Tackling global electricity shortage through human power: Technical opportunities from direct or indirect utilizations of the pervasive and green human energy
Received date: 20 Jun 2012
Accepted date: 23 Jul 2012
Published date: 05 Sep 2012
Copyright
With the energy and environmental problems becoming increasingly serious, human power, as a pervasive, renewable, mobile and environment friendly energy, draws more and more attention over the world. In this paper, the most basic features of human power are presented. The currently available human power harvesting theories and devices are briefly reviewed and compared. Further, direct or indirect utilization of human power in daily life, especially transportation and home appliances, such as human-powered car, watercraft, aircraft, washing machine and television etc. are summarized. Considering that the total energy from an individual is rather limited, as previously focused by most of the former works, it is conceived in this paper that an important future for large scale use of human powers lies in the efficient conversion, collection and storage of such energy from discrete people and then use it later on as desired. With the huge amount of energy gathered, the application category of human power would be significantly expended. Starting from this point, three technical ways towards efficiently utilizing human power are sketched, which are termed as human-powered grid (HPG), human-powered charger (HPC) and human-powered storage (HPS), among which, HPG is capable of collecting the electric power produced by each individual at different regions and thus can supply unique and flexible power to the customers covered in the area, without relying on the conventional electricity grid. The HPC can then charge various kinds of electrical devices instantly by a human driven generator which converts human power into electricity. Finally, the HPS can store electricity in time for later use. In this way, even for the devices requiring electricity that is strong enough, the collected human power can also serve as its reliable energy source. Meanwhile, utilization of human power becomes rather convenient and timely which guarantees its practical value. It is expected that with further research and increasing applications, human power could partially relieve the current global electricity shortage and environmental issues via its pervasive contribution.
Dan DAI , Jing LIU . Tackling global electricity shortage through human power: Technical opportunities from direct or indirect utilizations of the pervasive and green human energy[J]. Frontiers in Energy, 2012 , 6(3) : 210 -226 . DOI: 10.1007/s11708-012-0200-3
| 1 |
China Power. News about “electricity shortage” in China. 2011–09–16,
|
| 2 |
Baidu Baike. Electricity shortage. 2011–<month>06</month>–<day>10</day>,
|
| 3 |
Enorth. The “electricity shortage” in China becomes even more violent, and the “shortage power” in China isseveral times of that in Japan. 2011–05–21,
|
| 4 |
Starner T.Human-powered wearable computing. IBM System Journal, 1996, 35(3,4): 618-629
|
| 5 |
Kymissis J, Kendall C, Paradiso J, Gershenfeld N. Parasitic power harvesting in shoes. In: The Second International Symposium on Wearable Computers, Pittsburgh, USA, 1998, 132-139
|
| 6 |
Shenck N S, Paradiso J A. Energy scavenging with shoe-mounted piezoelectrics. IEEE Micro, 2001, 21(3): 30-42
|
| 7 |
Donelan J M, Li Q, Naing V, Hoffer J A, Weber D J, Kuo A D. Biomechanical energy harvesting: generating electricity during walking with minimal user effort. Science, 2008, 319(5864): 807-810
|
| 8 |
Rome L C, Flynn L, Goldman E M, Yoo T D. Generating electricity while walking with loads. Science, 2005, 309(5741): 1725-1728
|
| 9 |
Jia D W, Liu J, Zhou Y X. Harvesting human kinematical energy based on liquid metal magnetohydrodynamics. Physics Letters [Part A], 2009, 373(15): 1305-1309
|
| 10 |
Pelrine R E, Kornbluh R D, Joseph J P. Electrostriction of polymer dielectrics with compliant electrodes as a means of actuation. Sensors and Actuators. A, Physical, 1998, 64(1): 77-85
|
| 11 |
Saha C R, O’Donnell T, Wang N, McCloskey P. Electromagnetic generator for harvesting energy from human motion. Sensors and Actuators. A, Physical, 2008, 147(1): 248-253
|
| 12 |
Krupenkin T, Taylor J A. Reverse electrowetting as a new approach to high-power energy harvesting. 2011-<month>08</month>-<day>23</day>,
|
| 13 |
Liu J, Deng Y G, Jia D W. Unconventional Energy Technology. Beijing: Science Press, 2010
|
| 14 |
U. S. Population Reference Bureau. 2007 world population data sheet. 2007,
|
| 15 |
Wikipedia. World energy consumption. 2011,
|
| 16 |
Shenck N S. A demonstration of useful electric energy generation from piezoceramics in a shoe. Dissertation for the Doctoral Degree. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1999, 210-212
|
| 17 |
Shenck N S, Paradiso J A. Energy scavenging with shoe-mounted piezoelectrics. IEEE Micro, 2001, 21(3): 30-42
|
| 18 |
Kuo A D. Biophysics. Harvesting energy by improving the economy of human walking. Science, 2005, 309(5741): 1686-1687
|
| 19 |
Knowles J R. Enzyme-catalyzed phosphoryl transfer reactions. Annual Review of Biochemistry, 1980, 49(1): 877-919
|
| 20 |
Science Daily. Nature’s batteries’ may have helped power early lifeforms. 2010-<month>05</month>-<day>25</day>,
|
| 21 |
Törnroth-Horsefield S, Neutze R. Opening and closing the metabolite gate. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2008, 105(50): 19565-19566
|
| 22 |
Riemer R, Shapiro A. Biomechanical energy harvesting from human motion: theory, state of the art, design guidelines, and future directions. Journal of Neuroengineering and Rehabilitation, 2011, 8(22): 1-13
|
| 23 |
Winter D A. Biomechanics and Motor Control of Human Movement. 3rd ed. Hoboken N J: John Wiley and Sons, 2005
|
| 24 |
Paradiso J A, Starner T. Energy scavenging for mobile and wireless electronics. IEEE Pervasive Computing / IEEE Computer Society and IEEE Communications Society, 2005, 4(1): 18-27
|
| 25 |
El-Hami M, Glynne P, White N M, Hill M, Beeby S, James E, Brown A D, Ross J N. Design and fabrication of a new vibration-based electromechanical power generator. Sensors and Actuators. A, Physical, 2001, 92(1-3): 335-342
|
| 26 |
Krauss A. nPower® PEG-The world’s first personal energy generator. 2011-<month>04</month>-<day>28</day>,
|
| 27 |
Lemieux A P. Electrical energy generator. US Patent No. 7498682B2, 2009
|
| 28 |
Liu J, Wei X J, Zhou Y X. Implantable microbattery which could generate electricity power by human body’s kinetic energy. China Patent No. 200610114108, 2006
|
| 29 |
Wei X J, Liu J, Zhou Y X. Implantable electromagnetic induction power generation based on human kinetic energy method. Science and Technology Review, 2009, 27(6): 65-71 (in Chinese)
|
| 30 |
Cavallier B, Berthelot P, Ballandras S, Nouira H, Foltete E, Hirsinger L. Energy harvesting using composite silicon/lithium niobate vibrating structures. In: 2007 IEEE Ultrasonics Symposium, New York: IEEE, 2007
|
| 31 |
Wang Z L, Song J H. Piezoelectric nanogenerators based on zinc oxide nanowire arrays. Science, 2006, 312(5771): 242-246
|
| 32 |
Wang X D, Song J H, Liu J, Wang Z L. Direct-current nanogenerator driven by ultrasonic waves. Science, 2007, 316(5821): 102-105
|
| 33 |
Qin Y, Wang X D, Wang Z L. Microfibre-nanowire hybrid structure for energy scavenging. Nature, 2008, 451(7180): 809-813
|
| 34 |
Xu S, Qin Y, Xu C, Wei Y G, Yang R S, Wang Z L. Self-powered nanowire devices. Nature Nanotechnology, 2010, 5(5): 366-373
|
| 35 |
Sanderson K. Time for a power walk: Deformed droplets offer step-by-step way to charge up personal electronics. 2011-<month>8</month>-<day>23</day>,
|
| 36 |
Shih R. Thermoelectrics. 2008,
|
| 37 |
Hornby A S. The Oxford English Dictionary. Fourth Edition. Oxford: Oxford University, 1982
|
| 38 |
Shweeb. Shweeb monorail technology. 2011,
|
| 39 |
Internaltional Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers. Cars produced this year. 2011,
|
| 40 |
HumanCar. Overview and Media of HC. 2011,
|
| 41 |
Buresch R J, Schlangen P E. Personalized watercraft. InternationalPatent No. WO 95/26901, 1995
|
| 42 |
Owen R C. Human-powered watercraft paddle propulsion system. USPatent No. 5584732, 1996
|
| 43 |
Krah D A. Human powered watercraft. USPatent No. 0104828 A1, 2009
|
| 44 |
Krah D A. Human powered watercraft. USPatent No. 0255736 A1, 2010
|
| 45 |
Chapa J. The human-powered floating gym. 2008-07-23,
|
| 46 |
NEHA. Solar cum human powered concept boat by Jonathan Mahieddine. 2008-<month>03</month>-<day>20</day>,
|
| 47 |
Sale J. The Guardian Celebrating 50 years of human-powered flight. 2011-<month>11</month>-<day>09</day>,
|
| 48 |
Wikipedia. Human-powered aircraft. 2011,
|
| 49 |
Ursinus O. Versuche mit energie-speichern, etc. Flugsport, 1937, 33-40
|
| 50 |
Ursinus O. Gründung des Muskelflug-Institute Frankfurt a.M, etc. Flugsport, 1936, 1-28
|
| 51 |
Wilkie D R. Man as an aero engine. Journal of the Royal Aeronautical Society, 1960, 64(596): 471-480
|
| 52 |
Shenstone B S. Engineering aspects in man powered flight. Journal of the Royal Aeronautical Society, 1960, 64(596): 471-477
|
| 53 |
Sherwin K. Man-powered flight as a sport. Nature, 1972, 238(5361): 195-197
|
| 54 |
Naito A.Review of developments in human-powered helicopters. The Technical Journal of the IHPVA, 1991, 9(2): 1, 7-9
|
| 55 |
U.S. Energy Information Administration. Share of energy used by appliances and consumer electronics increases in U.S. homes. RECS 2009,2011-03-28,
|
| 56 |
ASKCI. The yield of refrigerator in China from 2001 to 2010. 2010-<month>09</month>-<day>08</day>,
|
| 57 |
ASKCI. The yield of washing machine in China from 2001 to 2010. 2010-<month>09</month>-<day>08</day>,
|
| 58 |
ASKCI. The yield of colour television in China from 2001 to 2010. 2010-<month>09</month>-<day>08</day>,
|
| 59 |
Bloomfild A M, Plaines D. Battery and generator vehicle lighting system. US Patent No. 3894281, 1975
|
| 60 |
Holmes J H. TV energized by exercise cycle. USPatent No. 4298893, 1981
|
| 61 |
Kumakura K. Generator for use on bicycle. USPatent No. 4677328, 1987
|
| 62 |
Power M N S. Build your own bike generator kit test output results. 2011,
|
| 63 |
Haji M N, Lau K, Agogino A M. Human power generation in fitness facilities. In: Proceedings of the ASME 2010 4th International Conference on Energy Sustainability, Arizona: ASME, 2010
|
| 64 |
Gizmag Team. Haier shows human-powered washing machine prototype. 2010-<month>09</month>-<day>09</day>,
|
| 65 |
Schwartz A. MIT students engineer pedal-powered washing machine. 2009-<month>02</month>-<day>19</day>,
|
| 66 |
.Xbreaker. Maya Pedal’s bike-powered washing machine. 2011,
|
| 67 |
Daily Mail Reporter. Now that really is a spin cycle! University student invents washing machine that can be powered by pedalling. 2011-<month>6</month>-<day>24</day>,
|
| 68 |
Designboom. Pedal powered washing machine. 2010-<month>10</month>-<day>19</day>,
|
| 69 |
Kumarchauhan N S. Bicycle powered washing machine for laundry on the go. 2010-<month>07</month>-<day>13</day>,
|
| 70 |
Pillotor E. Cyclean bike-powered washing machine. 2007-<month>08</month>-<day>22</day>,
|
| 71 |
Dean T. The Human-powered Home. Gabriola Island, BC, Canada: New Society Publishers, 2008
|
| 72 |
Jones K, Harrison B. The impact of changing TV technologies and market trends on the energy consumption on TVs and the need for a better TV energy test method. 2007-<month>07</month>-<day>06</day>,
|
| 73 |
News B B C. Sci/Tech Pedal-powered TV fights flab. 1999-<month>04</month>-<day>20</day>,
|
| 74 |
Allison D B, Mentore J L, Heo M, Chandler L P, Cappelleri J C, Infante M C, Weiden P J. Antipsychotic-induced weight gain: a comprehensive research synthesis. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 1999, 156(11): 1686-1696
|
| 75 |
Faith M S, Berman N, Heo M, Pietrobelli A, Gallagher D, Epstein L H, Eiden M T, Allison D B. Effects of contingent television on physical activity and television viewing in obese children. Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, 2001, 107(5): 1043-1048
|
| 76 |
Weinberg E. Pedal-powered TV. 2004,
|
| 77 |
Scout (London). Pedal powered cinema this Sunday. 2011-<month>8</month>-<day>24</day>,
|
| 78 |
Dai D, Deng Y G, Liu J. Smart grid of human power: construction of a new type of electricity grid and its feasibility analysis. Science and Technology, 2010, 28(5): 104-110 (in Chinese)
|
/
| 〈 |
|
〉 |