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CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of Study


Energy in simple terms is the ability to do work. Energy
has been a basic human need since the Stone Age from
the discovery of fire to this modern time. The growth in
the worlds population has resulted in a surge of energy
demand and for more than two centuries, the worlds
energy supply has relied on fossil fuel, out of which 90% is
estimated as being consumed for energy generation and
transportation. This has resulted in a depletion of the
ecosystem, environmental pollution and the harmful effect
of global warming around the world.

The impacts on the global eco-system resulting from


climate change are in turn expected to lead to substantial
economic losses in any nations economy. The future of
the energy production will certainly determine what the
overall health of the planet will be. Most scientists agree
that the choices that support fossil fuel use will only
worsen the environmental damage that has already
occurred. The need to look for renewable energy sources
and energy conservation techniques offers the potential to
improve the health of the planet to meet the energy
demand.

Renewable energy is a form of energy that is replaced at


the same rate that it is used. Now, there are new methods
for energy generation (Such as solar, tidal, wind, geo-
thermal, bio-fuel, etc), but the only natural resource that
has not been fully utilized is the human resource, that is,
human kinetic motion which can be harnessed while
walking on the floor or when stepping up on a staircase,
and can be converted into electrical energy which can be
used to power our electronic devices.

1.2 Problem Statement


The growth in the worlds population and industrial
development has led to increased prosperity for many
people around the world which has resulted in a surge of
energy demands. For more than two centuries, the worlds
energy supply has relied heavily on non-renewable fossil
fuel source for energy/power generation out of which 90%
is estimated as being consumed for energy generation and
transportation. This has resulted in a depletion of natural
resources and environmental damage. The consumption of
fossil fuel on which industrial development has been
largely based has been recognized as the major cause of
global pollution and climate change which has affected the
world in one way or the other. The impacts on the global
eco-system resulting from climate change are in turn
expected to lead to substantial economic losses in any
nations economy. Therefore, there is a need to look for
alternative or greener sources of energy that is pollution
free and is renewable in nature.

1.3 Aim and Objectives


The aim of this project is to design and implement a
random footstep regenerative power system that can
utilize footsteps on staircases for generation of electricity.
The following objectives will be kept in view to achieve the
stated aim:
To evaluate the prospects of generating energy from
random footsteps.
To design an energy harvesting device that converts
kinetic motion to electrical energy.
To implement the design and assess the capacity of
the system to deliver as specified by the design.

1.4 Significance of Study


The application of this study will redound to the benefit of
the society considering that electrical power generated
from this system could relieve the pressure on the national
grid. This would equally act as an alternate source of
energy. Its time based cost effectiveness will most
importantly and significantly reduce electricity bill. The
maintenance frequency of this system is very low due to
the use of single unit components. Thus, busy public areas
that adopt this mechanism can produce enough electricity
to power its lighting and other small power rated systems
including public signs, streetlights, billboards etc. The
potential of this project is not limited to financial benefits
but also on the fact that energy production stage is green
and renewable i.e. no emission of harmful gases or
substances.
1.5 Scope and Limitations
This study will involve the design and implementation of a
device that generates electrical energy through the
conversion of the kinetic energy of human footsteps. The
limitations of this project include the fact that there is a
need of high density of passing persons (pedestrians) for
enough power to be generated in case of
commercialization.

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