Zichen Yuan ([email protected])
Yichun Lan
Wind power is one of the major renewable energy production source today. As discussed in this class, a big turbine shall easily output over 1.5MW. That is a lot of power! Inspired by these big turbines, we want to investigate methods to create a human-scaled wind power generator that functions as an analogy to mega-projects that are currently powering our world. As artists, we would also like to add a poetic and humorous spin on a conventionally STEM subject like energy.
Reversing the air flow of existing 3D printer cooling fans, our final design utilizes kinetic energy generated by our bodies: arm and mouth to generate AC power, lighting up a series of LEDs.
A compression water sprayer is modified as “air battery” to temporarily store kinetic energy powering the strip of LEDs.
A compact version designed to harvest the kinetic energy generated by human exhale.
A not so far stretched scale model of Compressed Air Energy Storage system, the “Air Battery” builds upon a common household object: compressed air water sprayer for gardening purposes. By pumping air into the compressed tank, the audience may accumulate energy to power the LEDs attached to the air tank.
Compressed air energy storage (CAES) is a way to store energy generated at one time for use at another time. At utility scale, energy generated during periods of low energy demand (off-peak) can be released to meet higher demand (peak load) periods.
Demo of the “Air Battery”
Our daily lives are full of exchanges of energy. While we almost know exactly how we input energy — eating — our understanding of energy output is much less understood. With the curiosity regarding just how much power our exhales may generate, we decided to design this gadget to power LEDs with our exhales.
Taking design cues from the symbol of a heart, we envision this design to also speculate the symbolization in universal language. Essentially a tool for oral but non-verbal communication. We can communicate our loves for our friends and families in this humorous way!
The visual inspiration pretty much…
