Design and construct an energy storage system for sustainable development

• Main Author: Wu, Wenjin.
• Other Authors: Khong Poh Wah
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2011
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Mechanical engineering::Alternative, renewable energy sources
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/46104
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

This report serves to discuss on the concept of energy storage for sustainable development. The project used a bicycle for the purpose of illustrating the concept. An energy storage system was designed and constructed on a typical bicycle. The energy storage system comprised of energy harvesting components and an energy storage device. The system harvested waste energy and regulated it to the energy storage device through the use of a charging circuit. The energy harvesting components included coiled wire with conducting magnets at the rear bicycle wheel, dynamo at the brake caliper and an improvised version of the Tumbling Magnet system at the suspension. Experiments were carried out to determine the feasibility of such energy storage system. The results showed that the energy harvesting components successfully harvested energy from the system, producing voltages of at least 2.4V at a bicycle rotation speed of 250rpm and a power output of 20mW. While slowing down, the system could harvest 660mW of power at 2.8V. While travelling on uneven grounds, the system could achieve voltages of at least 2.4V with approximately 4.5mW of power. The charging circuit then regulated the energy and the energy storage device successfully stored the energy. The energy storage device simulated in the project was a 2.4V nickel metal hydride rechargeable battery. The project achieved its objective and proved that waste energy could be harvested and stored for sustainable development.