BIOKO ISLAND BICYCLE POWER
ENGR 103 — Spring 2012
Engineering Design Lab III
Lab Section: 011 Group Members:
Group Number: 05 Janet Tran
Jonathan Zevin
Advisor: Sabrina Spatari Kira Bartlett
Teaching Fellow: Kim Marcellus
1. Problem Overview
This engineering design project is based at the Moka Wildlife Center on Bioko Island, which is located off the coast of Equatorial Guinea in Central/West Africa. Currently, there is no municipal source of energy; the wildlife center obtains power from a gasoline-fueled generator that runs for approximately four hours every evening. This electricity is used to charge computers, power lights and the satellite Internet system. Electricity is also necessary to run the pump that is utilized to supply water for storage tanks that are a component of the gravity fed plumbing system.
As previously mentioned, there is no municipal source of energy available for use by the wildlife center. The wildlife center manages with their currently solution to this problem, the gasoline generator, but is looking to improve upon their current situation. It has been proposed that a bicycle could be used to generate the necessary power; this power could then be stored for later usage. This method of using the bicycle would either cogenerate power with the generator, or replace the generator altogether.
The Moka Wildlife Center has suggested that the bicycle could include a battery system that would be used during daylight hours and would specifically run the lights as well as charge the computers. If enough power could be generated, it would be preferable to have the bicycle power system be able to run the satellite Internet modem as well as the water pump. Most likely the bicycle power system will cogenerate electricity with the generator, but if it is able to produce and store enough energy, it could potentially replace the generator altogether.
Furthermore, it would be preferable if the bicycle were designed to track the power generated by each individual using the bicycle. The wildlife center is staffed with several undergraduate students and it is suspected that these students would use the bicycle and generate more power if there was an opportunity to make it a competition.
2. Design Constraints
The design of this project is bounded by certain restrictions due to location and circumstances, specifically the particular needs and available resources of the Bioko Biodiversity Protection Project. It is important that the limitations of the facility are considered when designing the solution to the Moka Wildlife Center’s problem.
The final design aims to be able to produce enough power to run the lights at the field station, as well as charge multiple laptops. In addition, it is hoped that the power system could be utilized to support a satellite Internet modem and/or a water pump, depending upon the capability of the power system to generate and store electricity. However, there are limitations on how much energy could potentially be created as well as how much energy can be stored.
The field station is small with few people working there; normally there are only two or three undergraduate students. Due to the small number of people available to ride the bicycle and the limited time during which they have the opportunity to do so, there is a limit to how much power can be created within a certain time period.
There would also be some logistical concerns, including budget and the local environment, both political and economical. The system should be reasonably affordable for the island reserve: the center was considering purchasing a slightly similar system for approximately $6,000, but decided that the item was not worth it. Therefore, it’s expected that this design should cost significantly less than $6,000. As there are limited resources on the island to utilize in the creation of the power system, several parts may need to be shipped to the island. However, shipping is expensive, therefore the amount of shipped material should be limited in order to lower costs. Furthermore, any pieces shipped to the island should be discrete and unattractive to local thieves or dock workers who may prevent the parts from reaching the wildlife center.
3. Pre-Existing Soultuions
The Moka Wildlife Center’s current solution to their energy problem is that a gasoline-fueled generator is run from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. every day. However, the center is looking to improve upon their current situation and Drexel is looking to aid them in obtaining a more efficient and advantageous method of producing and storing energy.
Drexel University is currently a part of an academic partnership with the National University of Equatorial Guinea. A part of this partnership involves the Bioko Biodiversity Protection Program, whose mission is to protect the wildlife on Bioko Island. As a result of this partnership, Drexel students are occasionally offered opportunities to assist the island and wildlife center.
About two years ago, a freshman design team studied the energy problems at the Moka Wildlife Center. This project focused on the possibility of utilizing solar panels to generate electricity. However, it was determined that solar panels would be a poor method of obtaining energy due to the cloudy climate and high possibility of algal growth on the panels that would hinder the performance.
4. Design Goals
The objective of this design project is to create an integrated system that utilizes bicycle generated power to either replace or cogenerate power on Bioko Island. The Bioko Biodiversity Protection Program could use the bicycle for charging computers, using equipment and running lights and appliances. This system should be able to record the power generated by each individual user, as well as multiple users, to provide records that may be used for various purposes, such as promoting competition.
The main goal of this project is to determine the most efficient method of using a bicycle to generate and store power. Once this has been found, further options will be compared, such replacing the generator or cogenerating power. This will be determined by calculating which method is more efficient and functional. It must also be estimated how much energy could be reasonably generated within a given period of time to determine what appliances the power system could power. If the bicycle can only generate and store a minimal amount of energy, it will only be used for powering lights and charging laptops. If it can hold more energy, then it could be used to power the satellite Internet modem and/or the water pump.
Another key component of this project involves including a method of tracking the power generated by the bicycle. The preferred method of tracking involves individual users being able to determine the amount of power that they have generated.
5. Project Deliverables
The final result of the project will be a detailed description of a possible solution, or multiple possible solutions, that utilize the bicycle to generate electricity. This description will include accurate data and predictions for the station’s power usage and a detailed estimated budget. Data included in this report will likely consist of the current power usage of the facility and the expected ability of the proposed power system and the bicyclers to generate power. This information is crucial to determining a complete list of all components necessary to implement the system, how to complete it, and what can be expected of the power system’s performance.
Depending upon the research prior to designing the power system, this project may entail including several different products for the wildlife center to choose between. These products may differ in terms of power output, required riding usage, and approximate cost. All the information that would be necessary to decide between the options would be found in the deliverables. These may take the form of a pamphlet or booklet that provides all the information and that is aesthetically pleasing in order to maintain the interest of the reader.
There will be a formal presentation of the final product design(s) as well as detailed supplementary information, such as the aforementioned data consisting of power usage and generation predictions. There will be no actual product created, however, all the information necessary to easily create and implement the power system will be included in the final report.
6. Project Schedule
6.1 Schedule Overview
The design project will take place over a ten-week period. During this period, research will be done by way of primary research (interviews with professors) as well as secondary research. This research will aid in the design of the bicycle power system. Specific goals have been mapped out for the time available to work on this project and are listed below.
6.2 Weekly Schedule
Week 2
- Meet with Professor Hearn to discuss what the power generated is going to be used for as well as the circumstances and restrictions of the situation.
- Complete design proposal.
Week 3
- Meet with Professor Gallagher to determine how much power is needed daily at the conservation center and to collect further information about the wildlife center.
- Research how long it would take to generate enough power for one day using bicycle generated power.
- Research how to pump water with a bicycle.
Week 4
- Research how bicycle power is converted and stored into a battery.
- Decide whether to co-generate power using the bicycle(s) and the gas generator or completely eradicate gas generator.
Week 5
- Consult Dr. Moseson on the design of the integrated bicycle power generating system.
- Create a basic design of the integrated bicycle generated power system.
Week 6
- Meet with Professor Gallagher for advice on whether the proposed system is feasible
- Continuing designing the system.
Week 7
- Continue working on the design and fixing any problems that may have occurred.
Week 8
- Survey project cost.
Week 9
- Write up final design and create presentation.
- Create poster of integrated bicycle generated power system.
7. Project Budget
It is important that the final design(s) of this project is cost-efficient; at most, the design should cost several thousand dollars. Currently, the projected budget is well within this range. Primary research and basic ideas for the design of the bicycle power system have resulted in the following expectations for components and pricing.
- Battery
Details: to store bicycle-generated power.
Cost: $134.95
Quantity: 3
- Bicycle
Details: used to generate power and pump water.
Cost: $0.00 (Available on Bioko Conservation Center)
Quantity: 2
- Bicycle Generator
Details: to convert bicycle-generated power to electrical power.
Cost: $369
Quantity: 1
- Computer
Details: to run power yield software.
Cost: $0.00 (Available on Bioko Conservation Center)
- Power yield software
Details: to log power produced by bicyclers.
Cost: $199.00
Manufacturer: http://wattsview.com/
- Shipping
Details: to deliver parts of the system to Bioko Island
Cost: $200
Estimated Gross Cost: $1,172.85
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