CHAPTER 1

(INTRODUCTION)

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

As the world advances, the way people live is altered in such a way that it shifted from a fixed
location-centered lifestyle into a more diverse and mobile lifestyle. This caused higher demands for
mobile devices which provide instant source of information, messaging, entertainment, and many more.
Moreover, due to the pandemic people are obliged to stay home. Mobile devices, specifically
smartphones, have been very helpful especially in terms of work, education, and keeping in touch with
one another. Consequently, as the use of mobile devices increase, demands for chargers and
rechargeable batteries have strikingly increased. Here in our locality power interruptions occur more
often and unexpectedly. Thus, having a backup battery that provides portable power to charge battery
powered items would be necessary especially that almost everyone is always online these days.

Power bank is a mobile and portable source of electricity that can be used to charge gadgets like
smart phone and tablet. The power banks market grew exponentially, with over 500 brands on the
market (SWICAID, 2018). Most of the power bank consists of rechargeable Lithium-ion or Lithium-
Polymer batteries. According to the Consumer Product Safety Office (CPSO), although generally
considered safe, they can catch fire or cause burns if they malfunction (consumerproductsafety.gov).

In this light, the researchers conducted this study to make use of the renewable resources such
as the saltwater which was recently discovered to have some electric potential. The development of
renewable energy is vital to the world to minimize the global warming. Salt is commonly found in
seawater, which are abundant and comprises the large portion of the planet. Saltwater is a safe, eco-
friendly, and cheap source of energy. It is very accessible. It can be found at home and is commonly used
for cooking. In this study, the researchers found out that it is not only limited for daily consumption,
instead salt has a potential to be another source of energy.

It is the goal of this research to develop a power bank that utilizes saltwater as its source of
power. The seawater will also be examined and compared to the saline water to determine which
produces more voltage and is capable of charging mobile phones which, according to Amy Watson from
Statista, is the most used device during the pandemic. The researchers conducted this study to help
residents to provide the need of energy especially in emergency situations to power up their gadgets
during brownouts where restoration may take hours, days or weeks depending on the range of
damages. Salt water power bank can aide the needs of energy especially in the middle of power
interruptions. In addition, Philippines is surrounded by ocean and most of the cities and barangays are
located on islands. The salt water power bank is designed to aid the people living near the sea to supply
their electronic device like mobile phone without the ac source that comes from the grid. The
development of salt water power bank may benefit the people living on islands because it can charge
devices without the use of electricity from the grid and may reduce the electric bill. The electric supply
in the Philippines is growing because of the rapid growth of population. As the population in the
Philippines increase, the consumption of electricity becomes higher, thus the electric bill also increases.
Saltwater power bank can help reduce power consumption when charging electronic devices. Thus, this
enables users to save some money on their monthly electric bills.

The researchers will determine the capacity of the power bank and the factors affecting the
generation of voltage in terms of the amount of seawater and salt in saltwater solution in the power
bank to find out how to amplify the voltage generated by the power bank. Amplifying the voltage would
lead to powering up not only mobile phones but also rechargeable lamps and other rechargeable
devices that consumes power not exceeding the amplified capacity of the power bank. Hence, this study
will not only be beneficial to mobile phone users but also to the people who uses rechargeable devices
not exceeding the capacity of the power bank, residents near the sea, fishermen who uses rechargeable
lamps during fishing, and most especially the environment.

1.2 OBJECTIVES

General Objective:

To design and develop a power bank that is powered by saltwater or seawater.

Specific Objectives:

1. To make use of the newly discovered source of energy that is not harmful and can be beneficial
to the residents: saltwater and seawater.
2. To determine the factors affecting the generation of power in a power bank in terms of:
a. amount of salt in saltwater solution
b. amount of seawater
 3. To produce electricity from salt or seawater higher than 1 volt.
4. To compare the voltage produced by the saltwater and seawater, then compare them to a solar
power bank.
5. To improve the storage capacity of the power bank.
6. To provide energy during power interruptions.

1.3 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The generalization of this study would be a great contribution to the vast knowledge in relation
to the salt water or seawater used in a power bank to obtain electric energy. Salt water power bank
generates through salt water mixture or sea water which are easily accessible. Salt water power bank is
very useful during blackouts to provide needed voltages to power up our gadgets, flashlights and any
electronic device not exceeding the maximum power generated by the power bank.

This study is significant to the following:

TO THE STUDENTS- This study will be beneficial to the students because most of the classes and school
activities are done online, so they would need a backup battery to charge their smartphones especially
during blackouts. Power interruptions are inevitable and would occur unexpectedly, thus having a power
bank is really necessary nowadays.

TO THE CITIZENS- This device is significant for those who are using mobile devices and other
rechargeable devices that needs a backup battery. With this device, they can easily charge their phone
by using a readily available source of energy especially during blackouts. Every citizen can use this power
bank in their daily life. It may help them lessen their electric bill.

TO THE FISHERMEN- The outcome of the study will be beneficial to the fishermen specifically on their
needs for electric power during fishing at night time or early in the morning where the sun is still not up.
The power bank will serve as a power source for their rechargeable lamps that consume power not
exceeding the maximum capacity of the power bank.

TO THE RESIDENTS LIVING NEAR THE SEA- This study is significant to the people living near the sea
where seawater is easy to access. They would be able to charge their mobile phones and other devices
for free and with unlimited source. In relation to that, people would be able to save money because they
could charge devices without the use of electricity from the grid and may reduce their electric bill.
TO THE COMMUNITY- This study could encourage others to help and support in saving energy by
allowing such device to be used in their locality.

TO THE ENVIRONMENT- The development of renewable energy is vital to the world to minimize the
global warming. The researchers used renewable energy sources that are nontoxic. Saltwater is a newly
discovered source of energy. It's safe, eco-friendly, and cheap source of energy as well as seawater. Both
are very accessible and do not produce any waste, therefore it is good for the environment.

TO THE FUTURE RESEARCHERS- This study will serve as reference for the future researchers. This will
serve as a guide to further develop and improve the research with the connection to the variable used.

1.4 SCOPE AND DELIMITATION

The main purpose of this study is to design and create a power bank that is powered by saltwater or
seawater. It will also enclose the observation of the two variables, saltwater and seawater, in order to
determine which among the two produce higher voltage, and which is more effective in powering up a
device.

The limitation of this research includes the capacity of the power bank to charge a device. The power
bank is only limited to charge devices that consume up to 5 volts. The structure of this device was one of
the concerns of this study, as well as its construction and production.