercising machines can be harvested and converted into
electricity and can even be stored [8][9].

The main and the most important exercising machine that can be used in electrical energy
harvesting is the exercising bike which can be seen in most of the gyms for the physical fitness.
These bicycles have a feasible rotatory system, thus, harnessing the cyclic and rotatory motion
of the cycle into the electrical energy [10]. This machine has much technical feasibility of
harvesting human energy as compared to other machines and is considered economically viable.

4.1 Methodology
In first view, we have to design a prototype model of each of the equipment attached to a
compact generator that converts the motion of the wheels or the mechanical pulley attached to
each equipment into electricity, which is then fed into the power grid, offsetting some of the
energy use. For these gym-goers, it's not only just about their cardio fitness; their exercise is
making the planet-greener.

The produced energy of the machine is sent either directly to the battery or is consumed by the
appliances connected to it. The power produced is then checked by using the android app which
communicated with the machine getting the information about the force applied on the machine
and the energy produced by it.

This project provides you an efficient and yet controllable power source with an efficient
storage and distribution system preserving the environment by producing environment friendly
power sources by a process shown in Figure 4.1. The project harvests the mechanical energy
into electrical energy by using a generator-based system .The shaft of the generator will be
attached to the exercising equipment thus produced electrical energy will be used for powering
up a small appliance or it will be stored directly into battery.
 Prime Generator Rectifier Battery Inverter Step-up
Mover Transformer

12V D.C

220V A.C
Step-down Rectifier Load
Transformer

Figure 4.1: Block Diagram

Figure 4.2(a): Elliptical Exercise Cycle attached to Dynamo; Figure 4.2(b): Manual Treadmill
attached to Dynamo

Figure 4.3: Dynamo

5. CONCLUSION
We constructed a Smart Energy Harvesting system using physical exercising machines
which are feasible enough to harvest power and seem to generate a source of renewable
energy. This biomechanical energy harvesting constitutes a clean, portable energy
alternative to the fossil fuels currently being used. The energy expended in a typical
 workout at the gym is usually wasted in the mechanics of the equipment. This project
harvests the mechanical energy of the machine and converts it to electrical energy using a
generator based system. The exercise equipment will be attached to a dynamo. This creates
a DC voltage which is fed into a DC-DC converter and then sent to a battery where it can be
stored for future use. This proposed system will help consuming our physical energy in
some useful way.

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