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Seesaw
Seesaw
Childrens Play
Shunmugham R. Pandian
Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Tulane University
New Orleans, LA 70118
Abstract-A new method is proposed for harnessing of human
power based on children's play in playgrounds and public
places, on devices such as the seesaw, merry-go-round, and
swing. When large numbers of children play in a playground,
part of the power of their play can be usefully harnessed
resulting in significant energy storage. This stored energy can
then be converted to electricity for powering basic, low-power
appliances such as lights, fans, communications equipment, and
so on. The method provides a low-cost, low-resource means of
generation of electricity, especially for use in developing
countries. The paper discusses the basic theory behind the
method. Results of experiments on a laboratory prototype
compressed air human power conversion system using a teetertotter are presented to illustrate the practical effectiveness of the
proposed method.
I. INTRODUCTION
Sitting
Swimming
Sprinting
116
582
1630
TABLE III
Power consumption
30 mW
60 mW
4W
10 W
10-30 W
25-50 W
50 W
100 W
500 W
1000 W
Win = (M 1 + M 2 ) a h
P2
W=
P1V1 1
P1
1
P
2
W=
P1V1 1
P1
1
P 2 0.29
W = 3.5 P1V 1 1
P1
V2
W = PdV
V1
where the tank volume is V1, and the air escapes into the
atmosphere finally occupying some volume V2.
The pressures and volumes are related by
V
V2 = V1 1
V2
V
P = P1 1
V
14
12
10
8
6
4
Efficiency (%)
2
0
43
53
70
87
Output
Efficiency
The above system efficiency is comparable to that of shoebased power converters reported in literature. These
converters typically produce about 1 W power output from
the human walking action involving energy expenditure of
about 65 W.
In the prototype, for simplicity the compressed air from the
tank is not delivered to the air engine at a regulated pressure.
Therefore, the power converter efficiency is reduced for
smaller tanks due to rapid pressure drops.
For example, Fig. 9 also shows the case of a larger, 11 gallon
tank used with the air engine converter to power the
fluorescent light and other loads. In this case, while the tank
capacity is 3.6 times that of the smaller tank, the electric
energy output is 5.5 times as high. At this rate, two children
playing on a seesaw for three minutes could be expected to
power a low-power electric appliance with 14 W for a minute
duration.
VI. DISCUSSIONS
REFERENCES
[1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]
[8]
[9]
[10]
[11]
[12]
VII. CONCLUSIONS
[13]
[14]
[15]
[16]
[17]
[18]
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
[19]
[20]
[21]
[22]