8th International Conference on Electrical and Computer Engineering 718

20-22 December, 2014, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Power Generating Slabs: Lost energy conversion of

human locomotive force into electrical energy
*
Rajesh Kumar Datta, 1, Sazid Rahman2
1
Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology, Bangladesh
2
Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology, Bangladesh
*
rajeshcuet10@gmail.com

Abstract— In the world of modern technology, newer sources of overcrowded countries like Bangladesh this methodology will
energy and new methods of power generation are two important be very much efficient and helpful to reduce power crisis.
area of interest for researchers and engineers. Recently a new
method is established to generate power from the lost energy of a
human during his/her locomotive period. A piezoelectric sensor
based costly product is available in some developed countries II. DESIGN PRINCIPLE OF POWER GENERATING SLABS
which can generate power from human locomotive force, but it is
not suitable for countries like Bangladesh where power demand
is very high but economy is not highly developed. In this paper
we will explain the design and construction method of a “Power
Generating Slab” which can be used to generate power by
establishing anywhere of the walking zone of human (roads,
stairs, pavements, dais etc). This is done in a low cost process
with locally available equipments (micro-generator, iron plate,
rack pinion gear, free-wheeling system, spring etc). These slabs
can easily sustain human weight when people walk along them.
With a small deformation of spring, the weight (mechanical
energy) of a human body is converted into electrical energy by
rotating a micro-generator with the help of a ‘rotating shaft’
coupled with it. From each foot step almost 10V-12V is generated.
This energy is stored in a rechargeable battery which can be used
as a power source to drive loads. Assembly of some power
generating slabs can give better result. This is a method which is
reusable and it will run for a longer period.

Index Terms— Power Generating Slab, Mechanical force,

Locomotive force, Foot step, Electrical energy.
Fig 1: Block diagram of Power Generating Slab

I. INTRODUCTION III. CONSTRUCTION AND SPECIFICATION

Lost energy conversion of human locomotive force into
electrical energy is a relevant and important proposal of power Top Plane:
production for highly populated countries of the world. For a This is the upper portion of the slab. In our design we have
healthy human being, walking is the most common activity in made this portion with the iron plate. It can be built with other
daily life. During the movement of a person, energy is lost in materials too. The main condition of this plate is to sustain the
the form of impact or vibration on the walking surface. [4] We weight of any person walking along it. Footsteps will work as
can convert this lost energy in the usable form of power. The mechanical force.
method we have implemented to make “Power Generating Length: 50cm, Width: 30cm, Material: Iron
Slab” needs some simple mechanical set ups. These slabs can
be embedded in the places where there are continuous rush of
people; like roads, footpaths, railway platform, stairs etc.
When any person will step on the top plate of the slab, the
body weight will compress the springs under the slab and the
top plate will dip down a little bit. This small downward
displacement of the top plate will rotate a micro generator’s
shaft fitted at the bottom plate and produce electrical energy.
When the person will take off his foot from the slab, the
springs will regain the position of the top plate. This produced
Fig 2 : Top Plane
electrical energy will be stored to use later. More human
movement will generate more power from these slabs. In

978-1-4799-4166-7/14/$31.00 ©2014 IEEE


Rack and pinion:
This part of the device is attached with the top plate. The
mechanical force is converted into a rotational force with the
help of rack and pinion. Starting point of rack is welded with
the iron plate and the bottom is attached with a pinion along
with a shaft.
Length (Rack): 18cm, Radius (Pinion): 03cm
Fig 3: Rack Fig 4: Pinion
Springs:
Below the top plane layer there are 4 helical springs [5]. These
springs are one of the most important parts of this design.
When the top plate is loaded with human foot step these
springs are distorted slightly and when the load is removed
they recover their original shape. This displacement does not
make any discomfort in the human walking zone.
Spring type: Helical, Number of springs: 04, Length: 3cm,
Maximum weight tested: 90 kg, Maximum displacement: 1cm.
Fig 5: Helical Spring
Shaft with freewheeling bearing:
A shaft is coupled with the pinion and the gear mechanism.
The shaft is clamped between the iron frame works. And the
freewheeling type bearings are attached on the shaft. The free-
wheeling bearings rotate only in one direction.
Length: 50cm
Fig 6: Shaft with freewheeling bearing
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Gear mechanism:
This mechanism can be used in many different forms. The
arrangement we have used for our device is attached with the
shaft with the help of sprocket arrangement. There is a smaller
output shaft in this mechanism which converts the total
applied force into the rotational force.
Sprocket diameter: 12.5cm
Fig 7: Coupling system with Fig 8: Gear arrangements
Sprocket
Micro- Generator (dynamo):
In this slab we have used a 12V, 0.7A dynamo as micro
generator. A dynamo, another form of electrical generator
produces direct current. This dc current is produced with the
help of a commutator. In dynamo there are rotating coils and a
magnetic field. When the shaft of the dynamo rotates with the
help of any external force a pulsating direct current is
produced because of Faraday's law of induction[3].The
constant magnetic field is provided by a stator and a set of
armature turn in that magnetic field. When the armature cuts
the magnetic field, an alternating electric current is induced in
the wire. Commutator works like a rotary switch. Connection
of the windings is reversed to the external circuit by the
commutator when the direction of the potential reverses. As a
result the direction of the output current remains always same.
Thus pulsating direct current is produced instead of alternating
current from the dynamo.
Fig 9: Coupled dynamo with a belt
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have used can charge a battery at a constant voltage of about

Total mechanical setup: 13.8V. The voltage that is generated from the human foot step
is firstly stored in a capacitor. This capacitor can be of any
value as much as desired. The charge controller circuit keep
the voltage constant at the output. This helps to charge a
battery properly. When the battery is fully charged, charge
controller does not pass any voltage to the battery terminal.

V. DATA
Fig 10: Power Generating Slab

Average power/foot step

Output: Number Capacitor current Average
Maximum voltage in one foot step: 12v footsteps voltage Power/foot
step
Voltage type: Pure dc
5 32V dc 0.7A dc 4.48 Watt

10 61V dc 0.7A 4.27 Watt

15 85Vdc 0.7A 3.96 Watt

Fig 11: Output Voltage This data table shows the relationship between the number of
footsteps and average produced power. This observation is
done with a person of 60kg weight.
IV. CHARGING ARRANGEMENTS
The produced energy from the slab must be stored in a
rechargeable battery. So a charge controller is needed at the .
output of the slab. For charging of a battery we have used a
constant voltage method. The voltage level produces from
slab varies time to time. So a charge controller is needed to
keep a constant voltage to charge a battery. The controller we

Fig 12: Charge controller circuit [1]

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V. RELATION BETWEEN FORCE AND VOLTAGE VIII. DIFFERENCE WITH EXISTING SYSTEM

The relation between mechanical force and electrical voltage
is proportional in these slabs. The force is applied in the form
of human weight. More the weight is applied, more the
voltage is generated. The force strength is depended on the
spring’s strength. Springs consume the mechanical energy
obeying Hook’s Law in their elasticity limit
F= - kx
Where
x is the displacement of springs from its normal length.
F is the resulting force vector, the magnitude and direction of
the restoring force the spring exerts.
k is the spring constant , a constant that depends on the
spring's material and construction[7].
This force F is applied to the freewheeling bearing which
produces a rotational energy. The amount of energy stored in
a flywheel is proportional to the square of its rotational speed.
Where,
ω is the angular velocity
I is the moment of inertia of the mass about the centre of
rotation. [8]
Thus the rotational energy is converted into electrical energy
with dynamo rotation.
So, the relation is actually
Force ∞ rotational energy ∞voltage
VI. ADVANTAGES
1. Lower cost.
2. Can be made with locally available materials.
3. Power can be generated in many forms.
4. Easy construction.
The existing system in market is based on the piezoelectric
sensor which is a costly material. So the price of the total
device is very high ([2], [6]). And the materials to make the
slab are not available in all places. In our method, we have
used the materials which are easily available in all places and
the mechanical system can be easily made in workshops. Our
design can be reused and if any kind of hamper is occurred it
can be easily solved. The flooring system is a prime concern
of this project. We have successfully made the system in
which the flooring will not be a discomfort to walk.
IX. CONCLUSION
In modern world the demand of renewable energy is
increasing rapidly. Power generating slab doesn’t need any
fuel to produce power. It just uses the energy that is lost by a
human during walking. These slabs can be helpful in
reducing power crisis. If these slabs are produced industrially
and further research is done on materials and the design, the
efficiency will be a lot better. Then these slabs can be viewed
as a next promising source of generating power.
REFERENCES
[1] Abhik datta , Design of a Lead Acid Battery Charger System;
National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, 2009
[2] http://urbantimes.co/2012/10/footsteps-power-city-sustainably-pavegen-
paving-tiles-smart/
[3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynamo
[4] S.S.Taliyan, B.B. Biswas, R.K. Patil and G. P. Srivastava, T.K. Basu ,
“Electricity From Footsteps” , research article of general interest ,ISSUE
NO 313 • MAR. - APR. 2010
[5] http://engg-learning.blogspot.com/2011/03/helical-spring.html
[6] Pramathesh.T, Ankur.S “Piezoelectric Crystals : Future Source of
Electricity” International Journal of Scientific Engineering and Technology
(ISSN : 2277-1581) Volume 2 Issue 4, pp : 260-262
[7] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hooke's_law
[8] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotational_energy

VII. APPLICATIONS
1. For emergency backup power.
2. To run small electrical equipments at the time of
load shedding.
3. Street light
4. For charging purpose.
5. Different ways of applications like stairs, classroom
daises, parks etc.