RECONSTRUCTING SOUND VIBRATIONS INTO

ALTERNATIVE SOURCE OF ENERGY

A CAPSTONE PAPER
Presented to
the Senior High School Department
LA CONSOLACION COLLEGE TANAUAN
Tanauan City, Batangas

In Partial Fulfilment
of the Requirements in Capstone Project

Submitted by:
Turingan, Julie Anne Kyhrah B.
Villanueva, Lindley J.
Villegas, Kyra Mae C.
Alawag, Edward John L.
Salonga, Jervin P.
Malipol, Bernard V.
(STEM – Our Lady of Rosary)
 Chapter 1
THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND
Introduction

It is crucial to know the difference between noise and sound. Noise is a form of sound
that can be described as unwelcome, irritating, unpleasant, or loud. Noise is often defined as an
irritating tone that produces mild to severe discomfort or irritation. Scientifically speaking, noise
is a type of mechanical energy and is a form of energy that can be heard by living things. These
tones cut through the background cacophony of our daily life. On the other hand, sound is a
pressure wave which is created by a vibrating object. Callaghan (2017) stated that sounds are
particular individuals that bear audible qualities, like pitch, timbre, and loudness, and persist. The
scientific view that treats sound as waves is thus best understood because the view that sounds
are event-like, instead of object-like, particulars whose locations within the medium change over
time.

Ears are quite good at detecting noise. It is indistinguishable from desired sound in terms
of physics, as both are vibrations across a medium such as air or water. When the brain hears and
perceives a sound, there is a difference. When it comes to measuring different forms of noise, we
want to mimic how the human ear processes noise to gain an accurate picture of its impact.
Depending on how it varies over time, noise might be constant, fluctuating, intermittent, or
impulsive.

According to Tara (2020), all life and all processes in the cosmos require energy to
function. On Earth, the sun is the ultimate source of all energy that humans, animals, plants, and
microorganisms can access and use. This energy can be obtained directly, as in photosynthesis,
or indirectly, as in the case of fossil fuels, which have long been trapped the sun's energy, which
is released when they are burned.

Energy conversion is the transformation of energy from different forms provided by

nature (Woodruff, 2017). Energy conversion has three processes that are involved; transfer,
transform and conservation. Energy transfer is the movement of energy switching locations from
one place to another; while energy transformation is the processes of changing energy into one
form to another; lastly, energy conservation is the principle of energy that can neither be created
or destroyed.

In the study of Sharma (2018), explained that various types of energy that can be
converted into another form of energy. He stated that (a) light can be converted to heat energy,
(b) electrical energy can be converted to mechanical, light, heat energy, etc., (c) chemical energy
can be converted to electrical energy, (d) thermal energy can be converted to heat energy, (e)
mechanical energy can be converted to electrical, potential energy, etc., (f) nuclear energy can be
converted to light and heat energy, (g) solar energy can be converted to heat, chemical, and
electrical energy, (h) lastly, gravitational potential energy can be converted to kinetic energy.  

This experimental study aims to make a device that can generate noise (mechanical
energy) to electrical energy.

Background of the Study

Energy is one of the people’s basic needs. Electricity is one of the best examples of
energy. It is the most vitally important thing in this modern era now that people are surrounded
by technology. Electricity in developed countries is free-flowing and abundant. In the
Philippines, there is a struggle to provide sustainable energy particularly in rural areas. 

Electricity shortage has been one of the major problems our country is facing. The
National Grid Corporation of the Philippines stated that the source of the electricity shortage is
the increase of power demand, lack of new base-load plants, decommissioning of power plants,
longer unplanned maintenance shutdowns of aging plants, and as well as the unpredictable
weather. However, Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Alfonso Cusi claims that the country
has enough power supply and that it is not a power crisis issue; rather it is a compliance issue.
 Several areas in Batangas experienced rotational brownout due to lack of electricity.
Batang II Electric Cooperatice Inc. (BATELEC II) has been active in scheduling power
interruptions. Taal’s activity, ash fall, and series of earthquakes series of earthquakes has been
affecting the sub-transmission and distribution facilities (Department of Energy, 2020).

Sound is the electrical energy of the machine and can be converted into electrical energy
through many provocative methods including heating using piezoelectric material and
diaphragm. Other sounds are not preventable such as road noise, market noise, industry, train
stations etc. and those unnecessary noises can be used to generate electricity. In this way we can
reduce the use of piezoelectric power and energy generated by chemical materials where it is
converted directly from energy to electrical energy. 

According to Fanga (2017), the sound produces mechanical energy which then converts
to electrical energy. With the help of sound vibrations, we can harvest energy using the
piezoelectric devices. Piezoelectric materials, particularly Lead-zirconate-titanate (PZT), are
excellent for gathering ambient mechanical energy and converting it into useful electricity,
according to a literature assessment.

Converting noise to energy is beneficial for those who often have brownouts in their area.
Converting noise to energy is not specifically used to reduce noise but instead makes use of the
noise. Imagine having this kind of converter while living in a city is like having an infinite
source of energy.
Conceptual Framework

Input
Process
- Hardware and Output
Software
i. Planning
component Reconstructing
ii. Analysis
Sound Vibration
iii. Designing
- Material needed into Alternative
iv. Prototype
for developing Source of Energy
v. Testing
Sound noise into
electrical energy

Figure 1. Conceptual Framework

The figure shown above presents the process of converting noise into energy. The figure also
consists of the input, process and the output of the product. The Input contains the hardware and
software components and materials needed to complete the anticipated product, then the Process
contains the development of the making the product. This is the sample that will run through the
processes. During the process, the noise will be harvested and passed through a microphone,
where it will be converted to electricity and the Output is the finished product

Statement of the Problem

The main problem of the project is to reinforce the locale of Tanauan City in the power
shortage problem through an alternative source of energy which came from sound vibrations.
 The study seeks to answer the following:

1. How effective is a noise-to-energy generator capable of storing acquired energy from

sound vibrations?
2. What are the factors considered in building this kind of generator with limited resources?
3. What are the advantages of using noise-to-energy generator in times of power
interruptions?

Hypothesis

The study posits the following hypothesis:

1. The design of the product is created through basic steps that will allow people to easily
use it without any problems. With the help of piezoelectric devices, storing energy from sounds
is possible. The development of the product is acquired through a scientific process.
2. The components and equipment used in the product come from recycled materials such
as; used power bank, speaker, wires and mic to keep it cheap and accessible.
3. The conversion of noise to energy is not to reduce the noise but instead to make use of
it through converting it to energy.

Significance of the Study

This study aims to prove that noise can be converted into energy that would act as an
alternative source of energy accumulated from sound waves. Thus, the findings to this study
would be highly significant and beneficial specially to the following:

Community. Communities such as Tanauan which often have brownouts will benefit
from this study. With this low cost and efficient alternative, communities would have access to
power, particularly light, which would contribute to enhance their quality of life.
 Department of the Energy. This study would be beneficial to them as this product offers
a better alternative by discovering new sources of energy. Apart from that, we may economize
more.
Schools. It would be really beneficial to them since it provides them with an opportunity
to save money because this alternative would reduce the utility charge, which will benefit
everyone.
Future Researchers. They could employ this study as a starting point for more research,
testing, and analysis of the research topic and product efficacy.

Scope and Delimitation

The study focuses on providing sustainable alternative source of energy using the noise
vibrations which will be converted to energy. The statistics needed will be congregated through
studies and literature. In addition, there would be experiments that will ascertain the success of
the project. The experiment will be conducted in an area where noise is present. All information
and conclusions that will be obtain are limited to the experiments conducted by the researchers.
In addition, the study would make use of recycled materials to create the project.

Definition of Terms

For better understanding of the study, the following terms are hereby defined:

Electrical energy. Electrical energy is a type of energy that is generated by the passage
of electric charge. The capacity to operate or use force to move an item is referred to as energy.
Electricity. is a nonrenewable energy source that must be refined before it can be used to
generate energy.
 Kinetic mechanical energy. is the mechanical energy of movement or motion, not
location? The more the kinetic energy, the quicker the movement. The greatest kinetic energy of
a body is the top speed it can achieve while moving.
Noise. is an unwanted sound that is regarded unpleasant, loud, or disturbing to hearing is
referred to as noise? Noise is indistinguishable from desired sound in terms of physics, as both
are vibrations across a medium such as air or water.
Piezoelectric Devices. can skillfully convert mechanical loads into electric charges
without additional power, and because of its simple mechanical structure, it is used for energy
harvesting from ambient vibration sources.
Rotational Blackout. Also known as manual load dropping, occur when power spikes
and power demand are reduced or inadequate.
Sound vibrations. Objects vibrating produces sound waves (shaking back and forth). As
vibrations, sound waves move through air, water, and solid things. These waves cause the
sensitive skin of our eardrums to vibrate as they reach our ears.