CHAPTER 1: THE PROBLEM & ITS SETTING

A. INTRODUCTION

Electricity has been a necessity in today's culture. This is why harvesting allowable
form of energy become relevant. There are many ways of generating alternative energy.
One example is through a transducer called the piezoelectric crystal. The piezoelectric
crystal generates electric charges on its surface when mechanical strain is applied to it.
That is why piezoelectric patches are ideal for light weight pressure. A perfect example
for this kind of pressure is the weight when you press a computer keyboard. The weight
can be maximized by inserting a piezoelectric patches between the contact layers of the
keyboard to harvest energy. This can supply power for personal devices especially if you
live in remote areas where electricity isn't available. It can charge flashlight(s), phones,
radios and any other USB device. The purpose of this study is to generate energy using
piezoelectric patches by applying light pressure to it through pressing computer
keyboard. This will serve as an alternative power source in supplying energy to personal
devices. With this objective, the study aims to minimize energy consumption from power
plants and instead generate energy in a more efficient and practical way.

The energy crisis is a broad and complex topic. Most people dont feel connected to
its reality unless the price of gas at the pump goes up or there are lines at the gas station.
The energy crisis is something that is ongoing and getting worse, despite many efforts.
The reason for this is that there is not a broad understanding of the complex causes and
solutions for the energy crisis that will allow for an effort to happen that will resolve it.

(http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/causes-and-solutions-to-the-global-energycrisis.php)
Because of our numbers and our technology, we humans greatly influence the
ecology of Earth. We humans, qualified or not, are at the controls. Earth does not come
with an operating manual. We humans need to look to science to create one.

The coming era of limited and expensive energy will be very difficult for everyone on
Earth but it will be even more difficult if it is not anticipated. It is of utmost importance
that the public and especially policymakers understand the global energy crisis and the
underlying science.
(http://planetforlife.com/)

As overall world energy use increases and conventional fossil-based resources

contribute a diminishing fraction of the total demand, developing new resources
and energy conversion technologies becomes increasingly important Preferred
replacement resources and conversion technologies are those which are
expected to be sustainable, available in sufficient quantities when and where
needed, and have minimal environmental impact Electricity generation via
piezoelectricity is one option which demonstrates these desirable characteristics.

Piezoelectricity is the electric charge that accumulates in certain solid materials

(such as crystals, certain ceramics, and biological matter such as bone, DNA and
various proteins)[1] in response to applied mechanical stress. The word

piezoelectricitymeans electricity resulting from pressure. It is derived from the Greek

piezo () or piezein (), which means to squeeze or press, and electric or
electron which means amber, an ancient source of electric charge.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piezoelectricity)

One of the unique characteristics of the piezoelectric effect is that it is reversible,

meaning that materials exhibiting the direct piezoelectric effect (the generation of
electricity when stress is applied) also exhibit the converse piezoelectric effect (the
generation of stress when an electric field is applied).
(http://www.nanomotion.com/piezo-ceramic-motor-technology/piezoelectric-effect/)

B. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

This project tends to answer the succeeding questions.

1. How this project will help the people who live in remote areas where electricity isn't
available?
2. How you can harvest electricity from a computer keyboard?

OBJECTIVES
This project study is conducted to meet the following objectives.

MAIN OBJECTIVES
To create a power generator using cheap and recyclable materials that can be used to
produce electricity and power up electronic devices.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
1. How the piezoelectric generator works and from where it gets its energy.
2. Calculate how much energy is stored in a capacitor and how much is converted by
the piezo element.
3. List multiple energy-harvesting applications for piezoelectric materials.

C. CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
MATERIALS TO BE USED:
1. Computer Keyboard (new or used)
2. Piezoelectric Patch
3. Capacitor Bank
4. Generator
5. Cables and Wires

6.

D. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This will serve as future research for piezoelectricity and how to make a
electrical energy from piezo effect and materials.
Every year, an average of 20 typhoons hits the Philippines. And many affected
areas especially and Mindanao and Visayas areas were left by the typhoon without
electricity. It last 3 to 6 months or worst years before power was reproduced
thats why many families in these areas suffer thats why this research aims to

produce electricity in easier way and by using simple materials. Anyone can
provide this kind of Piezo Generator Keyboard and anyone can benefit from it
especially especially if you live in remote areas where electricity isn't available. This

would help them to produce electricity in most easiest way.

Aside from the those people residing in remote areas, anyone can benefit from the
Piezo Generator Keyboard. According to the studies, there are 113 million mobile
telephone subscribers in the Philippines and with the use of PGK they can charge their
mobile phones and other personal devices.

E. SCOPE AND DELIMITATION

Piezo Generator Keyboard or PGK