CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

People have natural forces which is called weight. A day to day walking is the most usual
activity in life. The forces exerted through steps are usually disregarded which turns to waste
energy such as vibration, sound, impact and etc. This energy can be tapped and converted into a
usable form which is electrical form.
The study aims to generate energy to store electricity, making normal activities as
productive as possible. Through the stair Generator, we would be able to utilize kinetic energy
from the steps created by the people walking on it. The collected kinetic energy will become
mechanical energy as the shafts rotate through the force acted upon the stairs. To be able to
accomplish enough energy the Stair Generator needed enough steps (continuous walking of
humans) to rotate the shafts and to store enough electricity to the battery.
Multiple stairs are attached with a geared rod beneath the individual stepping platform.
Underneath, the geared rods are meshed with the gears which caused the shaft to rotate if applied
with force beneath the platform. Only a single shaft absorbs the rotation created by the multiple
gears from the stairs. More steps means higher speed to the shafting.

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Due to increase of population there is a higher demand of electricity. The insufficient

supply of electricity lead to a study that tackles about converting neglected energy such as weight
exerted through steps into a rotary motion that will generate efficient electricity. This project
innovates the way to produce electricity.
Advantages:

Store electricity in the battery

Can be use at anytime when necessary
Easy construction
Less number of parts needed
Simple technology and easy maintenance
No labor required.
No fuel required.
Pollution free power generation.
This system does not depend on the weather like solar, wind and hydro power

generations. So the energy available all around the year.

This unit has minimum cost of installation.

Disadvantages:

Requires many steps

Restricted amount of wattage

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The researchers main purposes are as follows:

1. To produce electricity in a more accessible and innovative way.
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2. To create an eco-friendly machinery.

3. To make use of neglected energy such as energy produced by footsteps into electricity.

THEORETICAL/ CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

The system starts to energize when the source (people) stepped on the stairs which is
individually attached by a spring to both ends and a rod in-between the platform of the stairs.
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The kinetic energy produce by the steps transfers to the rods and springs as the platform presses
down. The kinetic energy transforms to mechanical energy by the rotary motion created by the
shafting through the meshed gears. The energy produced will be stored in a battery. More steps
means higher speed to the shafting and greater power output.

SYSTEM FLOW CHART

Human Load

Power Step Arrangement

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Power Transmission

Lights

Battery Storage

Generator

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The statuses of countries are categories into three sectors: the first World, second World
and third World countries. Asia, North America, South America, Europe, Africa, and Canada
have countries that are part of the third world. One example is the Philippines. Some parts of the
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Philippines are abundant in sources of energy produce through steam, wind, solar and etc. The
population is increasing not only in the urban areas but also in the rural areas. It would be
advantageous to people who are located in areas with abundant electrical sources such as people
located near EDC.
Unfortunately, most places in the Philippines like the people living in mountain areas
couldnt tap electricity due to inaccessible locations and etc. This project study could help rural
areas with no sources of energy to produce electricity through the force exerted by their own
energy through multiple steps which would generate electricity that could light-up a bulb. A
single bulb could give multiple benefits that give satisfaction and happiness to people.

SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

Unlike renewable plants this machinery cannot generate huge amount of power output,
but can sustain the entire establishment where it is installed in terms of lighting. This machine
continually generates power as long as people stepped on it.

DEFINITION OF TERMS
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Crankshaft mechanism - A crank is an arm attached at right angles to a rotating shaft by

which reciprocating motion is imparted to or received from the shaft. It is used to
convert circular motion into reciprocating motion, or vice versa. The arm may be a bent
portion of the shaft, or a separate arm or disk attached to it. Attached to the end of the
crank by a pivot is a rod, usually called a connecting rod. The end of the rod attached to
the crank moves in a circular motion, while the other end is usually constrained to move
in a linear sliding motion.
The term often refers to a human-powered crank which is used to manually turn an axle,
as in a bicycle crank set or a brace and bit drill. In this case a person's arm or leg serves
as the connecting rod, applying reciprocating force to the crank. There is usually a bar
perpendicular to the other end of the arm, often with a freely rotatable handle
or pedal attached.

Meshed gears - gear or cogwheel is a rotating machine part having cut teeth, or cogs,
which mesh with another toothed part to transmit torque. Geared devices can change the
speed, torque, and direction of a power source. Gears almost always produce a change in
torque, creating a mechanical advantage, through their gear ratio, and thus may be
considered a simple machine. The teeth on the two meshing gears all have the same
shape. Two or more meshing gears, working in a sequence, are called a gear train or
a transmission. A gear can mesh with a linear toothed part, called a rack, thereby
producing translation instead of rotation.
The gears in a transmission are analogous to the wheels in a crossed belt pulley system.
An advantage of gears is that the teeth of a gear prevent slippage.

When two gears mesh, if one gear is bigger than the other, a mechanical advantage is
produced, with the rotational speeds, and the torques, of the two gears differing in
proportion to their diameters.

Rack and pinion - A rack and pinion is a type of linear actuator that comprises a pair
of gears which convert rotational motion into linear motion. A circular gear called
"the pinion" engages teeth on a linear "gear" bar called "the rack"; rotational motion
applied to the pinion causes the rack to move relative to the pinion, thereby translating
the rotational motion of the pinion into linear motion.
For example, in a rack railway, the rotation of a pinion mounted on a locomotive or
a railcar engages a rack between the rails and forces a train up a steep slope.
For every pair of conjugate involute profile, there is a basic rack. This basic rack is the
profile of the conjugate gear of infinite pitch radius. A generating rack is a rack outline
used to indicate tooth details and dimensions for the design of a generating tool, such as a
hob or a gear shaper cutter.

Shaft - A shaft is a rotating machine element, usually circular in cross section, which is
used to transmit power from one part to another, or from a machine which produces
power

to

machine

which

absorbs

power. The

various

members

such

as pulleys and gears are mounted on it.

Generator - A generator in electrical circuit theory is one of two ideal elements: an

ideal voltage

source,

or

an

ideal current

source. These

are

two

of

the

fundamental elements in circuit theory. Real electrical generators are most commonly
modelled as a non-ideal source consisting of a combination of an ideal source and a
resistor. Voltage generators are modelled as an ideal voltage source in series with a
resistor. Current generators are modelled as an ideal current source in parallel with a
resistor. The resistor is referred to as the internal resistance of the source. Real world
equipment may not perfectly follow these models, especially at extremes of loading (both
high and low) but for most purposes they suffice.
The two models of non-ideal generators are interchangeable, either can be used for any
given generator. Thvenin's theorem allows a non-ideal current source model to be
converted to a non-ideal voltage source model and Norton's theorem allows a non-ideal
voltage source model to be converted to a non-ideal current source model. Both models
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are equally valid, but the voltage source model is more applicable to when the internal
resistance is low (that is, much lower than the load impedance) and the current source
model is more applicable when the internal resistance is high (compared to the load).

Open coil helical spring - A coil spring, also known as a helical spring, is a mechanical
device which is typically used to store energy and subsequently release it, to absorb
shock, or to maintain a force between contacting surfaces. They are made of
an elastic material formed into the shape of a helix which returns to its natural length
when unloaded.
Under tension or compression, the material (wire) of a coil spring undergoes torsion. The
spring characteristics therefore depend on the shear modulus, not Young's Modulus.
A coil spring may also be used as a torsion spring: in this case the spring as a whole is
subjected to torsion about its helical axis. The material of the spring is thereby subjected
to a bending moment, either reducing or increasing the helical radius. In this mode, it is
the Young's Modulus of the material that determines the spring characteristics.
Metal coil springs are made by winding a wire around a shaped former - a cylinder is
used to form cylindrical coil springs.

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Hinge - A hinge is a mechanical bearing that connects two solid objects, typically
allowing only a limited angle of rotation between them. Two objects connected by an
ideal hinge rotate relative to each other about a fixed axis of rotation. Hinges may be
made of flexible material or of moving components. In biology, many joints function as
hinges like the elbow joint.

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CHAPTER II
REVIEW AND RELATED LITERATURE
RELATED LITERATURE
Production of Electricity
Electricity is the set of physical phenomena associated with the presence and flow of
electric charge. Electricity gives a wide variety of well-known effects, such as lightning, static
electricity, electromagnetic induction and electric current. Throughout the next hundred years,
many inventors and scientists tried to find a way to use electrical power to make light. In 1879,
the American inventor Thomas Edison was finally able to produce a reliable, long-lasting electric
light-bulb in his laboratory. Electricity is important because it is versatile, controlled easily and is
used in everyone's daily life. Without electricity, humans would have to use other forms of
energy that are less efficient. Electricity is considered a very efficient way of energy
consumption in part because it is weightless as well as easy to distribute. Electricity is used
without creating loss and without creating pollution. Other forms of energy experience loss,
pollution or both, such as fossil fuels. At the point where electricity generates, it is a renewable
form of energy as well as a clean one. Without electricity, humans would be able to enjoy next to
no modern conveniences.

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RELATED STUDIES
Footstep electric converter
The platform is provided castor wheels, and can be placed at any public place where there
is continuous movement of people. This unit is designed for persons weighing 50 Kg and above.
However, persons below 50 kg weight can also operate but the power produced will be low. The
unit is fitted with two 12 V, 26 AH lead acid batteries for storing the output energy from this unit.
Also, an inverter is provided to convert 12 V DC from battery to 230 V AC supply for general
use. When a person walks over to the platform, the reading on the energy meter was observed to
be incremented by 3-5 J per step, depending on the weight of the person. The output may be
further increased by increasing the efficiency of the FSEC device. As millions of people are on
the move in cities, significant amount of electricity can be generated by installing these devices
at places where public walk through. From electric vehicles earned wasted kinetic energy. The
higher frequency of passing people provides higher capacity of electricity generated by staircase
power generation. This method generates the electric power without polluting our environment.
The waste energy supplied by human is utilized in this system. This energy source is continuous
and renewable. Moreover we are confident that this method of power generation will be used for
rural electrification and to fulfill our power needs. Also this system looks very eco-friendly from
the environmental point of view.

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CHAPTER III
METHODOLOGY
PROJECT LAYOUT

FRONT VIEW

TOP VIEW

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ISOMETRIC VIEW

INTERNAL VIEWS
1.

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2.

3.

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CONSTRUCTION
The following arrangements are made to make it as a good energy transfer system.
A. Stationary Plate
It is a base plate which is connected to other rigid steps and it provides operating platform for the
moving power step by means of hinge support.
B. Power Step
It is rectangular metal plate which is supported by a hinge and spring with stationary plate.
C. Open Coil Helical Spring
Two compression springs are used to carry the load on the edge of the power step. Springs are
also to push the Power step to its original position.
D. Connecting Rod
It is to connect the power step and shaft. It transmits the linear motion of the power step to the
shaft through rack and pinion.
E. Rack and pinion
A rack and pinion is a type of linear actuator that comprises a pair of gears which convert linear
motion into rotational motion. The circular pinion engages teeth on a linear "gear" bar the rack.
The linear movement of the rack will cause a rotational motion to the pinion, up to the limit of its
travel.

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F. Shaft
All linear motion of the racks is transformed to the pinion in rotational motion, where it is
accumulated in one shafting.
G. Generator
The generator is coupled to the shaft. Rotational motion of the shaft drives the generator which
produces electricity.

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OPERATION/ WORKING PRINCIPLE

When we press the power step while walking it pushes down the open coil helical spring
as well as the connecting rod with a rack attached in it. This transmits the linear motion of the
power step through the rack which drives the pinion that produces rotational motion. Meanwhile,
after the linear motion transforms into rotational motion the pressed helical spring push back the
power step to its original position. The rotational motion produced by the pinion is accumulated
by the shaft that is coupled to the generator thus generates electricity. The power generated is
stored in the battery for easy access.

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