Department - Author 1

Mechanical Engineering Department

Degree Name - Author 1

BS in Mechanical Engineering

Date

2009

Primary Advisor

John Fabijanic

Abstract/Summary

The overall goal of this project is to create a workable system to harvest the power generated on exercise bikes at the Cal Poly Rec Center so that the electricity produced can eventually be sent to the power grid. Our part of the project will focus on the mechanical harvesting of this power with the goal of using the product to run the Morningstar ProStar 12V 30 amp charge controller available from the 2007 project. Eventually, the power produced could be fed to the grid in the appropriate form. The finished result of this project should be marketable to exercise bike manufacturers, particularly for the manufacturers who provide the bikes located in the Cal Poly Rec Center: LifeFitness and Star Trac. As part of the marketability, the product must be safe, quiet, reliable, visually appealing, and cost effective; costing less than the price of the electricity it will save. Ideally the device will be compatible with and will not change the footprint of the existing exercise bikes and also will be easy to maintain.

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