Sara Rizvi, Sean Theisen, Mirnelle Mathurin and Kaitlyn Velardi

Abstract:

A challenge facing wind and solar power is that of energy storage. Chemical batteries can be costly and have a negative impact on the environment. We explored using gravitational potential energy to store energy, similar to pumped water storage. Building on the work of past students, we revived the gravity battery project. We built a device that uses a series of 3D-printed gears to transfer the kinetic energy of a falling object to rotational energy which we use to turn a bicycle generator. This proof-of-concept device was used to consistently provide enough power to charge a cell phone, an improvement over past work. We also set up a device to measure the rotational speed of the gears using an Arduino and infrared sensor. While a great success, we are excited about the possibility of future students pushing the project even further!