ABSTRACT
Individuals nowadays are finding ways how to save in their electrical usage. Charging rechargeable batteries in main electricity adds up to their electrical consumption, thereby leading to a higher monthly bill. Finding for an alternative way of charging rechargeable batteries out of main electricity, the researcher investigated the use of Direct Current (D.C.) motor specifically from simple battery operated toys to function as D.C. generator.
The proponent would like to find out the capability of D.C. motor from toys to be used as an alternative storage battery charger. Specifically, it seeks to find answer (1) How does a D.C. motor function as a generator?, (2) What are the advantages of using D.C. motor as an alternative storage battery charger?, (3) How much can a D.C. motor supply voltage in a specific rechargeable battery?, and (4) How long will it take for a D.C. motor to sustain voltage supply to a totally empty rechargeable battery and a low-charged rechargeable battery?
Old and dilapidated motorized toys will be utilized. The D.C. motor, gears and other accessories will be taken from the toy which will be used as the main component of the alternative storage battery charger. The storage battery to be charged will be limited to 1.5 volts AA battery. A digital multi tester is necessary in measuring the voltage.
The findings of the study can be summarized as (1) A D.C. motor can function as a generator by way of rotating the coils of wire through an armature connected to the gears which can be found in a D.C. motor itself. (2) Advantages of D.C. motor as an alternative storage battery charger include elimination of any current supply and could be a form of energy-renewable source. (3) Based on the findings, a D.C. motor can supply .014v in a totally empty rechargeable battery while .004v in a low voltage rechargeable battery in two minutes time. (4) A D.C. generator can sustain voltage supply to a totally empty rechargeable battery in 107 minutes and in a low voltage rechargeable battery in 47.5 minutes through a continuous cranking process.
Recommendation of the study consists of experimenting on a bigger size D.C. motor to compensate on the long period of time cranking the toy’s D.C. motor and the use of more gears to increase the rotation of the D.C. motor so as to decrease the probability of charging time.
INTRODUCTION
Many gadgets, toys, portable lights and radios use rechargeable batteries as its voltage supply. These items are subject to discharging and charging process. The energy used to charge rechargeable battery usually comes from a battery charger using an Alternating Current (A.C.) main electricity.
As applied in our electrical consumption, this charging process consumes huge amount of voltage at least 1/8 of our monthly electrical bill.
Individuals nowadays are finding ways on how to save in their electrical usage. Charging rechargeable batteries in main electricity adds up to their electrical consumption, thereby leading to a higher monthly electric bill.
Finding for an alternative way of charging these rechargeable batteries out of main electricity, the researcher investigated the use of Direct Current (D.C.) motor specifically from simple battery operated toys to function as D.C. generator. The capability of D.C. generator to convert mechanical energy to electrical energy will be utilize in charging rechargeable batteries with 1.5 volts capacity.
Background of the Study
The idea started with a curiosity in mind. The question of how battery operated toys work. These toys are so expensive and the thought of abandoning them after using and playing with it, seems to be so harsh and impractical.
What else can we do with these expensive and yet soon to be abandoned battery operated toys? Well, these toys are really not to be junked too soon, because the components behind these toys that made it works still can be use in more rewarding way.
What made a toy car runs the whole time is a simple motor called Direct Current (D.C.) motor. If this D.C. motor can make the toys run, why can’t we apply it as an alternative storage battery charger then? How will it work will be the purpose of this investigation.
Statement of the Problem
Generally, the study aims to test the capability of D.C. motor to be used as an alternative storage battery charger.
Specifically, it seeks to find answer to the following:
- How does a D.C. motor function as a generator?
- What are the advantages of using D.C. motor as an alternative storage battery charger?
- How much can a D.C. motor supply voltage in a specific rechargeable battery?
- How long will it take for a D.C. motor to sustain voltage supply to a totally empty rechargeable battery and a low-charged rechargeable battery?
Significance of the Study
Results and findings of this study are deemed meaningful in such a way that instead of using electricity operated rechargeable battery charger, these chargers can be replaced by a manually operated D.C. motor to function as rechargeable battery charger. This is in a form of renewable energy source, cheaper, effective, affordable and efficient means of charging rechargeable batteries.
The output will be beneficial among people who are in need of battery charger to be used in various tools like portable radios, flashlights, battery-operated gadgets and the like. Basically, this alternative storage battery charger is very useful in times of power failure where electric current is not available especially during calamities, and among those who live in remote areas where power supply is not accessible.
This will also be favorable among households in finding ways to save electrical consumption.
Scope and Limitation
The researcher will be utilizing old and dilapidated motorized toys. The D.C. motor, gears and other accessories will be taken from the toy which will be used as the main component of the alternative storage battery charger.
The storage battery to be charged will be limited to 1.5 volts AA battery. A totally empty and a low-voltage rechargeable battery will be used to compare the amount of voltage and charging time.
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
According to Michael Faraday’s Law of Electromagnetic Induction, whenever a conductor cuts magnetic flux dynamically induced electromotive force is produce in it. Hence, a D.C. motor basic essential parts are magnetic field and a conductor which can move to cut the flux. So when outside force is made to run the D.C. motor, a voltage will be produced along its terminals.
According to Heinrich Emil Lenz, motors are fundamentally generators in reverse. Therefore, a D.C. motor is in fact a D.C. generator but operated the other way around the field windings are provided with a current so as to develop a magnetic field around a rotor. When the armature is made to rotate with the help of any prime mover in the magnetic field as generated by the stator side, a voltage is induced in the armature. When the armature windings are connected to any load, an electric current begin to flow.
According to Anyos Jedlik (1827), all electromagnetic rotating devices or electromagnetic motors or particularly called dynamo, use electromagnetic induction to convert mechanical rotation into direct current with the use of commutator.
According to Hipplyte Pixii (1832), when a spinning magnet operated by a hand cranks, and where the North and South poles passed over and coil with an iron cone, a current pulse was experienced each time a pole passed over the coil. He also found that the current direction changed when the North Pole passed over the coil after the South Pole.
Li, et.al (2014) presented in their study entitled “Modeling D.C. motor drive system in power system dynamic studies that D.C. motor systems are used in electrical systems due to high starting torque. The D.C. motor drive system is proposed considering two scenarios : first, the drive will trip subjected to severe voltage sags and secondly, the drive can ride through when experiencing mild voltage sags.
In the study conducted by Maraiya (2013), on control of a D.C. motor, that D.C. motor has been widely utilized as a part of mechanical revision for their exact, basic and non-stop control attributes. Thus, it means a mechanical input to the D.C. motor will then produce a linear voltage at its output.
On the other side, in the study conducted by Ferreira, Garde and Lopez (2013), characterization of electrical energy storage technologies, it is natural to expect that storage will play an important role in electricity network. It also highlights the deployment of D.C. motor in terms of energy storage systems. It emphasizes the application and complimentarity of energy storage system using D.C. motor applications.
Eghtedanpour (2012) study on control strategy of distributed integration of photovoltaic and D.C. motor integration in energy storage systems, the D.C. shunt motor connected in grid and in normal operation on active power is ensued. Thus including load shedding and the battery is subject to state of charge.
However, in the study conducted by Ibrahim, et. al. (2008), on energy storage systems characteristics and comparisons, the work described on their paper highlights the need to store energy in order to strengthen power networks and maintain load levels. A. D.C. shunt motor technologies are developed to restore lead batteries which it can store large amount of energy in a small volume.
Meanwhile, Ishak and Hassan (2008) presented an analytical modeling of permanent magnet excited brushed D.C. motor for cost sensitive applications in their study entitled “Analytical modeling of permanent magnet excited brushed D.C. motor for low cost applications. The proposed analytical model of D.C. motor distributed windings employed in their armature, a flux linkage and induced voltage are obtained.
Flores, et.al. (2006) wrote in their publications on “High frequency bi directional D.C. / D.C. converter using two inductor rectifier”, the application of D.C. motor converter charger in hybrid vehicles and high voltage D.C. supply, the power of the motor is required to supply a steadily output voltage. It is used to work permanently in these D.C. / D.C. vehicles for charging.
Wall and Mcshane (1997) stated that a battery energy storage is a well known concept that has application within the electricity supply energy. The D.C. energy in batteries can be supplied by a D.C. motor charging power. The article presented commercial and functional advantages of using D.C. shunt motors to power charging in battery energy storage system.
Methodology
- Materials Needed
– D.C. motors from old and unused battery operated motorized toys
– Gears of old and unused battery operated motorized toys
– Digital multitester – black and red wires
– Soldering iron – old rechargeable batteries
– Recyclable plastic and metal holder – AA battery holder
– Pin (springlike) – light emitting diode
– Plastic handle
- General Procedure
- Gather old and unused battery operated motorized toys. Disassemble the toys and carefully remove the D.C. motor from the case and separate the gears.
- Desolder the positive and negative terminal of the D.C. motor.
- Using a recyclable plastic and metal holder, firmly attach the D.C. motor.
- Interconnect the series of gears to the shaft of the D.C. motor.
- A springlike pin is attached to the gears to serve a cranking rotation to the D.C. motor.
- A plastic handle is connected to the pin for easy cranking.
- The positive and negative terminal of the D.C. motor is connected to the diode.
- A light emitting diode is soldered to the positive and negative terminal to be used as light indicator.
- Connect the red and black terminal of the battery holder to the positive and negative of the D.C. motor.
- Test the set up if it is ready for cranking. Test the charged voltage of the totally empty rechargeable battery in a span of every two minutes of cranking. Measure the voltage.
- Test the charged voltage of the low charged (1.3 volts) rechargeable battery in a span of every two minutes of cranking.
- Measure the voltage and record the data.
- Test of the Efficiency of the Device
The Direct Current motor alternative storage battery charger is tested with the use of digital multitester. Through continuous cranking, a 1.6 volts output is obtained along the positive and negative terminal of the device.
The device is tested using a battery empty and a low-charged rechargeable battery.
The device can charge a totally empty rechargeable battery in a span of 107 minutes while 47.5 minutes in a low-charged rechargeable battery which only proves that both batteries reached 1.5 volts which is the allowable amount of voltage for it to be used in various devices like portable radios, emergency flashlights, etc.
The difference in the length of time that the batteries reached the allowable amount of voltage depends on the initial voltage of the rechargeable AA battery. Nevertheless, still it proves that the device can be used as an efficient alternative storage battery charger.
FLOWCHART
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Gather D.C. motor from old toys |
Collect the gears from old toys |
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| Connect springlike pin to the gears |
Interconnect gears to the shaft. |
Attach D.C. motor in a recycled plastic metal box. |
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| Attach handle to the springlike pin |
Connect the diode to the D.C. motor. |
Solder the light emitting diode. |
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Charge the totally empty storage battery. |
Crank the D.C. motor. |
Battery holder is attached. |
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Charge the low-charged storage battery. |
Measure and record the data. |
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PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA
This part deals mainly with the presentation, analysis and interpretation of data according to the specific problems raised in the study. The findings were presented in order that the specific questions raised are answered.
Figure 1 describes the summary of charging of totally discharged (AA 1.5 volts) storage battery using the alternative storage battery charger.
Figure 2 shows the summary of charging of Low-charged (1.3 volts) storage battery using the alternative storage battery charger.
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TIME IN MINUTES |
14 |
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12 |
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11 |
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10 |
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9 |
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8 |
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7 |
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6 |
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5 |
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4 |
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3 |
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2 |
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1 |
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0 |
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0.01 |
0.015 |
0.02 |
0.025 |
0.03 |
0.035 |
0.04 |
0.045 |
0.050 |
0.055 |
0.060 |
0.065 |
0.070 |
0.075 |
0.080 |
0.085 |
0.090 |
0.095 |
0.15 |
0.16 |
0.17 |
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NO. OF VOLTS |
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Figure 1: Charging of Totally Discharged (AA 1.5 volts) Storage Battery using the Alternative Storage Battery Charger |
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Figure 1 shows the specific time in minutes the alternative charger functions and the voltage outcomes of totally drained rechargeable battery. Taking into account the time the project is experimented, a two minute interval is taken into consideration for the tabulation and measurement of voltage the charger have charged a fully charged battery.
In the first two minutes of charging the battery, a digital multi tester shows an initial charging of 0.42 to the battery. An increase of .008 volts was measured in the next two minutes, the succeeding two minutes shows an increase in voltage of .062v, 0.73v, .084v, .089v during the 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th minute respectively and up to .099v in the 14th minute of experimentation.
With the data tabulated and upon the computation of the mean of voltage in two minutes of interval time, an increase of .014 volts is obtained every two minutes of charging. With the total voltage to be charged to 1.5 volts battery, we can statistically say that it will take 107 minutes of charging time to fully restore a 1.5 storage battery.
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TIME IN MINUTES |
28 |
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26 |
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24 |
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22 |
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20 |
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18 |
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16 |
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14 |
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12 |
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10 |
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8 |
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6 |
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4 |
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2 |
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0 |
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1.315 |
1.320 |
1.325 |
1.330 |
1.335 |
1.340 |
1.345 |
1.350 |
1.355 |
1.360 |
1.365 |
1.370 |
1.375 |
1.380 |
1.385 |
1.390 |
1.400 |
1.415 |
1.430 |
1.435 |
1.440 |
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VOLTAGE |
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Figure 2 : Charging of a Low-Charged (1.3 volts) Storage Battery Using the Alternative Storage Battery |
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Figure 2 shows the charging of a low-charged (1.3 Volts) storage battery using an alternative storage battery.
A thorough experimentation on the alternative storage battery charger and the tabulation of voltage charge in a specific time interval was done to test the capability of the device to charge a “low-bat” storage battery.
The graph displays an initial “low-bat” battery charge measuring 1.31 volts which means a 0.19v short of the desired voltage in 1.5 volts. Through experimentation of interval of two minutes, an initial charge of 1.319 was measured. In the 4th minute of charging an increase of .005 volts was noted. By continuous cranking, the charging gradually increases to 1.329v, 1.337v, 1342v, 1.347v, 1.35v, 1.355v, 1.358v, 1.362v, 1.365, 1.369 and 1.373 during the 6th, 8th, 10th, 12th, 14th, 16th, 18th, 20th, 22nd, 24th, and 26th minute respectively.
With the data tabulated and upon the computation of the mean of voltage in two minutes of interval time, an increase of .004 volts is obtained every two minutes of charging. With the total voltage to be charged to 1.5 volts battery, we can statistically say that it will take 47.5 minutes of charging time to fully restore a low-charged rechargeable battery.
The findings show that a D.C. motor alternative storage battery works by way of an increasing amount of voltage being charged in the rechargeable batteries through the use of continuous cranking method. This only proves that the D.C. motor alternative storage battery could also work as a generator.
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Conclusion
Generally, the study was conducted to find out the capability of a D.C. motor to be used as an alternative storage battery charger.
The study utilized old and dilapidated motorized toys. The D.C. motor was used as the main component of the alternative storage battery charger. The storage battery to be charged was limited to 1.5 volts AA battery. A digital multi tester was used in measuring the voltage.
Based from the results of the study, the following are the summary of findings:
(1) A D.C. motor can function as a generator by way of rotating the coils of wire through an armature connected to the gears which can be found in a D.C. motor itself.
(2) Advantages of D.C. motor as an alternative storage battery charger include elimination of any current supply and could be a form of energy-renewable source.
(3) Based on the findings, a D.C. motor can charge .014v in a totally empty rechargeable battery while .004v in a low voltage rechargeable battery in two minutes time.
(4) A D.C. generator can sustain voltage supply to a totally empty rechargeable battery in 107 minutes and in a low voltage rechargeable battery in 47.5 minutes through a continuous cranking process.
Recommendation
From the drawn conclusion above, the following were the formulated recommendations:
- Conduct another study to experiment on a bigger size D.C. motor to compensate on the long period of time cranking the toy’s D.C. motor.
- The use of more gears to increase the rotation of the D.C. motor so as to decrease the probability of charging time.
Bibliography
Herman, Stephen, Industrial Motor Control 6th ed. Delmar Cengage Learning 2010, p.251
Laughton M.A. and Warne D.F., Electrical Engineers Reference book, 16th ed. 2003, pp.19-45
Yeadon, William H., Yeadon, Alan W., Handbook of Small Electric Motors, McGraw-Hill Professional 2011, p.4-134
Lynn, C. “Motor Characteristics and Regulation, Direct Current Generator and Motors”. Standard Handbook for Electrical Engineers McGraw-Hill pp.826-831
Li, Liang, Wu, Modeling D.C. motor drive system in power system dynamic studies, Browse Conference Publications – Industrial and Commercial Power, May 2014
Maraiya, G., Some Studies on Control of a D.C. servo motor, Mtech Thesis, 2013.
Ferreira, Garde and Lopez, Characterization of Electrical Energy Storage Technologies, May 2013
Eghtedanpour, E. Farjah, Control Strategy of a Distributed Integration of Photovoltaic and D.C. motor Integration in Energy Storage Systems, September 2012
Flores, Garcia, Oliver and Cobos, International Power Electronics Congress 10th IEEE, 2006
Ishak and Hassan, Mechatronics and Its Applications, 5th International Symposium on Information and Automation Technologies, 2008
Ibrahim, Ilinca, and Perron, Energy Storage Systems – Characteristics and Comparisons, June 2008
J. Wall and D. Mcshane, A strategy for Low Cost Utility Connection of Battery Energy Storage Systems, August 1997
By: Homer F. Santos | Teacher III | Limay National Highschool
