Traditional Wisdom
From time immemorial Mankind has relied on its own internal energy for all activities, including cooking, lighting and survival using natures renewable sustainable mechanisms. Even now it is common sight to see the women folks in villages Grinding Dals on a stone grinder, pounding grains and expelling Oil from rotary presses drawn by bullocks.

For thousands of years (after all human being, one of the many species on this planet who has usurped all rights without even a though or concern for sharing Prakruthi Resources with fellow claimants)life continued comfortably without electrical power and devices like Grinders Mixies and Microwaves. In a span of just 100 years, man has got addicted to all the luxuries of Gadgetry.

Haves and Have Nots
Well, not all mankind, but about 20% who are fortunate to acquire, operate and pay for the Gadgets. It would be shocking for many to know that in the 21 st Century close to 40 % of the Worlds Population of 6 Billion people have not seen an electric Bulb (which is not energy efficient) (Source LUWF- Lighting for the World Dave Halliday)

The increasing Gadgetry, aspirations and requirements per capita have increased the energy consumption and thus generation resulting in the present day crises of Global Warming and high energy costs and diminishing energy security. Right??

Well the quest is ON for Alternate Sources, Technologies and methods for generation of Green Power, which will no longer contaminate the Air, Water and Land and is sustainable and economical and affordable to all of the Mankind.

Technology Fusion
The renewable energy source development and deployment aims for replacement of Liquid, Gaseous and Solid fossil fuels in that order. The Biomass-Solar-Hydrogen Economy is likely to dominate the country's energy scene by the second half of 21st century. Among the many methods being explored to meet the minimal needs of the Unfortunate 40%,one method is Muscle Power which is within the user control ,very economical when compared from a holistic view , absolutely eco friendly with tangible health benefits which has an impact on productivity, and which makes a significant impact on the long and short term Social health costs for the person , for society and for the policy makers.

A.P.J.Abdul Kalam, President of India -" Light Emitting Diodes (LED) can provide six hours of reliable light to every home or shop in a village at virtually no recurring energy cost and minimum installation cost. These LEDs require a tiny fraction of energy used for other forms of lighting. LED based lighting can be easily provided with Solar Panels or Foot Pedal Generators"

LED-Pedal Power
Pedal Power is a simple Concept where by the act of pedaling will create energy which can be stored in a Battery and when coupled to a very efficient LED Lighting system, it will Literally Light Up the Lives of the 40% who have never seen an electric Light. This concept is not new and all of us have seen the Cycle Dynamo in our childhood days. Then, the need and generation was limited. With the advancement of technology in Generators pedaling ratios improvement in conversion efficiency from mechanical and electrical power and significant improvement in the lumen per watt, has opened up opportunities for conversion of Muscle Power at very affordable costs.

In case of Rural Lighting, which promises Grid Quality, in many a case that is an undelivered promise.. in India due to long lines, distribution losses, low voltages, power cuts and increasing gap between Rural-Urban infrastructure development. Taking the holistic view of these factors coupled with factors like resource depletion, pollution from Coal combustion etc.will make generation of ONE MW a huge, Rs 100Million Rs 10 Crore, task. Thus One KW generation will cost about Rs One Lakh.

We can generate the same with about 10 % Cost that is Rs 10,000/- per Kilo Watt generated every day with near Zero operational cost. The Lighting has a psychological impact, opportunities for education, liberation from Toxic Kerosene fumes and thus leads increased productivity and longevity and economic independence. The Toxic kerosene fumes, a Hydro carbon fuel now subsidized to the bone, is resulting in loss of more than 50,000 lives from accidental deaths and respiratory problems in millions.

One and all agree that the One of Woes of the modern Urban Citizen is Sedentary life and with that accompany Hypertension, Diabetes Heart problems. Energy is Life giving, life nourishing and Life sustaining and is a direct manifestation of Nature. Science has taught mankind to spend but so far not revealed us the secret to Create Energy. But we have means to convert energies to more productive methods. Pedal Power falls in such category.

Pedal Power Bike:
The PPB Is designed to keep the user aerobically fit while creating some extra power that may be sent to a bank of batteries. These batteries may then be tapped at a later time, after dark for example, when the energy is needed to power lights or appliances. The PPB is an excellent addition to an existing battery system that may already be charged from the photovoltaic panels or invertors.. The concept behind the PPB bicycle is that electricity can be created from human effort and then stored in batteries.

The average rider will produce between 50 and 100 watts in 30 Mts using the PPB. (30 Mts by a average man in the age group 18 to 40 years. Generation is a function of pedaling which is condition and age related)

Lets us now examine the Issue of Pedal Power Bike ( PPB) from various perspectives:
Technologies: One Picture is Worth a Thousand words…so goes a saying.
See the Picture



An easy to build stand that will accept any bicycle
Easily creates 50 to 100 watts at 12 to 20 volts DC
Bicycle easily disengages from stand for immediate road use Stand folds easily for transport
While 50 to 100 Watts may not seem like much power, solid state equipment draws very little power and can be powered for long spans of time with small amounts of energy .
A 10 Watt LED System can comfortably cater to the Lighting Needs of a EWS House of 250- 400 Sft.
Thus the Daily requirement is about 6 x 10= 60 Watts. Given the Losses and Other Factors about 100 Watts is very comfortable meeting the Lighting needs of a Rural Lighting. Which means pedaling for 45 to 75 Mts.
Any bicycle that is in good shape will suffice for mating to the PPB. However, bicycles with wheels of larger diameters, such as 27 inches as opposed to 16 inches, create more mechanical advantage. Both street bikes, with very narrow, smooth tires, and mountain bikes, with wide, knobby tires, have been used with equal success. The bicycle is placed upon the stand, which is an Device to keep the Bicycle. It comes assembled and folds up easily for transport - even after the alternator is added.

Beneficial effects of Pedaling:
The health benefits of regular physical activity are far-reaching:

1. Reduced risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, and other chronic diseases;
2. Lower health care costs; and improved quality of life for people of all ages.
3. Regular exercise provides a myriad of health benefits for senior adults including a stronger heart, a positive mental outlook and an increased chance of remaining indefinitely independent - a benefit that will become increasingly important as our population ages in the coming years.

Physical activity need not be unduly strenuous for an individual to reap significant health benefits. Even small increases in light to moderate activity, equivalent to walking for about 30 minutes a day, or Pedaling for 15 Mts will produce measurable benefits among those who are least active.
Health Facts:

• 20% of Indians lead completely sedentary lifestyles, and 10% are overweight


• In Urban areas "obesity and overweight are linked to the nation's number major killer --heart disease--as well as diabetes and other chronic conditions."


• One reason is sedentary lifestyle, in Urban areas, that is "walking and cycling have been replaced by automobile travel for even the shortest distances."

With Increasing life spans , the cost of health care management will rise exponentially. As most Governments are unable to meet the demands and care of health needs, there is a huge growth in Corporate health care systems which are very expensive. The Sedentary life style system has increased the demand for these services and thus drop in Quality care and increased costs.

Pedal away to health even if you do not have need to generate power. But while doing so if you can generate wealth from Health then why not create it?

Integration of Technologies: Solid stare technologies have made energy conversion to Light very efficient with minimal pollution and sustainable life cycles.

Environmental Costs:
Except for the Lead Acid Battery which needs replacement after every 1000 Cycle( about 3 years) there are no regular emission creating instruments.

Cost: One PPB System will cost about Rs 6,000 for generation of about 100-150 Watts or One KW in 8 Hours. Higher capacities can be built if required. This entails about 3-5 Hours of pedaling. System Cost includes 12V 25 AH Battery and LED Devices for 10 Watt Lighting. System excludes the Cost of a Bicycle.

Configuration:
Cycle with 26/27 Inch Rim with properly inflated Tube:
Generator: 12 V - 20V DC with 5-7 Amps
Charging and Control Unit:
Battery: 12V 25 AH SMF/Suitable Battery
Stand: Connectors: Wire for Connections 1/18 wire 200 Feet
Lighting System to be Designed with LED 12 Watts( 1.0 AH)

Potential: Global
With Over 100 Millions people using Bi Cycles and pedaling away 4-6 Km per day either for work or health reasons and with potential to generate about 20 Watts per KM pedaled ( 100 Watt per day- In 5 Km) the potential for generation is over 10 Million KW per day ( 100 Million x 0.1 KW) or about 3000 Million KW (10 Million x 300 Days)Per Annum. With average cost of energy at about Rs 5 per KW the potential is Rs 1500 Crores per annum. In terms of equivalent thermal generation it is about 600 MW.( One MW effectively delivers about 5 million units per annum. 24 x 1000x 330 days x .9(PLF)x.7(Net after TDL)=4.989 MU)( PLF=Plant Load Factor TDL -Transmission and Distribution Losses)Mind Boggling figure and a store house of Alternate energy.

ECM wishes that various agencies involved in Rural Electrification evaluate the concept critically from a holistic view for the social, environmental and resource conservation possibilities.
This method offers immediate solution for Lighting for Remote and un electrified areas and people need not wait for decades for Grid Quality Power.

Corporates can adopt Villages and seed the concept and variants like Community charging Pedal stations can be set up to further reduce costs. In Cities and Apartment Complexes the Common Lighting can be powered by Pedal LED Combination.

Compiled by Ch Venkateswara Rao,B.E.,M.B.A who contributes to the Energy Conservation Cause at the Institution of Engineers A.P. State Chapter Hyderabad
Coordinator Schools Group
Ph: 98480 11955/9393011955
Email:
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