Design of Kinetic-Energy Harvesting Floors

Abstract

Alternative energy generated from people’s footsteps in a crowded area is sufficient to power smart electronic devices with low consumption. This paper aims to present the development of an energy harvesting floor—called Genpath—using a rotational electromagnetic (EM) technique to generate electricity from human footsteps. The dynamic models of the electro-mechanical systems were developed using MATLAB®/Simulink to predict the energy performances of Genpath and help fine-tune the design parameters. The system in Genpath comprises two main parts: the EM generator and the Power Management and Storage (PMS) circuit. For the EM generator, the conversion mechanism for linear translation to rotation was designed by using the rack-pinion and lead-screw mechanism. Based on the simulation analysis, the averaged energy of the lead-screw model is greater than that of the rack-pinion model. Thus, prototype-II of Genpath with 12-V-DC generator, lead-screw mechanism was recently built. It shows better performance when compared to the previous prototype-I of Genpath with 24-V-DC-generator, rack-pinion mechanism. Both prototypes have an allowable displacement of 15 mm. The Genpath prototype-II produces an average energy of up to 702 mJ (or average power of 520 mW) per footstep. The energy provided by Genpath prototype-II is increased by approximately 184% when compared to that of the prototype-I. The efficiency of the EM-generator system is ~26% based on the 2-W power generation from the heel strike of a human’s walk in one step. Then, the PMS circuit was developed to harvest energy into the batteries and to supply the other part to specific loads. The experiment showed that the designed PMS circuit has the overall efficiency of 74.72%. The benefit of the design system is for a lot of applications, such as a wireless sensor and Internet of Thing applications.

A Literature Review of Emerging Research Needs for Micromobility—Integration through a Life Cycle Thinking Approach

“…Moreover, researchers recently addressed the design and feasibility of producing energy harvesting floors, highlighting their applicability to wireless sensors and IoT technologies. However, some problems, such as improving energy efficiency in both production and storage stages and adapting the floor displacement, were pointed to as research gaps [117,118]. For cycling, researchers also tested piezoelectric energy harvesting in a stationary exercise bicycle.…”

Green Energy Technology

“…Hence, a significant decline in yearly peak cooling and lighting energy consumption. Jintanawan et al [11] designed an energy harvesting floor that could convert mechanical energy from people's footsteps to electrical energy. Their outcome showed that the lead-screw model with 45 • lead angles coupled with a Genpath prototype-II with a 12-V-DC generator can generate up to 702 mJ which more average energy than others.…”

“…This Special Issue of Energies on the subject of "Green Energy Technology" contains the successful invited submissions [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]. A total of 17 technical papers that cover diversified green energy technology-related research have shown critical results and contributed significant findings in biofuel production [1], energy-saving in buildings [2], wind energy [3], energy policy [4], electricity supply [5], a thermal-hydraulic system [6], fluidized bed reactor [7], green-supply chains [8], SI engine [9], renewable energy grid [10], kinetic energy harvest [11], green hydrogen utilization [12], water conservation [13], hydraulic power [14], Illumination Performance in buildings [15], community renewable energy [16], and heat transfer [17].…”

Rancang Bangun Purwarupa Energy Harvesting menggunakan Piezoelektrik sebagai Pembangkit Energi Listrik

“…Purwarupa yang dibuat sangat bermanfaat karena dapat dipasang di setiap lantai rumah dan dengan sendirinya dapat digunakan sebagai sumber energi listrik untuk rumah tersebut. Purwarupa pemanen energi yang diambil dari gerakan kaki di lantai telah dikembangkan oleh Jintanawan et al (2020) dengan menggunakan teknik elektromagnetik rotasional dalam mengkonversi energi langkah kaki menjadi energi listrik. Sementara itu, penelitian yang diuraikan dalam makalah ini menggunakan deretan piezoelektrik di lantai kemudian dihubungkan dengan modul pemanen energi tipe tertentu sebelum disimpan dalam penyimpan energi.…”