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.