130 likes | 221 Views
Development of a Mechanical Battery. Texas A&M University - Kingsville Luis Muratalla – MEEN Senior Jonathan Boehm – CEEN Sophomore Gary Garcia & Richard Rivera – MEEN Sophomores Noe Cantu – EEEN Junior Nov. 30, 2009, College Station, TX
E N D
Development of a Mechanical Battery Texas A&M University - Kingsville Luis Muratalla – MEEN Senior Jonathan Boehm – CEEN Sophomore Gary Garcia & Richard Rivera – MEEN Sophomores Noe Cantu – EEEN Junior Nov. 30, 2009, College Station, TX Faculty Advisor – Dr. Larry Peel, Student Mentor – Firoz Ahmed
Project and Semester Objectives • Design and fabricate a lightweight rechargeable mechanical battery. • Store and convert potential energy to electrical energy using Fiber Reinforced Elastomer composite strips. Semester Objectives • Complete Steel Frame Fabrication, • Assemble all mechanical components, • Test battery with prototype strips, and mechanical brake. • Characterize component weights, generator output
Current Testing Platform • Carbon steel prototype • -allows for an inexpensive and easy to modify test platform. • Provides mounting for the strips to fully stretch more easily. • Allows for longer strips • (approximately 6.5 ft length) • Longer strips increases energy density.
Gearing System • Linear Design • Gear for composite strip shaft • Intermediate gear • Generator Gear • Gear Ratio Information • 1:4 Ratio from Strip Shaft to Generator • Crank Arm • manually tensions the composite strip shaft
Braking System • Prototype uses manual mechanical on/off brake • Free moving hinge design • Allows for composite strips to remain in tension • Easily released with leverage. • Final system will use an electro-mechanical brake.
Weight Budget Current prototype frame is carbon steel Prototype weight: 81.35 lbs Projected weight of aluminum frame: 33.34 lbs Weight saved using aluminum: 48.01 lbs
Power Generation 12 VDC, 20 amp output Charge Batteries Power 12 volt DC equipment
Work To Come • Complete electrical system • Testing of single strip vs. three strips • Analyze test results • Attempt to refine design • Test completed system
Conclusion • The fabrication of the prototype frame and internal components are complete • Material relaxation is an issue with the strips • Likely will have much lower energy density than expected in the battery. • Battery is best suited for high intensity low duration energy output.
Special Thanks TAMU Space Engineering Institute Magda Lagoudas Dr. Judith Jeevarajan NASA (Prime Grant No. NCC9-150) TEES (Project No. 32566-681C3) Texas A&M University – Kingsville TAMUK staff and faculty