Mini-heat powered Generator 1

“Improvised Mini-heat powered Generator”

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Recent energy crisis have become a huge dilemma in our

country just recently. Power shortages have become countrywide,

resources are already diminishing in numbers without

replacement. Sources of energy, and natural disasters also have

contributed in the country’s shortage of energy.

Many countries around the world experience the same as our

country, the Philippines. Because our country is an archipelago,

having 7,107 separate individual islands, it has become quite an

obstruction to the distribution of electricity throughout the

country.

Power shortage and lack of non-renewable resources is

becoming a huge problem right before us, We need to find better,

non-environmentally harmful effective substitutes for non-

renewable energy if we want to solve this huge phenomenon

happening right before us.

If perilously low energy supplies are not the case, then

highly expensive electric bills is the case. Due to high

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demand bills and without much power left to power entire cities,

bills and payments regarding the electric bills increase largely

and poor households including rural areas are directly affected.

The researcher therefore aim to find out if an improvised

mini-heat powered generator can be constructed from commonly

found materials that can help us in finding a solution in energy

crisis.
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General Objectives

Generally, this study aims to find out if a working

improvised hot-air powered generator setup can be constructed

using everyday household and recycled items.

Specific Objectives:

Specifically, the study aims to answer the following

questions:

1. To find out if the hydroelectric setup has measurable

outputs.

2. To find out if there is a significant difference in

the amount of voltage produced based on the time

consumed to heat the generator.

Hypothesis

1. There are no desirable outputs gathered from the setup.

2. There is no significant difference in the amount of

voltage produced produced based on the time consumed to

heat the generator.

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Significance of the Study

The result of this study would lead to a new way to

utilizing renewable resources for various sectors such as:

Department of Energy. This study will benefit the

Department of Energy by opening a new path to renewable,

affordable, eco-friendly energy sources.

Department of Education. This study will benefit

Universities, and campuses by means of designing such devices

for learning purposes as well as finding new designs and even

new devices.

Homes and residences. This study will benefit homes and

residences which are out of the available energy sources’ reach,

by using its own generator designs utilizing the available

potential sources in nature.

Fellow Researchers. This study will help guide researchers

who would like to pursue these kinds of study so they may be

able to improve their studies.

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Scope and Limitations of the Study

This study is confined only in creating a prototype working

mini-heat powered generator design, based on the direct factors

that will affect its efficiency in terms of power output.

Definition of Terms

Turbine - Any of various machines in which the kinetic energy of

a moving fluid is converted to mechanical power by the impulse
or reaction of the fluid with a series of buckets, paddles,
or blades arrayed about the circumference of a wheel or
cylinder. (www.thefreedictionary.com/turbine) In this study, the
turbine was used to drive the rotational force of the rotor

Rotor - a moving component of an electromagnetic system in the

electric motor, electric generator, or alternator.
(en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotor_(electric)) In this study, the
rotor is the PC fan’s fan.

Stator - the stationary part of the motor’s electromagnetic

circuit.(https://www.wordnik.com/words/stator) In this study,
the stator is the part where the PC fan holds the wire windings.

Magnet - a piece of iron (or an ore, alloy, or other material)

that has its component atoms so ordered that the material
exhibits properties of magnetism, such as attracting other
iron-containing objects or aligning itself in an external
magnetic field. In this study, the rotor houses the magnet.
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RELATED LITERATURE/REVIEW OF RELATED STUDIES AND CONCEPTUAL

FRAMEWORK

I. Stirling engine

A Stirling engine is a heat engine that operates by

cyclic compression and expansion of air or other gas

(the working fluid) at different temperatures, such that

there is a net conversion of heat energy to

mechanical work. More specifically, the Stirling engine

is a closed-cycle regenerative heat engine with a

permanently gaseous working fluid. Closed-cycle, in this

context, means a thermodynamic system in which the

working fluid is permanently contained within the system,

and regenerative describes the use of a specific type of

internal heat exchanger and thermal store, known as

the regenerator.
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METHODOLOGY

Research Design

The Completely Randomized Design (CRD) was used to

determine if a working improvised mini-heat powered generator

can be created.

The independent variable of the study were the factors

manipulated in the study to produce voltage while the dependent

variable was the success of generating actual electric energy.

General Procedure

Preparation of Materials

The materials that were be used in this experiment were

acquired from everyday unused objects or purchased from local

hardware stores if necessary.

The Generator

Rotor and Stator

The generator was made using a PC fan (DC) modified for

electric generation. The PC fan’s fan blades served as the

generator’s rotor and will contain the magnets that induces the

electromagnetic flux in the stator.

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The Pump

The pump was constructed from a used towel and was turned

into a pump by folding it in circular motion and attaching it to

the cable so it can move up and down.

Device connection and setup test

The final setup was connected to a multimeter to see if

there is energy generated. The test used a candle to heat the

generator and a timer to measure the time it was heated.

Procedural Design

Preparation of materials

Stator rewinding

Heat exchanger assembling

Generator assembly

Setup / device assembly

aAssembly

Setup / device connection and

testing

aAssembly
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Figure 1.1. Visual Representation of the Setup

Figure 1.2. The PC fan used to create the generator

(Photo Credits to the researchers)

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Figure 1.3. Tools used in creating the generator

(Photo Credits to the researchers)

Figure 1.4. Image showing the stator coils

(Photo Credits to the researchers)

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Figure 1.5. Image showing the rotor

(Photo Credits to the researchers)

Figure 1.6. The completed PC fan turned generator

(Photo Credits to the researchers)

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Figure 1.7. Creating the heat exchanger

(Photo Credits to the researchers)

Figure 1.8. The finished

(Photo Credits to the researcher)

Figure 1.9. The finished generator setup

(Photo Credits to the researcher)

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RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

This experimental research aimed to ascertain the voltage

produced from the hydroelectric generator.

Results:

Table 1: Results

Replicates Average

Voltage
R1 R2 R3

Table shows the tabulated data on the measurements of

voltage produced by the generator at different time intervals.

The results show that the average volts produced increases

with time and obviously, water pressure. It also shows that the
highest recorded voltage produced was at 16.8 V.

On average, as shown on the table above, the voltage

produced on low pressure is 3.23 V, 8.17 V for medium pressure,

and 15.6 V for high pressure.

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CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

Conclusion

This study aimed to find out if a working mini-

hydroelectric generator can be constructed and with measurable

results.

Based on the findings of the study, the following

conclusions were drawn:

1. An improvised hydroelectric generator can be created using

materials found at home.

2. For maximum voltage, higher water pressure from a source is

required.

Recommendation

The researcher would like to recommend the following:

1. Other mini-heat powered generators with designs based on

potential sources of mechanical input.

2. The researcher also recommend other combinations of cables

and wheel designs that could play an important factor on the

voltage output of the generator design.

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Bibliography

 https://www.electrical4u.com/dc-motor-or-direct-current-
motor/
 http://www.explainthatstuff.com/how-stirling-engines-
work.html
 Staff. “Understanding Alternators. What Is An Alternator
and How Does It Work.” N.p., n.d. Web. 24 November 2014
(http://alternatorparts.com/understanding-alternators.html)
(retrieved February 22, 2015)
 The American Heritage © Dictionary of the English Language,
4th Edition, 2000. (retrieved February 22, 2015)
 http://asiafoundation.org/2015/03/18/energy-crisis-in-the-
philippines-an-electricity-or-presidential-power-shortage/