Electrical power generation via bicycle wheel
Electrical power generation via bicycle wheel
(OP)
What do you think is the best mechanism to generate power using a bicycle? Is it using a dynamo fixed to the wheel or using a flywheel through a chain drive?





RE: Electrical power generation via bicycle wheel
For any period of time a typical person can put our about 150W, with a conditioned athlete much higher.
The range goes from about 1.5-6.5 W/kg of body weight for long term power output. (for 5 min I would expect a pro rider to put out 7-7.5 W/kg, and for a 5-10sec sprint (think track) they will hit 23-24W/kg)
A flywheel is nice because it smooths out the ride, and still having gears in nice because it lets you match peddle rate to the load.
I would make a fake wheel, built on a bike hub (bearings and gears) that is the rotor of the generator. At least then you eliminate the issue of tire on roller.
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P.E. Metallurgy, Plymouth Tube
RE: Electrical power generation via bicycle wheel
Please elaborate with pictures of intended set up.
RE: Electrical power generation via bicycle wheel
RE: Electrical power generation via bicycle wheel
Driven by the tire tread through a small knurled wheel, with crappy bronze bearings, maybe 20x faster than the wheel.
Driving ~10W of incandescent bulbs fast enough to see by, got old real fast.
Nowadays, LED bulbs and primary batteries make more sense for bicycling.
For power generation, human powered dynamos don't really make sense either.
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: Electrical power generation via bicycle wheel
But, I suspect the original poster is wanting more than 3 watts, but there's really not enough information to answer the question. Perhaps the best arrangement if you need the bicycle to also be rideable when you're not using it would to connect the generator to a roller under the wheel, similar to the setup used for trainers on bicycle: http://www.amazon.com/Magnet-Bicycle-Indoor-Exerci...
If this is a permanent conversion, probably connecting the crank to the generator via chain or belt drive would be the way to go.
RE: Electrical power generation via bicycle wheel
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P.E. Metallurgy, Plymouth Tube
RE: Electrical power generation via bicycle wheel
http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=405861
Some posters questioned the power generation required, but I don't think WADMW ever responded then.
RE: Electrical power generation via bicycle wheel
A simple search provides things like this
http://www.scienceshareware.com/pedal-power-build-...
http://www.bicycling.com/bikes-gear/advocacy/high-...
http://www.econvergence.net/
Most work by simply fixing the bike in its stationary position and having a small roller under the rear wheel.
Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.
RE: Electrical power generation via bicycle wheel
This reminds me of the guy that attached a car alternator to his bicycle so he could pedal real hard and charge up a car battery that he then mounted onto his bicycle to drive a small motor on his rear wheel so he could ride without having to pedal.
RE: Electrical power generation via bicycle wheel
RE: Electrical power generation via bicycle wheel
They don't understand why that there is all this fuss about wind-power, solar panels and coal fired power plants .....
They are also looking for a few engineers to "straighten out" some remaining details .....
MJCronin
Sr. Process Engineer
RE: Electrical power generation via bicycle wheel
You hear about the Bernie Sanders drinking game? Every time he mentions a free government program you drink somebody elses' beer :)
(discalimer, quoted from other sources)
Regards,
Mike
The problem with sloppy work is that the supply FAR EXCEEDS the demand
RE: Electrical power generation via bicycle wheel
Do you have a link to that " Bernie Sanders position paper " ?
thanks
Dan T
RE: Electrical power generation via bicycle wheel
je suis charlie
RE: Electrical power generation via bicycle wheel
MJCronin
Sr. Process Engineer
RE: Electrical power generation via bicycle wheel
RE: Electrical power generation via bicycle wheel