Patna: A groundbreaking initiative by the Mechanical Engineering Department of the National Institute of Technology (NIT) has paved the way for generating electricity from speed breakers installed at various locations, offering a novel solution to power traffic and street lights. This pioneering research, aimed at fostering environmental sustainability, has not only garnered a patent but also sparked further endeavors to refine its operational model.
Under the stewardship of Director Prof. Pradeep Kumar Jain, NIT has championed this initiative with the objective of augmenting energy production capacity while providing cost-effective and pollution-free electricity.
The driving force behind this breakthrough is Dr. Shailesh M Pandey of the Mechanical Engineering Department, who spearheaded the research. Collaborating with M.Tech student Rakesh Singhla and B.Tech student Anand Pandey, Dr. Shailesh’s team has devised an ingenious method to harness the kinetic energy generated by vehicles passing over speed breakers, thereby converting it into mechanical energy.
Explaining the technical intricacies, Dr. Shailesh highlighted that the design considerations included accounting for the vehicle’s mass and the height of the speed breaker. By leveraging a two-way rack and pinion arrangement, the mechanical energy generated by the vehicle’s movement is converted into electrical energy through the use of a generator.
The efficacy of this technology has received validation from the Central Road Research Institute (CSIR), New Delhi, which has endorsed its viability and forwarded a report to the Transport Ministry. The primary objective of this innovation is to harness green energy from speed breakers, offering a sustainable alternative that is not only cost-effective but also devoid of pollution and reliance on conventional fuel sources.
