| Team Leader First Name | Jonathan |
| Team Leader Last Name | Chan |
| Additional Team Members | Jonathan Yuen, Chris Cinkornpumin, Michelle Lum |
| Group Team Leader Contact Number | 626-863-2286 |
| Team Leader Email Address | jchan@calpoly.com |
| Faculty Advisor First Name | David |
| Faculty Advisor Last Name | Braun |
| Faculty Advisor Contact Number | 805-756-1464 |
| Project Title | Energy Harvesting From Exercise Machines (EHFEM) |
| Problem Description | In a global effort to integrate innovative technology and renewable energy, Cal Poly commits to the advancement of self-generating power. Mandated by student demand, future plans for expansion of the current recreational center take effect. By the end of the 2012 academic school year, Associated Students Incorporated (ASI) plans for the completion of the Recreation Center expansion. In an effort to promote sustainable practices, the Recreation Center intends to exceed the State of California standards for energy efficiency. In conjunction to the overall effort and the opening of the 2012 expansion, this project utilizes existing models of PRECORE elliptical machines and retrofits each machine with self-generating capability. These reconfigured elliptical machines will convert excess heat loss to renewable energy for both the machine itself and the entire PG&E power distribution grid. The accumulation of these minor efforts promotes the overall transition towards renewable, self-generating power. Moreover, it helps ensure for us a sustainable, healthy future. |
| Project Description | When using self-power elliptical machines, the power generated by the user is supplied to the machine itself and dissipated as excess energy through heat. Theoretically the heat generated can be converted to excess power and sent back into the Rec centers power distribution system. Our goal is to allow any student or athlete to contribute to the rec center's power generation. |
| Project Timeline | I. Project Planning (week 2-3, 03/30-4/10)
a. Researching safety regulations b. UL listing requirements c. PG&E requirements d. National Electric Code requirements II. Initial Equipment Testing and Understanding Existing Precor Machine Without Alteration (week 3, 4/10-4/16) a. Input / Output Voltage measurements b. Variable Resistance measuremtns III. Design Concepts (week 4-6, 4/20-5/2) a. Research design potentials b. Design must meet all safety regulations c. Order parts and equipment IV. Testing and results (week 7-10, 5/4-5/29) a. Testing measurements must match initial power dissipation. V. Conclusions and final report (June 13th) |
| Budget | A crucial piece to our design is the implementation of an DC-to-AC mirco-inverter($200 - $300), DC-DC converter ($100-$300), and other necessary interconnects. If awarded the initial $500, the contribution will help cover approximately 50% of the overall cost. In order to implement this project, the REC center specified that it be "no cost" to them or Cal Poly. Therefore, the necessary components and funding is provided by the team. |
| Image | picture |
| Picture Description | The attached image show the existing elliptical machine. The two brown resistive coils is where the possible DC-AC inverter will be placed feeding the excess energy from the machine to the distribution grid. The image also show the configuration of the generator and circuit boards. |
| Links | http://oregonstate.edu/sustainability/blog/
The above link corresponds to a similar energy harvesting project completed by seniors at Oregon State University. The difference within our design is that there are no single point of failure. If one machine fails to run, it will not effect any other machine. |
