CHAPTER 1

THE PROBLEM AND ITS RESEARCH DESIGN

INTRODUCTION

Rationale

Current industries nowadays rely their operation on the supply of non-renewable

energy resources, particularly coal and oil. Aside from the existing laws regulating the

use of these resources, international environmental organizations mandate protocols that

promote preservation of natural domain such as encouraging individuals to conserve the

use of energy and utilize renewable resources of energy such as by means of

hydroelectric, solar, geothermal and wind turbines.

The advancement of technology nowadays indicates a likelihood of exponential

increase in the progression of energy demand, and according to the Department of Energy

(2017), the most reliable energy source as of these days is fossil fuel for it provides

utmost power generation that other renewables do. However, statistics will be shown

further to manifest the trend of effect of continuous consumption of non-renewable

resources, which includes economic interactions between nations and environmental

concerns due to increasing ambient temperature. Increasingly, the effects of using fossil

fuels without adequate control have been so evident that experts now recommend the use

of renewable resources after seeing conventional energy sources of energy based on oil,

coal, and natural gas to be highly effective drivers of economic progress but at the same

time damaging to the environment and human health (Akella A. K., et. al., 2008).

As further mentioned, several methodologies are being implemented pertaining to

the utilization of renewable technologies such as introducing the use of solar panel in

1
harnessing energy of the light of the Sun, installation of wind turbines in harnessing

energy from wind currents, construction of geothermal plants that can convert the heat of

earth to useful energy, and hydroelectric dams that make use of turbine blades in

mobilizing the potential energy of running and falling water. Nevertheless, as far as the

governing laws of nature are concerned, each of them has their own limitations: since the

sun is not available for 24 hours, solar panels are only deemed useful with the availability

of sunlight but can lose its purpose during cloudy and wet seasons, and at night; wind

turbines depend mainly on the movement of air and choose places where there is strong

wind current, extremely those located in high altitudes and at the shorelines; geothermal

plants generate electricity that might cost more than that of other sources of energy, also

it needs specific location where it can accumulate enough heat for power generation;

hydroelectric dams and turbines are powered where there is enough water supply in

reservoirs but might not be conducive for power generation during drought.

Even so with the aforementioned information, there are so many things which we

can make use to in gathering useful energy, say for example the human power. We can

aptly consider ourselves as renewable energy resources where when nature fails to

balance our need for energy utilization in our daily excursion. We might run out of

supply from oil reserves or photovoltaic glass or turbine blades but the fact that we are

still alive concedes that there is an energy stored in us and we can be able to utilize it if

we acquire rightful knowledge in converting it to other medium with maximum

efficiency. For the purpose of this study, we wish to arrive at a device where we can

convert and store human mechanical energy to objects in the form of stored potential

2
energy, assess its efficiency and then make comparisons of data with the existing

renewable resources for supplemental augmentation of energy conservation.

Theoretical Background of the Study

The existing renewable resources today such as wind, tidal, geothermal, and solar

energy sources each have their own physical and geographical limitations and are

considered to be not available all throughout due to some barriers. Cloete (2013)

discussed these barriers as: the diffuse nature of renewables, explaining that the reason

behind this is that energy must flow from a concentrated form to a more diffuse form in

order to do work; and the intermittent nature of renewables, indicating the need of

deployment of large amount of additional infrastructure in order to counter the large

fluctuations in output. Though already operative, not everyone can easily access those

resources in exploiting useful energy and convert it to electricity because the rate of

growth in electrification has still been slower that population growth, with 1.2 percent

access to electricity growth per year compared to 1.3 percent global population growth

per year from 1990 to 2010 (Plumer, 2013). Accordingly, 1.1 billion people or 15 percent

of world’s population still don’t have an access to electricity, where half of the given

percentage were in rural areas of Sub-Saharan Africa, and a third were rural dwellers in

South Asia (World Development Indicators, 2014). Despite the substantial advancement

of technologies, electricity prices have increased mostly due to increased transmission

and distribution investments in the recent years (Statista, 2018), thus, making conveyance

of electricity difficult for remote civilizations.

Several industrial firms such as power-generating, manufacturing, and automotive

companies rely much of their production on burning fossil fuels. As of 2016, the

3
International Energy Agency (IEA) reported that around 96 million barrels of oil and

liquid are consumed worldly per day, where China and the United States were the main

engines driving fossil fuel markets accounting in them for nearly half the increase in the

world oil demand, while the production breeched 97 million barrels per day. Due to the

progressive demand for these resources, growing number of geologists are recently

questioning whether there will be sufficient oil reserves to keep up with rising global

demand, and many experts project that annual production will fall short of consumption

as early as the middle of the next decade (Miller, et. al., 2014).

As a result, dramatic changes in our climate are occurring and measures are now

undertaken to assess the need of harnessing energy in renewable resources to serve as a

substitute for the non-renewable ones such as advocating energy efficiency in our

household, using low-carbon energy technologies, and installing renewable technologies

(Farnsworth, 2018). Renewable technologies are considered as clean sources of energy,

and optimal use of these resources minimize environmental impacts, produce minimum

secondary wastes, and are sustainable based on current and future economic and social

societal needs. These are so used because they provide an excellent opportunity for the

reduction of greenhouse gas emission and reducing global warming through substituting

conventional energy sources (Panwar et al, 2010). Sun is considered to be the primary

source of all energy because when we use fossil energy sources today, we are utilizing

solar energy that has been stored for a long time since the beginning of life on Earth

without regarding the possibility of renewing this source in the conceivable future (Gray

L. J., et al, 2010). It takes the same amount of time, thousands and thousands of years, to

replace and renew energy resources consumed all throughout since the evolution of

4
industries, and upon looking at the trend of our technology today, it seems likely that it is

impossible to replenish all that has been used up on these resources (Dunn, 1993).

Energy is defined as a property derived from the utilization of physical and

chemical resources of object, while force describes the interaction between objects.

Forces are the way that energy is transferred from one object to another when they

interact but it is not energy itself (Baird, 2014). Gravity is a natural force that greatly

affects every system in the universe. It is a phenomenon by which all things with mass

are brought towards one another, from elementary particles to celestial bodies. Since

energy is a function of mass, all forms of energy, including light, are under the influence

of gravitation. Gravity gives weight to physical objects, and it is also responsible for the

attraction of the original matter present in the universe forming stars, galaxies, systems,

and large scale structures in the universe (National Aeronautics and Space

Administration, 2001). In spite of the fact that a force, particularly gravity, is considered

to be infinite in range, it will never be by any means deemed of as an infinite source for

energy, despite having several trials and experimentations done in the search for

renewable resources. Though, it can be considered as a stimulus in converting one form

of energy to another (Baird, 2014).

Scientists nowadays are now looking into making use of gravity for harnessing

energy. Hydroelectric dams may use water, but they use gravity to help produce

electricity. The same goes for every object, the only thing needed is to put it in a source

where gravity causes movement, and that movement will define the kinetic energy of an

object (Pedraza, 2014). Gravity, a constant acceleration necessary in defining the weight

of an object, has an infinite range that wherever you are in this planet there is gravity,

5
although its effects become increasingly weaker as we go beyond the boundary of Earth’s

atmosphere (Newton, 1687). Aside from the fact that we have access of gravity anywhere

on this planet, it is also environment-friendly adhering that it doesn’t emit any harmful

exhausts to the environment.

Recent studies are already conducted relating to gravity-powered generators such

as one invented by Martin Philip Riddiford (filed 14 October 2010, published 23 August

2012) where the mechanism includes an arrangement of gears with suitable gear ratios

and a 10 kilogram weight suspended at a height of 1.8 meters. His invention is only

limited however of producing 30 minutes of illumination. The results are not be viable

enough to compete with other renewable resources but it indicates the first step towards

advancement of gravity-powered generators. Other inventions include the use of

pendulums as part of their mechanisms such as that of Maximo Gomez Nacer and Ismary

Gomez (filed 11 July 2005, published 18 January 2007) and plurality of tanks mounted

on a circulating device by David Liou (filed 14 May 1997, published 18 May 1999).

6
Theoretical Framework

ZERO CARBON
EMISSION
UNIVERSAL
SOURCE POWER
GENERATION

Lapses of Existing
Renewable
Technologies
Technologies

WEIGHT-DRIVEN
GENERATOR

Figure 1. Theoretical Framework

7
 THE PROBLEM

Statement of the Problem

This research attempts to provide feasible methods by which gravity can be

used in harnessing the potential energy of an object, and one of those will be the use of

weight suspension, as it will be the focus of this paper. More specifically, it seeks to find

the answers to the following questions:

●Is it possible to design a device that can make use of solid weights in producing

electricity?

●How efficient is the use of weight-driven generators as an alternative option for

renewable technologies?

●Is the use of weight-driven generators viable and efficient for resolving the

disadvantages and lapses of existing renewable technologies?

●What are the advantages of using weight suspension as a means of renewable energy

aside from the existing resources today?

Objectives

The purpose of this study aims:

●to make a design where electricity can be produced using the weight of objects;

●to determine the efficiency and assess the advantages of weight-driven generator as a

means of renewable energy resource; and

●to evaluate its impact on the society.

8
Significance of the Study

Global crisis relating to energy resources are escalating due to the far-reaching

growth of scientific knowledge in technology and machines. This work will provide a

glimpse of advantage of using renewable energy resources and supply new perspectives

suggesting the noteworthiness of gravity in the form of using weighted objects as an

effective means in contemporary to the existing renewable resources today for the benefit

of those people in the society who still don’t have sustainable access to clean energy. For

the researchers, the study will help them uncover critical areas in technological

development that many researchers were not able to explore.

Scope and Limitation of the Study

The scope as for the purpose of this study focuses on the mechanical mechanism

of suspending weights, and determining the possibility, efficiency and advantages of the

device compared to other renewable technologies. The result design presented in this

study is only intended for small-scale intention and focusing only on the mechanical

system of the weights to produce electricity, particularly for lighting purposes, and the

location into which we can situate the output can only be secured to houses and vicinities

with higher level of ceiling.

9
 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

This portion covers the research design and methodology, including sampling,

and establishing rigor during and after data collection and data analysis.

Research Design

In this project, we will be using a 4-watt synchronous motor, rated at 220 V, 5-6

rpm, used in microwave ovens, and reverse its function so as to generate an alternating

current with an output power enough to light an LED bulb. Also, we are going to use, for

demonstration purposes, a 5-watt LED bulb rated at 220 V to match with our generator.

We intended to use a synchronous motor so we can produce the desired output (220V)

with the least revolution being consumed with our weight. The setup will be as follows:

Generator

W
Figure 2. Set-up Diagram

When the weight is suspended from the rope around the sprocket attached to the

bicycle wheel, it drives the wheel to move the pulley and rotate the generator. With the

10
given reduction in its speed ratio, there will be a difference in the rate of change of the

fall of weight due to free fall and the rotation it gives to the generator. The slower the fall

of weight, the more time it takes to rotate the generator shaft, thus supplying energy for a

period of time to the bulb. The weight can be lifted again as to repeat the process. By

such arrangements, the mechanism will operate at a higher energy conversion and more

environment-friendly with the input amount of starting energy.

With the provided information, it is expected that the totality of this study can be

finished in due time.

11
 Flow of the Study

START

DESIGN A WEIGHT-
DRIVEN GENERATOR

TEST THE FUNCTIONALITY

OF THE DESIGN

GATHER AND ANALYZE

DATA

IS THE DESIGN
OPERATIONAL?

COMPARE WITH OTHER

RENEWABLE TECHNOLOGIES

MAKE CONCLUSION

END

Figure 3. Flow of the Study

12
Data-Gathering Instruments

Tools which will be used for gathering data is a multi-tester which will be used

for measuring the output voltage and current of generator, and gear arrangement for

testing the effectiveness of our setup.

Research Environment

The vicinity of this study can be achieved anywhere as long as there is an

availability of space for placement of materials and apparatus for experimentation.

Research Respondents

The participants of this study are those people who have devices that make use of

electricity.

Research Methods and Procedure

Upon setting up the required apparatus for experimentation, we will be defining

the parameters that need to be examined. These are the following:

●mass (m)– it is a property of physical body and a measure of its resistance to accelerate

when a force is applied. It will be the mass of the weight upon which we will be

experimenting as to finding out the likelihood that it can affect the amount of energy it

can transmit to the generator.

●time (t)– the indefinite continued progress of existence and events. Time will determine

the duration of power generation in which it is subject to vary with the changing portion

of independent variables.

13
●height (h)– the displacement as measured from base to top or from head to foot.

●power (in terms of voltage V and current I; P)– the rate at which energy is being

consumed. The output power will depend on the rating of the generator.

With the setup shown above, we will be gathering several data with varying

element of time, height, mass and power. As discussed in our framework, an analysis will

be conducted in such way that we can arrive at an agreeable result for its efficiency and

compare it with the existing renewable technologies for this purpose.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

Centrifugal force – an apparent force that acts outward on a body moving around a

center, arising from the body’s inertia

Centripetal force – a force that acts on a body moving in a circular path and is directed

towards the center around which the body is moving

Inertia – a property of matter by which it continues in its existing state of rest or uniform

motion in a straight line, unless that state is changed by an external force

Energy – power derived from the utilization of physical or chemical resource, especially

to provide light and heat, or to work machines

Entropy – a thermodynamic quantity representing the unavailability of a system’s thermal

energy for conversion into mechanical work, often interpreted as the degree of disorder or

randomness in the system

14
Equilibrium – a state in which opposing forces or influences are balanced

Non-renewable – existing in finite quantity; not capable of being replenished

Renewable – not depleted when used

Gravity – the force that attracts a body toward the center of the earth, or toward any other

physical body having mass

Efficiency – the ratio of the useful work performed by a machine or in a process to the

total energy expended or heat taken in

Force – strength or energy that attributes to the physical action or movement of a body

Global Warming – a gradual increase in the overall temperature of the earth’s atmosphere

generally attributed to the greenhouse effect caused by increased levels of carbon

dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons, and other pollutants

Greenhouse Effect – the trapping of the sun’s warmth in a planet’s lower atmosphere due

to the greater transparency of the atmosphere to visible radiation from the sun than to

infrared radiation emitted from the planet’s surface

15
 CHAPTER 2

REVIEW OF RELATED STUDIES

Review of Related Literature

Non-Renewable Sources of Energy

Fossil fuels are natural fuels formed from the remains of plants, animals and

microorganisms that lived millions of years ago. During the Carboniferous period, 286

million to 362 million years ago, when the Earth’s climate was warmer and wetter than it

is now, conditions were conducive to the formation of large deposits of coal. Oil and

natural gas was formed gradually from marine organisms whose bodies were gathered in

quantities on the sea floor and became stored over millions of years and is eventually

converted to oil and gas (Eldon & Smith, 2010).

Coal was the first fossil fuel that was used extensively. During the early

eighteenth century, the world participated a cultural change known as Industrial

Revolution (1760s to 1840s) which introduced the inventions of machines, new chemical

manufacturing and production processes, the increasing use of steam power, the

development of machine tools and the rise of the factory system which replaced human

and animal labor. Central to this revolution is the invention of steam engines by the

Scottish inventor and engineer, James Watt, in 1781, which include the continued rotary

motion with a power of about 10 horsepower (7,500 W). It was the first type of steam

engine to make use of steam at a pressure just above atmospheric to drive the piston

helped by a partial vacuum. This steam engine was either powered by wood or coal,

16
wood was quickly replaced by coal in most cases. This made the large mining of coal

possible (Eldon & Smith, 2010).

Although the Chinese had already used oil as early as 1000 B.C., when Colonel

Erwin Drake, an oil prospector, drilled the first successful oil well in Titusville,

Pennsylvania in 1859 while searching for a source of kerosene to be used for lighting

fuel, the modern petroleum era began. For the first 60 years of production, the main use

of oil was to make kerosene to provide lighting. The advent of automobile dramatically

increased the demand for oil products. More oil was needed to make automobile fuel and

lubricants that the percentage of energy increased from about 2 percent in 1900 to about

40 percent by 1950 and has remained at about 40 percent to the present. (Horn,

Rosenband, Smith, Merritt, Reconceptualizing the Industrial Revolution, 2010).

Electrical energy is the energy derived from electrical potential energy or kinetic

energy. It is no exaggeration to state that electrical energy is crucial to the economic

success of developed and developing nations and to the quality of life of the citizens. The

primary method of generating electricity is through burning of fossil fuels. Other methods

include hydroelectric, geothermal, wind, tidal, solar and nuclear. The figure shows the

global consumption of fossil fuels - coal, oil and gas - from 1800 onwards. It can be seen

that the global consumption of fossil energy has increased more than 1300-fold. As

shown, coal was the first and only fossil source until the 1860s when crude oil

consumption began. Natural gas production began a couple of decades later, in the 1880-

90s. The 20th century saw a large diversification of fossil energy consumption, with coal

declining from 96 percent of total production in 1900 to less than 30 percent in 2000.

Today, crude oil is the largest energy source, accounting for around 39 percent of fossil

17
energy, followed by coal and natural gas at 33 and 28 percent, respectively

(Ritchie, Roser, Fossil Fuels, 2018).

The energy sources commonly used by industrialized countries are fossil fuels,

which include oil, coal, and natural gas, which supply about 81.1 percent of the world’s

energy (IEA, 2016). They are the accumulation of energy-rich organic molecules

produced by organisms as a result of photosynthesis over millions of years. It can be

perceived that fossil fuels are concentrated, stored solar energy. The rate of formation of

fossil fuel is very slow to the point that no significant amount of fossil fuel can be

accumulated over the course of human history. Since we are using these resources much

faster than they are replaced, the amount of these is finite, they are known as non-

renewable resources. Since fossil fuels are non-renewable, they will eventually become

scarce and their price will rise.

These non-renewable resources have been of their utmost usage due to their

capability of producing maximum useful work since the beginning of the Industrial

Revolution (1760s) and continue to be the dominant source of energy into the twentieth

century. However, at this point in time, global economy has been at the verge of

disturbance due to excessive reliance of using oil, coal, and fossil fuels, and induced

threats that when the maximum rate of petroleum extraction is reached, the rate of

production is expected to decline (Hirsh et. al., 2005).

If the rate of energy consumption using non-renewable energy continues

drastically without proper mitigation and replacement, current oil reserves will last at

18
least until the year 2040 (Energy Information Administration, 30 October 2016).

Eventually, human demands will exhaust the supplies of coal, oil and natural gas.

In addition to fast depleting fuels reserves is the harmful and excessive quantities,

including gases and particulates from automobile and plant industries that mainly use

fossil fuels for their operation as they emit immense amount of carbon dioxide that

contribute largely to air pollution up to this day. The work of Swedish scientist and Nobel

Prize winner Svante Arrhenius emphasized that doubling the carbon dioxide content in

the atmosphere would increase the temperature by 4 to 6 ℃ (Arrhenius, 1896). The

connection between observed climate warming and the increase in carbon dioxide

following industrialization was already being discussed in the 1930s but there was no

way of confirming this study until the late 1950s when scientists were able to prove that

the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere was actually increasing

exponentially (Rahmstorf and Neu, 2004). Keen observation leads us to concede with the

fact that the increase of carbon dioxide concentration nowadays is one of the main causes

of global warming.

Renewable Sources of Energy

One way to cover the fast depletion of fossil fuels is through the use of renewable

sources of energy. They are termed renewable because they replenish themselves or they

are continuously available. Energy crisis has led to the increase investment of renewable

energy which include biomass, hydroelectricity, geothermal energy, solar energy, wind

turbines and tidal energy.

19
 Biomass is a term for energy by burning wood, and other organic matter. All

biomass can be traced back to green plants through photosynthesis. It is considered as

renewable energy by the EU and UN legal frame works because plant stocks can be

replaced with new growths. There are several types of biomass energy, fuel wood,

municipal waste, agricultural crop residues, and animal waste and energy plantations.

This has become popular to coal power plants which switched from coal to biomass

energy. Although this has been classed as renewable, it has much significant impact.

Burning biomass emits carbon dioxide which causes global warming. The harvest of

wood has destroyed habitat and created a biodiversity loss.

Since before, humans have used water to power various mechanisms. Flowing

water is converted into energy, which is called hydropower. Hydroelectricity is generated

from hydropower. A hydroelectric power plant uses a reservoir to store water in a river.

As water is released and flows to the turbine, causing it to spin, which rotates the

generator to produce electricity. In some areas of the world, such as Canada, the United

States, Europe and Japan, have already established most of their hydroelectric potential.

More than 35 nations already obtain more than two-thirds of their electricity from falling

water. In 2015 hydropower generated 16.6% of the world’s total electricity and 70% of

all renewable electricity (REN21, Global Status Report, 2016). Though hydroelectric

power is better than burning coal, oil or natural gas because it does not contribute to the

global warming or the acid rain, it is not readily accessible for it does require specific

geographical locations that include running or flowing water.

The sun is often mentioned as the ultimate answer to the world’s energy

problems. It provides a continuous supply of energy that far exceeds the world’s

20
demands. In fact, the amount of energy received from the sun each day is 600 times

greater than the amount of energy produced each day by all other sources combined. But

it scattered over the entire earth which made difficult to collect (Eldon & Smith, 2010).

Solar energy is the light or the heat coming from the sun which is harnessed through ever

upgrading photovoltaic cells, solar thermal cells, artificial photosynthesis and many

others. Solar power generation enjoyed another year of very rapid growth in 2016, with a

29.6% increase. Its overall share of global power generation remains low (1.3%), but that

share has more doubled in just three years. Solar is starting to have a noticeable impact in

terms of sources of power generation growth, contributing more than 20% of the growth

of global power in 2016 (REN21, Global Status Report, 2016). Though solar energy is

renewable and environment friendly, it has major problems. It is only available during the

day and it is difficult to gather due to its diffusive nature. Because there are differences of

the availability of sunlight across the world, only selected places are suitable for the use

of solar energy.

Because of the unequal heating of the earth’s surface, there is difference of the

density of air. Since warm air is less dense and rises, cold air sinks. This flow of air is

known as wind. At present, wind has been used to generate electricity. Wind power, as an

alternative to burning fossil fuels, is plentiful, renewable, widely distributed, clean,

produces no greenhouse gas emissions during operation, consumes no water, and uses

little land. However, geographical location can be a problem. Some places are not may

suitable for wind power generation. Because wind is variable, so is the amount of energy

generated by wind turbines. This means that energy from wind must be paired with a

more reliable source of energy.

21
 Geothermal energy is obtained from the heat energy within the earth. It is

obtained in geologically active areas where hot magma approaches the surface; the heat

can be used to heat water to drive a steam turbine to generate electricity. The use of

geothermal energy is not widespread for it requires an area where a hot mass is near the

surface. Also, the use of this renewable energy creates environmental problems. The

steam contains hydrogen sulfide gas, which has the odor of rotten eggs and is unpleasant

form of air pollution (Eldon & Smith, 2010). Tides are caused by the gravitational force

from the moon and sun to the earth’s waters. Tidal power or tidal energy is a form

of hydropower that converts the energy obtained from tides into useful forms of power,

mainly electricity. Although not yet widely used, tidal energy has potential for

future electricity generation.

Currently, these alternative energy sources supply about 19.2% to the total human

consumption based on REN21's 2016 report (REN21, Global Status Report, 2016). But as

for mentioned, these sources have their own distinct limits, such as geographical

locations, variable energy generation or high cost, which made them unavailable to some.

On Weight-Driven Generators

Researchers and investors have been discovering new ways to address energy

crisis by providing alternative sources of energy which can overcome those limitations

and which is accessible to everyone with minimum impact to the environment. One of

such inventions is by the use of falling weights to drive the generators to produce

electricity known as gravity generators which will be the central topic of this study.

22
 Hydroelectric dams may use the flowing water to convert electricity, but water

falls as it is influenced by gravity. Gravity, by definition, is a natural phenomenon by

which all things with mass are brought toward (or gravitate toward) one another,

including objects ranging from atoms and photons, to planets and stars. Since energy and

mass are equivalent, all forms of energy (including light) cause gravitation and are under

the influence of it. On Earth, gravity gives weight to physical objects, and the Moon's

gravity causes the ocean tides.

A gravity power generation mechanism utilizes gravity energy conversion unit to

convert the gravity potential energy s into the kinetic energy and eventually to electrical

energy. Maximo Gomez-Nacer ( January 18, 2007) has designed a system of obtaining

electricity by means of use of the force of gravity, by incorporating pendulums whose

weight and velocity provide energy for electricity generation. His system and the method

of obtaining electricity by means of the use of the force of gravity by incorporating

pendulums which weight and velocity provide energy for electricity generation while a

weight storage from any additional source or structure provide the additional force to

overcome resistance by using hydraulic high-pressure chambers or gears in order to

power turbine to power pendulums to power an electricity generation or by the use of the

any weight to power gears to power pendulums to generate electricity.

Chun-Chan Wang et al (2009) developed a mechanism that generates energy

using gravity conversion unit that produces positive torques by adopting outward-

spreading single directional swing arms and reduces the negative torques by cooperating

with folding action of single directional swing arms. He developed a gravity power

23
generation mechanism comprising: a gravity energy conversion unit including a

transmitting member, the transmitting member circulating correspondingly to a direction

of gravity and being installed with a plurality of single directional Swing arms outside

thereof, the gravity energy conversion unit producing a larger positive torque by casting

the single directional arms outwards and producing a smaller negative torque by

cooperating with an inward-folding action of the single directional Swing arm, so as to

continuously cast the single directional arms by means of gravity, after being cast, the

single directional Swing arm, under the action of gravity, continuously descends from

high to low, so as to make the connected transmitting member continuously operate too,

thus converting gravity potential energy into kinetic energy and then transmit the kinetic

energy out to perform an energy conversion power generation.

Another such mechanism that utilizes gravity to electrical energy and which is

believed to help the 1.3 billion people who lived without electricity supply is the

GravityLight which was invented by Jim Reeves and Martin Riddiford (2014), from the

company Deciwatt, for the use of developing or third world nations as a replacement for

the conventional kerosene lamps (Richard Grey; Mail Online, 28 May 2015). The light,

known as Gravity Light, generates light when a weight is lifted above the ground and

then allowed to slowly descend. As it descends, it will turn a small generator which

produces light as it makes the descent. Gravity Light is a revolutionary new approach to

storing energy and creating illumination. It takes only three seconds to lift the weight, but

it creates light for 30 minutes during its descent. Gravity Light consists of a pineapple

size lamp. This is attached to a 25-pound weight which is a bag filled with anything, such

as ballast, that weighs about 20 lbs. As the weighted bag descends, it tugs a belt to turn a

24
series of plastic gears. These work in unison to spin an electric motor which powers a

small yet bright LED, providing continuous illumination for about 30 minutes—the

maximum amount of time that the bag can take to descend about six feet. Once the

weight reaches the ground, it can be lifted again to repeat the process. The duration and

power level/ brightness of the light are adjustable between just over 30 minutes and about

18 minutes (depending on what the bag is filled with). The light is brighter than most

kerosene lamps. (Appropriate Technology; Burnham Vol. 40, Iss. 4, (Dec 2013): 60-

61.)

25
 CHAPTER 3

PRESENTATION, DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

The specifications for the generator to be used are as follows:

Minimum torque required to turn the generator shaft with local gravity = 9.80665 𝑚⁄𝑠 2

Moment arm, 𝑟 = 2.5 𝑐𝑚 ; load, 𝑚 = 1.635 𝑘𝑔

𝑇𝑜𝑟𝑞𝑢𝑒 = 𝑚𝑔𝑟 = 0.4008468185 𝑁 − 𝑚

@5 seconds, the following generator shaft displacements were gathered with its
corresponding voltage output:

Voltage output Displacement Rotational speed

50 V 0.75 revolution 0.15 rps

100 V 1.45 revolution 0.29 rps

125 V 1.65 revolution 0.33 rps

150 V 2.35 revolutions 0.47 rps

210 V 4.3 revolutions 0.86 rps

Table 1. Voltage vs Time Table

26
@5 seconds, the displacements were also measured with its corresponding current output:

Current Output Displacement Rotational Speed

0.4 mA 0.9 revolution 0.18 rps

0.8 mA 1.6 revolution 0.32 rps

1.2 mA 2.1 revolution 0.42 rps

Table 2. Current vs Time Table

The LED bulb that we will be using can be lit @ 0.4 rps. By using linear interpolation in
getting the corresponding voltage and current output needed:

Voltage = 135.2941 V

Current = 1.12 mA

The power output by the generator consumed by the LED bulb is:

Power Output = (Voltage)(Current) = (1.12 mA)(135.2941 V) = 151.5294 mW

(@minimum rpm)

To know for the time it takes before the weight falls into the ground, assuming no losses
due to friction of bearings:

For a height of 2 meters, the height would be equal to the circumference of the sprocket
to where the weight is attached. For a sprocket diameter of 5 cm,

C = (𝜋)Dn ; where n = number of revolutions

2 = (𝜋)(0.05)(n) ; n = 12.7324 revolutions

To compute for the displacement of pulley (from the generator shaft) connected to the
wheel, we’ll use the relationship for diameter and revolution displacement:

27
 𝐷1 𝑛1 = 𝐷2 𝑛2

Where 𝐷1 = 𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑒𝑙 = 25 𝑖𝑛𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑠

𝐷2 = 𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑢𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑦 = 4 𝑖𝑛𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑠

𝑛1 = 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑒𝑙 = 12.7324 𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠

Solving for 𝑛2 , we get 79.5775 revolutions to the generator shaft.

To solve for the time, we simply divide the displacement by the rate of change of
rotation, which we assumed to be w = 0.4 rps.

𝑛2 79.5775 𝑟𝑒𝑣
𝑡= = = 198.94375 𝑠 , roughly equivalent to 3.3157 minutes
𝑤 0.4 𝑟𝑝𝑠

However, to solve for the mass to be hung, the following calculations are made:

Torque @ generator = 0.4008468 N- m

Using the relationship for torque and diameter

𝑇1 𝑇2
=
𝐷1 𝐷2

In which at the shaft of the wheel, the torque would be equal to 2.50529 N – m. With a
moment arm equal to the radius of the sprocket (to where the weight would be
suspended), the mass of the weight is equal to

Mass ≥ 10.21874 kg

The inequality indicates that the solved mass is the minimum amount needed and can be
increased depending on the amount of load needed to drive the generator.

Solving the input power to the shaft, we simply use the formula for power:

𝑃 = 2𝜋𝑇𝑛 = 2𝜋(0.4008468 𝑁 − 𝑚)(0.4 𝑟𝑝𝑠) = 𝟏. 𝟎𝟎𝟕𝟒 𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒔

Assuming there is no losses due to friction in the bearings and in the generator, we can

28
expect an efficiency of :

𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑝𝑢𝑡 151.5294 𝑚𝑊

𝑒= = = 0.1504 = 𝟏𝟓. 𝟎𝟒%
𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑖𝑛𝑝𝑢𝑡 1007.4 𝑚𝑊

Thus, with the data presented, we can use a mass of 10.2187 kg and let it fall for 3.32
minutes for this setup, and light an LED bulb with the given power output.

29
 CHAPTER 4

SUMMARY, FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS

SUMMARY AND FINDINGS

From this research we are able to determine the efficiency for the designed output
and compare it with other efficiencies of different renewable technologies. While solar
power efficiency ranges from 14% to 21%, wind energy to about 45%, geothermal
energy to about 10%, and hydroelectric energy to about 90%, we find this efficiency
competent and acceptable in small scales and when manufactured only similarly to this
design.

However, large scale energy production is in a way a disadvantage for this design
because as we tend to make larger parts, calculations need to include already the effect of
centrifugal force due to the weight of the parts, and more manpower might be needed for
lifting the heavy weight. The maximum weight a man can carry is only 25 kilograms,
that’s why we can only apply this design to small scale energy production.

CONCLUSION

Based on the findings and analysis, the researchers conclude that it is efficient to
use this device in a small scale energy production only such as used in lightings that
consumes at most 10 watts, depending on the capacity of the generator. It’s not suitable
for large scale consumption due to the reason that power output is directly proportional to
the weight, so the bigger the power load the heavier the weight needed, and it becomes
less convenient because we’ll be needing another device that will lift up the heavier
weight again, defeating the purpose of our study. While when used in small scale, we can
use man power to lift the weight. Finally, despite the small efficiency achieved from this
design, it can be concluded that we can harness usable electricity for lightings when the
need demands during power shortages and interruptions.

30
 RECOMMENDATIONS

To address the problem of power shortage and interruptions the researchers

recommend to further study on how to make a generator for the specific setup presented
in this paper that can generate an amount of energy that can sustain longer period of time
whenever there is a power interruption or shortage, a generator that can supply not only
for lighting equipment but as well as for other light appliances. The mechanism and
design needs to be improved so that it can produce a higher output of stored energy and
can be capable to be used as a backup for power shortage. Also, if consumers own big
buildings and wish to use this design, the researchers recommend that they need a large
scale heavy weight to produce a big amount of wattage to support the power
interruptions. And the potential energy of an object increases with the height of the
ground. This mean that dropping an object from greater heights results in higher velocity
or kinetic energy.

31
 CHAPTER 5

OUTPUT OF THE STUDY

Materials Quantity Designated Price

Chain 1 length PhP 400.00

Bicycle Wheel with

1 piece PhP 800.00
attached sprocket

Shaft 1’’ solid PhP 500.00

4 Watt AC
1 piece PhP 120.00
Synchronous Generator

Rope/belt 4 meters length PhP 300.00

Wood

Bearings 1 piece PhP 300.00

TOTAL PhP 2420.00

Table 3. Bill of Materials

32
 BIBLIOGRAPHY

BOOKS

1. Horn, Smith, and Merritt, 2010 “Re-conceptualizing the Industrial Revolution”

2. Hirsch, Robert, et al, (2005), “Peaking of World Oil Production: Impacts Mitigation
and Risk Management.

3. Akella et al, 2008 “Social economical and environment renewable energy resources.

REFERENCES

1. Smith Sanford, (2010), “Renewable and Non Renewable Energy Resources “Natural
Resources and Youth Education.

2. Ritchie,Hannah and Roser,(2018) “CO2 and other Greenhouse Gas Emissions”

3. Burnham, (2013), “Appropriate Technology, Vol. 40, Iss. 4, p60-61.

4. Rahmstorf S. et al, 2004: Cosmic rays, carbon dioxide and climate. Eos, 85(4), 38,41

5. REN21, 2016, Global Status Report,

33