2. Today, most people just flip a switch or push a
button, and everything we depend on is readily
available.
The electricity powering all these systems is
something most people rarely think about until the
power is no longer available for use.
It may be hard to believe that nearly 70% of all
people have no access to electricity.
There is only one way to create a standalone
system, and this is with a generator.
Bicycle power Generator
2
3. Primary objectives include:
Low Production Cost
High Safety
Secondary objectives include:
High Energy Efficiency
Low Upkeep
High Product Durability
Bicycle power Generator
3
4. The basic design for the bicycle powered generator is to have a bicycle
on a fixed stand, and then when the bicycle is pedaled, the spinning
motion of the rear tire is used to produce mechanical energy directly
into a DC voltage.
If an AC voltage is produced, a full bridge rectifier will be necessary to
produce the DC voltage.
This DC voltage can then be used immediately or stored via a battery
array.
If a constant DC voltage is required by the user a DC-DC converter may
be necessary to change the varying DC voltages produced from the
varying bike speed to a constant DC voltage for certain utilities or
battery array.
Another design factor that must be implemented and compared is the
coupling of the bicycle wheel to either the alternator or dynamo rotor.
Bicycle power Generator
4
5. A bicycle is designed to convert human energy into mechanical energy for transportation purposes.
To maximize the efficiency of both conversions is essential to obtaining the maximum power output.
The bicycle is an efficient and robust method to convert between the two types of energy.
It is an efficient design that provides seating for the user as well as pedals and drive train that are easily
activated.
The forces acting again a rider are due to off bike force such as wind, gravity, and rolling resistance.
These three off-bike forces make up about 95 percent of the force against you, which means the bike
itself is about 95 percent efficient.
As published in the International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics―Pedaling is the most efficient way of
utilizing power from human muscles.
Pedal power enables a person to drive devices at the same or higher rate as that achieved by hand
cranking, but with far less effort and fatigue.
The human musculature is concentrated in our legs and the bicycle set-up allows for harnessing the
maximum output.
Bicycle power Generator
5
6. The practical option to
implement for the bicycle
system was to use an
dynamo/alternator
Dynamos /alternators are
equipped with permanent
magnets.
They are typically claw-pole
generators and deliver
energy at rather low rpm.
Alternator
6
7. The voltage created by a
permanent magnet motor is
directly proportional to the
rotating speed of the motor
(RPM).
The scooter motors we use in
our system are designed to
provide a 24V output at 2850
RPM
In order to create a voltage
constantly higher than 12V the
motor must rotate at a speed of
at least 1425 RPM.
How fast the motor rotates
depend on: the speed the
cyclist’s spinning legs (faster =
greater motor RMP)
Battery Charging
7
8. Bicycle power Generator
8
Item Cost [Rs.]
1 Bicycle 3500
2 600 Watt Battery 4500
3 300 Watt DC Generator 3500
4 Adjustable V-belt 500
5 12V Charge Controller 3500
6 Bike Trainer Exercise Stand 1000
7 Diods, Terminal Blocks & Wiring Kit for charge controller 1000
8 Miscellaneous hardware 500
9 TOTAL 18000
9. Bicycle power Generator
9
Q: How much power can a person produce?
A: Kids under 12 can put out 50 to 100 Watts of
power for an hour.
An adult who works out every day can put out
between 100 and 150 Watts of power for an hour.
Someone who is a competitive cycler can put out
up to 500 Watts.
