Power
Generation by Using Road Speed Breakers
ABSTRACT
In today’s scenario, use of non-conventional energy sources is very
much sought after. In this paper we are going to present the generation of
electricity by using speed breaker. The dead weight of vehicles can be utilized
effectively for electricity generation, in the form of potential energy applied
on/or over the platform of air compressing ram. Then this compressed air is
converted into kinetic energy by means of nozzle. High velocity jet rotates air
turbine and shaft work is obtained. Thus we are using the ram as a speed
breaker and also for the production of power.
INTRODUCTION
Due to growing global demand of electricity day-by-day; there
is need to switch over to non-conventional energy sources for generation of
electricity. The fact that the road traffic of heavy vehicles as well as light
motor vehicles is growing very fast, the dead weight of the same can be utilized
effectively for the electricity generation as discussed in this paper.
Firstly rolling trucks and other vehicles move over to the
highways crossing the speed breakers at various places on their way, comes to
near pause or halt at the speed breaker where the dead weight of entire vehicle
(loaded/unloaded) can be utilized as a source of energy in the form of
potential energy failing on/or applied over the platform of air compressing
ram: compressing can be stored in the air well. This compressed air from the
source in the form of pressure energy is being converted into kinetic energy
flowing through the nozzle. The kinetic energy of flowing air drives the
turbine rotor for generating electricity which proves its ability in different
localized fields or area. The harnessing of such type of potential energy of
road vehicular traffic in their potential form to useful form of electricity is
described here under in detail, in the forthcoming discussion.
CONSTRUCTION AND COMPONENT DETAILS OF AIR TURBO GENERATOR
Air turbo generator is a newly developed mechanical device
comprising of mainly the air com-pressure, air well, nozzle, turbine rotor
generator & energy absorbing elements. This device converts the energy of
the vehicle in its dead weight from which at the moment when crosses over to
the speed breakers on the highways in the form of compressed air. During
rolling on and rolling down of the vehicle (while crossing the speed breaker)
the air is hammered in compressed form by the natural upward and downward
movement of ram.
In the construction of peculiar design of
the speed breaker which comprises mainly of three parts. First part of speed
breaker in the form of concrete block A, second part of speed breaker in the
form of metallic ram B & third part of speed breaker in the form of
concrete block C. all these three parts are having specially designed shape of
unique form to permit easy rolling of wheels over to the speed breaker.
The central portion of the speed breaker
i.e. metallic ram consists of massive block structure which is coupled at the
top of reciprocating air compressor with the help of a connecting rod and fit
springs. This spring lifts the ram upward during return stroke.
While rolling of wheels of vehicles over to
the rain which causes the ram to move downward due to the static weight of that
vehicle causing compression of air by piston and cylinder arrangement, which
further feeds the compressed air to the reservoir of air well. This compressed
air is then fed to the air turbine rotor which in turn drives the generator to
generate the electricity.
The
elements of air turbo generator in addition to the main energy absorbing
devices are as under:
1)
Air Well
– It receives and stores the compressed air obtained from air compressor.
2)
Nozzle –
It converts the pressure energy of air in the compressed air form into the
kinetic energy.
3)
Air
Turbine Rotor – It drives the generator by abstracting the kinetic energy
of air supplied from the nozzle. This rotor is an impulse turbine (i.e. pelton
wheel).
As a high velocity air is impinging on
the turbine, the turbine blades should have proper strength. So we can use
following material:
|
Alloy
|
Composition
|
|
1. Monel
Metal
2. 40Ni3
|
Cu (33%), Ni (68%), Fe (2%)
C (0.4%), Si (0.1% to 0.35%),
Mn (0.5% to 0.8%), Ni (3.2%),
Cr (0.3%)
|
4)
Generator
– In this case we are using aero generators, both direct and alternating
current machine and are available from a capacity of few watts to 100th
of kilowatts. When the speed of wind turbine is low, multiple synchronous
alternators are used. When an alternator is directly coupled to an AC network,
its speed is nearly constant. Such a generator can be design for sufficient
overload capacity to absorb the wind energy available.
HARNESSING THE ENERGY FROM ROAD TRAFFIC
The great potential energy of dead weight
of a vehicle can be harnessed for the generation of electricity. The increasing
vehicular traffic would result in greater storage of air in compressed form
into the receiver. The rough estimate for the road traffic and average weight
of truck/lorries is mentioned as under:
1.
Population of traffic per hour.
a.
for National highway : 300 (two way)
b.
For State
Highway :
200 (Two way)
2.
Average rough weight of (loaded/unloaded) truck:
20 +_ 5 tones.
The values stated above will increase due
to greater trading and transactions. Moreover India would come under WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATION (WTO) by April 2001. This would further result in greater road
traffic. More number of vehicles will be required to transfer variety of
products from one place to another. A few years later the vehicles passing over
the highways would defiantly increase to fulfill the goods requirement of
various places.
WORKING
The working principle can be explained in
the following steps:-
- As the vehicle passes over the first part A. of the speed breaker; its speed gets reduced. Then the vehicle gradually moves over to the energy absorbing unit part B rain, of the speed breaker.
- Further the vehicle moves over ram (part B) and compresses it against the spring loaded piton of the air compressor. Thus the air from the air compressor goes to the receiver at a high pressure through the one way delivery valve.
- Finally, as the vehicle moves to the third position (i.e. part C) of the speed breaker, the load over the ram is removed and it moves again to its initial position by lifting spring. This upward motion of the rain results in sucking of atmospheric air into the compressor trough inlet valve.
The vehicle then again
tracks over road.
This cycle is repeated twice for each
vehicle and consequently the same for every passing vehicle. This leads to
delivery of air into the receiver. By adjusting the regulating valve this air
at certain high pressure goes to the nozzle. In nozzle the pressure energy of
compressed air is converted into kinetic energy. Now the high velocity air jet
is impinged to the bucket of the turbine rotor and causes it to rotate at high
speed. This rotary motion in turn rotates the armature of the generator. Thus
the electricity produced can be utilized for the required work. For example,
this generated electricity can be utilized to glow nearby streetlights or for
any other purpose.
POWER PRODUCED BY THE TURBINE ROTOR
Power = Overall
efficiency X work done/kg of air X weight of air
Flow/sec in kg.
Overall efficiency = Shaft
power/Air power
Work done = W/g (VW1
+ VW2) u
Where:
W = weight of air
G = acceleration due to gravity
Vw1 = absolute velocity of air at inlet
Vw2 = Absolute velocity of air at outlet
U1 = Tangential velocity of air
Work done = W/g (Vw1 – u) (1 + cos *)u
Where* = Bucket
angle a outlet
ADVANTAGES
1. Infrastructure- this method of
electricity generation does not require large infrastructure.
2. Economy- This method is economical and
cheap for long run
3. Pollution free- This method does not
have any adverse effect on environment
4. Maintenance- the maintenance cost of
this system is considerably less
5. Flexibility- This system is flexile to
wide variety of loads.
6. Suitability- This system is very well
suited for low capacity devices having intermitted operation.
7. Construction- This system is very easy
to understand and is simple in construction.
CONCLUSION
By above discussion we may conclude that
power generation by this system is one of the unconventional sources of energy
in coming days. It is need of our generation because the conventional energy
sources are not renewable form of sources. By using tube generators we can
easily find out the solution on “Electric power generation’
References
1.
Machine Design by R. K. Jain
2.
Fluid Power by R. K. Bansal
3.
Fluid Power by R. K. Rajput
4.
Turbines and Compressors by Yahya
5.
Unconventional Energy Sources by Rao
6.
www.honda.tech.infn.com
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