chapter one
Introduction
Nigeria’s public power company-Power Holding Company of Nigeria has an installed generating capacity of about 6GW but actual available output is less than 2.5GW. Power black-out is frequent.
Presently power generation is mainly from thermal plants (about 61%) while hydro power generation is about 31%. Most of the generating assets in the public power sector are old, between 18 and 43 years. Lack of timely routine maintenance had caused significant deterioration in plant output and is a key explanatory factor in the lingering electric power crisis. According to industry watchers more than two decades of poor planning and underinvestment had left a huge supply deficit. There was no new infrastructure in over a decade despite rapid population growth and rising demand for power. (Nigeria: Electric Power Sector Report 2008)
Engineers in most of their design looks at nature for inspiration when it comes to designing objects examples of products from such inspired designs abound everywhere this includes but not limited to flying objects such as aeroplanes which looks much like a soaring bird in the sky. In this case we look towards nature once again for example water cycle as illustrated below is a natural phenomenon.
Rainfall, evaporation, condensation, rainfall; the cycle repeats itself over and over again. Now the same principle can be applied to electricity generation leading to electricity cycle, bringing what I call electricity revolution in Nigeria. Ordinarily conventional electricity generators make use of fuel or solar/wind or nuclear energy etc. In the case of fuel (in this analysis fuel can be petrol, diesel, steam, charcoal, kerosene etc.), an internal combustion engine is involved. This engine uses the chemical energy in the fuel converts it into mechanical energy that will be used to drive the alternator thereby generating electricity based on the principle of electromagnetic induction. The efficiency of the process is very low and only about 30% or less of the fuel will be converted successfully from chemical energy to mechanical energy by the internal combustion engine. The remaining 70% is wasted and the inefficiency increases as the engine ages (Roland, 2008).
FUELLESS GENERATOR
In the case of fuel less generator, the internal combustion engine is not needed because it does not have to convert the chemical energy in the fuel to mechanical energy that will be used to drive the alternator in other to generate electricity. This fuel less generator works in such a way that the electricity generated by the alternator is recycled back into the system.
Electricity generators have two units. The internal combustion engine unit involving piston and rings, connecting rod, spark plug, fuel tank, carburettor, exhaust etc. and the electrical side involving amateur, field coil, diode, AVR, capacitor etc. (Roland, 2008)
The internal combustion engine is replaced by an electromechanical device that takes power from the alternator and uses same power, converts it to mechanical energy at over 98% efficiency rate, uses that same power again to drive the alternator. The cycle repeats itself all over again. So the concept here is to replace the internal combustion engine that depends on fuel with an electromechanical device that converts electric current into mechanical energy. This mechanical energy will be used to drive the alternator, and the current produced by the alternator will be used to power the electromechanical device. The electromechanical device that is used to replace the internal combustion engine is designed in such a way that it uses less power than the alternator power output so that you can still be able to power your TV; refrigerator etc. This arrangement is the secret behind the fuel less generator.
the fuel less generator as a self sustained electric Energy generator
The fuel less generator is a self-sustained generator which produces electric energy for consumption. That is to say it powers itself and simultaneously supplies power. In a way it can be also looked at as a form of renewable energy system. The benefits this machine gives include;
1) The fuel less generator can be operated for hours at a time without the use of fuel.
2) It is environmentally friendly as it produces no noise (noiseless operation), smokeless. Infact, it is possible for the machine to be kept indoors.
3) Very low maintenance.
4) It is also a possibility that an existing fuel generator can be converted into a fuel less generator by replacing the engine with the electromechanical device.
Aim and Objectives
The aim of the project of is to design and manufacture a fuel less generator, capable of producing 2 -3KW of electrical energy / power. The objectives are:
a) to design and manufacture of a 3KVA fuel less generator;
b) to evaluate the generator for performance;
c) to carry out tests on the fuel less generator to establish some physical characteristics;
d) To carry out tests on the fuel less generator to determine its performance.
Justification
The need to switch from the use of synthetic fuels due to the effect of global warming caused by the use of fossil fuels among other reasons has necessitated exploration of other means of energy generation. Although several attempts have been made to come up with a means of energy generation like this, these fuel less generators are easy to build and operate, and are likely to be one of the most appropriate for developing countries as a source of decentralized power supply to rural communities and industries (FAO, 1986). Hence, the experimental scale fuel less generator is needed for studies into how its efficiency can be improved and adapted to meet the local requirement of developing countries. This small scale fuel less generator should serve as a model for the development of industrial scale fuel less generators. Nigeria, whose dependence rests exclusively on the fossil fuels (crude oil), would undoubtedly benefit from this project as it explores the use of basic electrical and mechanical components in the country. Also, the large energy need or demand in the country can be met by employing the technology of this fuel less generator.
SCOPE AND LIMITATION
This project covers the design and manufacture of the fuel less generator for use in residential use and small businesses such as supermarkets, and shops.
The limitation of this project is that the design and manufacture of this generator is limited to a maximum output 3KVA of electric power. This means that the generator can only be put to use in areas that do not demand more than 3KVA of power.
