Some Aspects On Design And Development Of Human Operated Generator For Desalination Plant ER

ABSTRACT

Development of local energy sources from wind, Bun, tidal, bio-gas and bio-mass are wellknown today in the context of ‘Technology in Rural Areas’. Some of the sources are being considered in a microscale to cater for household requirements such as solar energy to pump water or to use for lighting. However, application of technology in rural areas require certain amount of training and establishment of development centres to promote and propogate proper technologies.

This paper describes the development of an energy source wherein human energy is exploited to generate electrical energy. The equipment is called as “Human Operated Generator” and used to supply a micro-electro-dialysis plant, to desalinate brackish water in remote village areas, where there is no electricity or skill to use any other equipments. It may be questioned that why not small diesel generator set for desalination of water ? The equipment is designed for rural areas where the skill to use any equipment or the resource to borrow any equipment is limited.

The equipment comprises a high efficiency d.c. permanent magnet generator, a cycle pedalling mechanism and an open-loop controller. Energy is generated by pedalling the cycle by human being. The equipment is simpler in construction and ensures higher reliability and having practically no maintenance.

Ergonomic studies carried out on a selective basis revealed that an average adult can generate around 100 watt6 sustained output and the experimental equipment was capable of giving continuous output of 60-70 watts, which was used for desalinating brackish water.

This development along with the ED Plant development is an attempt to aid the ‘Application of Technology in Rural Areas’ to improve the life standard of rural community, as it provides electrical energy to convert brackish water to life supporting fresh water.