The concept:
A group of college students have ingeniously come up with an idea to design a traffic intersection that can uniquely transform the power of footsteps into precious clean energy. Piezoelectric plates are to be placed under the cross-walk system, so that the energy emanated by vibrations and pressure vacillations created by pedestrians and on coming vehicles, can be resourcefully converted into electricity. The resultant electricity in turn can be supplied to power street lamps, traffic signals, and even surveillance cameras.
The vision:
Though piezoelectricity was successfully demonstrated long back in 1880 by the brothers Pierre Curie and Jacques Curie, effectual application in modern times has been scarce to say the least. Piezoelectricity is the electric charge imbued inside solid materials, in response to any mechanical strain. And by utilizing the ‘mechanical strain’ in the form of movement and circulation of traffic and people, these students hope to design a system that can generate clean electricity.
The limitations:
The foremost limitations can lie with the piezo-actuators i.e. the devices used for controlling the piezoelectric system. Especially in the context of fluid power applications, they can generate a subdued stroke. Moreover, due to the different thermal expansion coefficients between a piezo-actuator and its housing, actuator systems must also incorporate temperature compensation mechanisms.
The intrinsic character of a piezo element makes it incapable of generating a constant force throughout its entire working stroke. Hence, it must be preloaded to produce tension.
Piezo actuators still exhibit high cost, rendering them ineffective from the point of view of budget, especially in case of moderate scale projects.
Lastly the ‘mechanical strain’ in the form of movement fluctuations can be used to produce electricity. Such high intensity of circulation in a particular area can only be found in the traffic of busy metropolises. So, rural and semi-urban areas cannot easily make use of the technology’s benefits
Can this be real?
Prices will always prove to be the bane to technology’s optimum utilization. Moreover only after considering other alternatives and their feasibility, this ‘clean’ energy system can be brought into practice. Many criteria are still left to be fulfilled in this case, and one among them is the all important practicality.
Source: YankoDesign
