Mechanical energy converter from linear displacement

• Main Author: Yip, James Jun Wei.
• Other Authors: Yeo Joon Hock
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2010
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Mechanical engineering::Kinematics and dynamics of machinery
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/40469
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Harnessing waste energy has been an increasing trend in today’s context. This is due to the pollution in all forms due to the production of electricity. Hence, the need to find ways to reuse waste energy is heavily researched on. In this project, the waste energy that was going to be reused was that of the deceleration of a vehicle as it moves over a hump. A prototype was made to justify the feasibility of such a concept. This project was a continuation from the previous student’s work and was under the supervision of A/P Yeo Joon Hock. Basically the prototype consists of two water bags being filled with water and depressed as a simulation of that of a vehicle moving across a hump. This drives the water to rotate the turbine, generating power. In this project, for validation purposes, a LED was attached to a motor and coupled to the rotating shaft of the turbine. The LED lighted up, proving the function ability of the prototype. Ways to improve on the previous design were thought of and were made. The main change was in the turbine system. It was believed that the turbine played a vital role in determining the overall outcome of the prototype and therefore, much effort and emphasis was placed on designing it. Another main area that was explored was the frictional losses the fluid experienced during its whole course of travel. The new prototype was designed in such a way that losses were minimized. After testing the prototype, an evaluation was being done and ways to improve the system were suggested. Also, the feasibility of such a concept in real life was discussed.