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Design & Fabrication Of A Gravity Powered Light

Conference Paper · November 2015

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.28749.03049

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 Proceedings of the
International Conference on Mechanical Engineering and Renewable Energy 2015
(ICMERE2015) 26 – 29 November, 2015, Chittagong, Bangladesh

ICMERE2015-PI-254

DESIGN AND FABRICATION OF A GRAVITY POWERED LIGHT

Md. Shahed Hossen1, Md. Tazul Islam2,* and Sabir Hossain3
1-3
Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, CUET, Bangladesh
1
[email protected],2,*[email protected],[email protected]

Abstract- In recent times due to effects of pollution and global warming there is a need for generating
power from renewable sources. The reason for generating power using gravity is that it is available all over
the Earth, abundant and consistent too. In this project, the gravitational energy of a heavy particle is
converted to the electrical energy. When the heavy particle falls down from a higher altitude to a lower one,
its potential energy is converted into the kinetic energy. Then this energy is converted to electricity by using
a synchronous motor. With the increasing of the altitude of the load, the lighting time increases. If load
increases, power production also increases, but the lighting time decreases. Using 1kg of load from the
elevation of 145 cm, the generator output is 1.62 J and the lighting time is 42 seconds.

Keywords: Renewable source, Gravitational energy, Environment friendly.

1. INTRODUCTION
Renewable energy is the energy which comes from more simplified mechanism is used for the generation of
natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides and the electricity [6]. The primary objective of his invention
geothermal heat, which are renewable. In some parts of is to provide gravity power generation mechanism which
the world, lighting is provided through expensive and can provide a continuous and stable operation to
polluting kerosene. Kerosene lamps are hazardous to continuously convert the gravity potential energy into the
health and environment and constantly require kinetic energy and then to convert the kinetic energy into
replenishment. Fumes which are raised from the burning electrical energy, so as to perform a long time, effective
of biomass fuels can cause cataracts and eye infections as and stable energy output. Russian Inventor Mikhail
well as emitting smoke that is the equivalent to smoking Dmitriev to know about his gravity motor [7]. He has
two packets of cigarettes every day [1]. Also, it was apparently devised a mechanism whereby static
estimated that nearly 2.5 million people in India alone gravitational pull can be harness to generate useful
suffer severe burns from over turned kerosene lamps energy. He has worked for many years developing and
every year as well as the vast amounts of carbon dioxide testing gravity powered devices and he has been very
produced. London based designers, Martin Riddiford and successful in his work. His various designs is based on
Jim Reeves, have spent around four years working on an the principle of having weights attached to a wheel and
inexpensive and safe alternative that will be of great arranging for those weights to be offset outwards when
benefit to many people across the globe. Unlike falling and offset inwards when rising. Because of the
solar-powered lamps, the gravity light can be operated different lever arms involved, that gives a force
all the day and night and under any climatic conditions imbalance which causes the wheel to rotate continuously
with zero running costs [2]. and if the weights are of a considerable size, then the
rotation is powerful and can be used to generate electrical
2. LITERATURE REVIEW energy.
Sir Issac Newton had discovered the phenomenon of
gravity near 400 years ago[3]. London researches Martin 3. TYPES OF ENERGY USED
Riddiford and Jim Reeves who have spent four years for Energy comes in two basic forms: potential and
developing gravity light as an off line project [4]. They kinetic. Potential Energy is any type of stored energy. It
are using tried and tested manufacture who has the right can be chemical, nuclear, gravitational, or mechanical.
knowledge to make gravity light. Gravity light is a Kinetic Energy is found in movement. Even the tiniest
revolutionary new approach to storing energy and things have kinetic energy, like atoms vibrating when
creating illumination. It takes only three seconds to lift they are hot or when they transmit sound waves.
the weight which powers gravity light creating 30 Renewable gravitational Energy is used in this setup.
minutes light on its descent [5]. Chun-chao Wang and
Yuh-suiang Wang has successfully invents the concept of 3.1 Renewable Energy:
gravity power generation mechanism. In his concept, Renewable energy is natural energy which does not
have a limited supply. It can be used again and again, and
© ICMERE2015
will never be run out. Renewable energy is the energy 2. Bicycle wheel
which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, 3. Ball bearing
wind, rain, tides and geothermal heat, which are 4. Pulley
renewable (naturally replenished). Renewable is an 5. Belt
alternative to fossil fuels and nuclear power and was 6. Load
commonly called alternative energy. This energy is easily 7. Steel flat bar
abundant and environmental pollution free. In future, the 8. LED light
world will entirely depend on the renewable energy. 9. Resistor
Renewable energy replaces conventional fuels in four 10. Pipe and Stand
distinct areas:
Power generation, hot water heating, transport fuels and 4.1 Synchronous motor:
rural (off grid) energy services [8]. A synchronous electric motor is an AC motor in which,
at steady state, the rotation of the shaft is synchronized
3.2 Gravitational Energy: with the frequency of the supply current; the rotation
Gravitational energy is the energy where an object period is exactly equal to an integral number of AC
possesses downward movement because of its weight in cycles. Synchronous motors contain multiphase AC
a gravitational field. The most common use of electromagnets on the stator of the motor that create a
gravitational potential energy is for an object near the magnetic field which rotates in time with the oscillations
surface of the Earth where the gravitational acceleration of the line current. The rotor with permanent magnets or
can be assumed to be constant at about 9.8 m/s. Since the electromagnets turns in step with the stator field at the
zero of gravitational potential energy can be chosen at same rate and as a result, provides the second
any point(like the choice of the zero of a coordinate synchronized rotating magnet field of any AC motor. A
system), the potential energy at a height h above that synchronous motor is only considered doubly-fed if is
point is equal to the work which would be required to lift supplied with independently excited multiphase AC
the object to that height with no net change in kinetic electromagnets on both the rotor and stator [10].
energy . Since the force required to lift it is equal to its
weight, it follows that the gravitational potential energy
is equal to its weight times the height to which it is lifted
[9].

4. METHODOLOGY
The gravity light consists of an LED bulb fixed to an
adjustable lamp that can be hooked up on a wall or hung
from a ceiling. It also comprises a pulley mechanism and
a ballast bag (weight) hanging from the lamp. The Fig.2: A typical synchronous motor
gravity light works on the principle similar to that of
pendulum clocks that are operated with the help of 4.2 Wheel:
weights. The potential energy is represented by the A bicycle wheel is a wheel, most commonly a wire
ballast material. When the ballast bag is suspended, the wheel, designed for a bicycle. A pair is often called a
potential energy in the ballast is converted by gravity wheel set, especially in the context of ready built "off the
with a slow descent of the bag. The converted energy shelf" performance-oriented wheels. Bicycle wheels are
then generates light. The gravity light can be operated for typically designed to fit into the frame and fork via drop
30 minutes continuously before the ballast bag needs to outs, and hold bicycle tires. A typical modern wheel has a
be refilled. The strength of the light can be adjusted from metal hub, wire tension spokes and a metal or carbon
strong lighting to long-lasting low-level lighting. The fiber rim which holds a pneumatic rubber tire.
two terminals present at the front of the gravity light can
be used as a generator.

Fig.3: Bicycle wheel

4.3 LED:
A light-emitting diode (LED) is a semiconductor light
source. LEDs are used as indicator lamps in many
devices and are increasingly used for other lighting.
Fig.1: Fabricated gravity light Appearing as practical electronic components in 1962,
early LEDs emitted low intensity red light, but modern
The main components used in this project are: versions are available across the visible, ultraviolet, and
1. Synchronous motor infrared wavelengths, with very high brightness. When a
© ICMERE2015
light-emitting diode is switched on, electrons are able to controls, in power distribution systems, or as test loads
recombine with holes within the device, releasing energy for generators. Fixed resistors have resistances that only
in the form of photons. This effect is called change slightly with temperature, time or operating
electroluminescence and the color of the light voltage. Variable resistors can be used to adjust circuit
(corresponding to the energy of the photon) is elements (such as a volume control or a lamp dimmer), or
determined by the energy band gap of the semiconductor. as sensing devices for heat, light, humidity, force, or
chemical activity. Resistors are common elements of
electrical networks and electronic circuits and are
ubiquitous in electronic equipment. Practical resistors as
discrete components can be composed of various
compounds and forms. Resistors are also implemented
within integrated circuits. The electrical function of a
resistor is specified by its resistance: common
commercial resistors are manufactured over a range of
more than nine orders of magnitude. The nominal value
of the resistance will fall within a manufacturing
tolerance.

Fig.4: LED Light

4.4 Electrical polarity of LED:

As with all diodes, current flows easily from p-type to
n-type material. However, no current flows and no light
is emitted if a small voltage is applied in the reverse
direction. If the reverse voltage grows large enough to
exceed the breakdown voltage, a large current flows and Fig.7: A typical resistor
the LED may be damaged. If the reverse current is
sufficiently limited to avoid damage, the 4.6 Pulley:
reverse-conducting LED is a useful diode [11]. A pulley is a wheel on an axle or shaft that is designed
to support movement and change of direction of a cable
or belt along its circumference. Pulleys are used in a
variety of ways to lift loads, apply forces, and to transmit
power. In nautical contexts, the assembly of wheel, axle,
and supporting shell is referred to as a "block. "A pulley
may also be called a sheave or drum and may have a
groove between two flanges around its circumference.
The drive element of a pulley system can be a rope, cable,
belt, or chain that runs over the pulley inside the groove.
Pulleys are assembled to form a block and tackle in order
Fig.5: Electrical polarity of LED light to provide mechanical advantage to apply large forces.
Pulleys are also assembled as part of belt and chain
drives in order to transmit power from one rotating shaft
to another. A wooden pulley of 16.5 cm circumference is
used to transmit power. It has a high co-efficient of
friction.

Fig.6: Diode IV Diagram

4.5 Resistor:
A resistor is a passive two-terminal electrical
component that implements electrical resistance as a
circuit element. Resistors act to reduce current flow, and, Fig.8: Pulley and Bearing assembly
at the same time, act to lower voltage levels within
circuits. In electronic circuits resistors are used to limit 5. DESIGN AND FABRICATION
current flow, to adjust signal levels, bias active elements, Gravity Light is designed to be a replacement for a
terminate transmission lines among other uses. kerosene lamp. Gravity Light's output is better than a
High-power resistors that can dissipate many watts of kerosene lamp.
electrical power as heat may be used as part of motor

© ICMERE2015
5.1 Working procedure of the Gravity Light:
The gravity light consists of a synchronous motor as
the generator, a bicycle wheel as the larger pulley, a
wooden pulley as the smaller one and a belt which is
attached with larger to smaller pulley. When a heavy load
applied to the one end of the larger pulley, due to gravity
the load starts to move downward. Hence the larger
pulley starts to rotate. With the rotation of the larger
pulley the belt transmits power to smaller pulley where a
synchronous motor is fitted. As the synchronous motor
rotates with a low rpm (4-5 rpm), it produces enough
electricity to light the LEDs.

Synchronous
motor

Belt

Fig.10: Schematic diagram of gravity powered light

Wheel
Using 1 kg of load, the potential energy of the load for an
altitude of 145 cm, Ep= mass × gravity constant × height
of the load = mgh = 1kg × 9.81 ms-2 × 1.45m =14.23 J
This potential energy is converted to the electrical energy
by the generator. Hence,
Generator output =Voltage × Current flow × time of load
landing= VIt =3.2 V× 12 mA × 42 s = 1.62 J
Load The height from where the load is falling by the gravity is,
h = 145cm.
Stand Time required to fall the load, t = 42 s.
Hence, velocity of the falling mass, v = 3.45 cm per
second.
Fig.9: Designed Gravity Light (SolidWorks Efficiency= (Output energy /Input Energy)*100%
Design) = (1.62J/14.23J)*100% =11.23%

5.2 Calculations: 6. RESULTS

The diagram above has Ar, Br and Cr are: For 1kg of load from a height of 1.45m the input
Ar = rotational speed of the small pulley A with the energy is 14.23 J and the output by the generator is 1.62J.
generator attached, (4) Hence the efficiency of gravity powered light is 11.23%.
Br= rotational speed of the large pulley B,(3) Some observations are made from the gravity light are
Cr= rotational speed Cr of the small sprocket C that's given below:
attached to the large pulley (2).
Table 1: Observations of lighting time for different
By starting with the generator, in this case a synchronous heights of 1 kg mass:
motor is used. When it is turned the shaft of a motor, the
motor acts like a generator, producing electricity. There
Observations Weight Height Lighting
is a small pulley that is attached to the generator shaft and
(Kg) (feet ) Time
its diameter is 5.25 cm. and circumference is 16.5 cm.
( seconds )
Now there needs a rotational speed for the small pulley of
5-6 RPM to find some combination of large pulley with 1 1 kg 3.5 42
attached small pulley (or sprocket in this case), and 2 1 kg 4.0 49
possibly more than one of them that would cause a mass 3 1 kg 4.5 56
to fall at a reasonably slow speed for long enough to light 4 1 kg 5.0 64
the LED for a reasonably long time. 5 1 kg 5.5 75

© ICMERE2015
 Plotting for lighting time: synchronous motor, the lighting time will increase. Due
to friction of the pulley and belt, there is a power loss in a
great extent. Gravity light needs no operating cost, so it
can be operated as the demand of the light. In the remote
areas, it may play a great important rule for the education
as well as fulfilling the demand of the power. Moreover,
the power can be stored in the battery so that it may give
a great advantage to emergency situation.

8. REFERENCES
[1] Introduction about the fume generations:
http://www.azocleantech.com/article.aspx?ArticleI
Fig.11: Graph for lighting time (s) vs. height (feet) D=349 (Date of access: Sep 20, 2015)
[2] Presentation about the light powered by Gravity:
Table 2: Observations of Voltage and current for different www.emaze.com/@ALCCZZZI/Gravity-Light
masses from a fixed height (3.5 feet): (Date of access: Sep 20, 2015)
[3] Mr.Rakesh S .Ambade, Mr.Rameshwar S .Panse,
Observations Weight Voltage Current Lighting Mr.Prashant K .Kurve, "study and performance of
(kg ) (V) (mA) Time gravity weight balance mechanism.", in
(seconds ) International Journal For Engineering Applications
1 1.0 kg 3.2 12 42 And Technology, March 22, ISSN: 2321-8134, pp.
2 1.5 kg 3.6 15 38 127-131
3 2.0 kg 3.9 17 34 [4] GravityLight: lighting for developing countriesght-
4 2.5 kg 4.3 19 29 www.indiegogo.com/projects/gravitylight-lighting-
5 3.0 kg 4.7 22 26 for-developing-countries#/
(Date of access: Sep 24, 2015)
Plotting for voltage and weight from 3.5 feet: [5] Mr. Rakesh S. Ambade, Mr. Roushan Prabhakar, Mr.
Rupesh S. Tayade, “A Review on Gravity Power
Generation”, International Journal of Innovative
Research in Science, Engineering and Technology,
vol. 3, issue. 4, pp. 11084, 2014
[6] Mr. Rakesh S. Ambade, Mr. Roushan Prabhakar, Mr.
Rupesh S. Tayade, “A Review on Gravity Power
Generation”, International Journal of Innovative
Research in Science, Engineering and Technology,
vol. 3, issue. 4, pp. 11085, 2014
[7] About Mikhail Dmitri Gravity wheel motor:
peswiki.com/index.php/Directory:Mikhail_Dmitrie
v_Gravity_Wheel (Date of access: Sep 30, 2015)
Fig.12: Graph for voltage (V) vs. weight (kg) [8] About industrial overview and Renewable energy
replacements:
Plotting for current and weight from 3.5 feet: www.adeniumcapital.com/industry-overview.aspx
(Date of access: Sep 25, 2015)
[9] Transcript of Gravitational Potential Energy:
prezi.com/ahf5irczdxnf/gravitational-potential-ener
gy/(Date of access: Sep 25, 2015)
[10] Details about Synchronous motor driver:
http://resultsdownload25y.tk/synchronous-motor-dr
iver/ (Date of access: Sep 25, 2015)
[11] Details about LED light:
http://www.entrustexim.com/about_led_light.html
(Date of access: Sep 25, 2015)
Fig.13: Graph for current (mA) vs. weight (kg)
9. NOMENCLATURE
7. CONCLUSION
Generation of gravity power can be increased by Symbol Meaning Unit
applying much heavier load at the end of bicycle wheel. V Voltage v
Though heavy load increases the voltage and current of I Current amp
synchronous motor but it decreases the lighting time of W Weight kg
LED. Applying heavy load, it may cause bending to the v Velocity (m/s)
pipe stand. So a suitable mass must be used to fall it as t Time (s)
much long time as possible. If we use 2.5-3 rpm
© ICMERE2015

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