2017 International Conference on Promising Electronic Technologies

Power Generation Using Hydraulic and Double Crank

Shaft Speed Breaker: Gaza Strip as a Case Study
Jamal AL Zebda Mohammed MSALLAM, Mohammad Al Yazouri ,
Mechanical Engineering Department Tareq SHAHEEN and Abdulsalam RADI
Islamic University of Gaza Sketch Engineering Ltd.
Gaza, Palestine Gaza, Palestine

Abstract—Energy is a basic need for development of the modern

world. For meeting up the regular demand of energy, a new system
that will produce electricity without polluting the environment is
needed. Generation of electricity using speed breakers, is one of
the most green power generation concepts that the world turning
to depend on. The device converts the wasted kinetic energy of
vehicles to electrical energy with zero emissions of carbon or any
other harmful gases. It’s mainly depends on a mechanical system
that converts the linear movement of the speed hump when the
vehicle passed over into rotational which works as a starter for the
generator to generate electricity. Most of the similar previous
projects had a problem of efficiency, the amount of energy
outcome were always limited to supply power for just a streetlight
or an advertisement boards in streets, on the other side the new
one will be able to supply a big facility or lighting a highway. In
these projects, increasing the efficiency is one of the critical points
have worked on. To avoid the huge amount of energy dissipated
due to a mechanical parts friction, a hydraulic system have been
replaced instead of the mechanical one. The new version of the Figure 1: Gaza electrical Power crisis [2]
speed breaker has developed after evaluating the results of the
experiments of the old version. This project has been created Gaza strip’s streets and drivers are suffering from electricity
basing on scientific method, started by the theoretical studies, crises, because the streets are sinking in darkness and random
design, analysis and simulation for each part of the system by CAD for about 20 hours a day without lighting sources and traffic
software, reaching to get the theoretical results. The ongoing stage lights, so the streets always crowded in many places and the
is to create the prototype and comparing the experimental data to
traffic accidents increases every day. Speed breakers could
expected one.
solve some of these traffic problems and give Gaza streets
beautiful scenery because it will be an electrical source for
I. INTRODUCTION many advertisements.
The idea of '"Generating electric power from speed breakers".
The Gaza electricity crisis is an ongoing and growing up
To generate electricity using the vehicle weight (potential
challenge facing nearly two million citizens of the Gaza Strip.
Fig.1, illustrates the power sources feeding Gaza strip. With energy) as input. As already known we need a generator to
regular power supply being provided only for a few hours a day generate electricity and obviously the prime mover to it will be
on a rolling blackout schedule. Some Gazan’s people use the vehicle weight. Then the generated electricity is stored in
private electric generators, solar panels and uninterruptible batteries and will be further used for various purposes like
power supply units to use power when regular power is not lighting up the street lamps, providing power to the nearby
available [1]. Moreover, most of the alternative sources use is slums at low cost etc.
depending on fuel, so its carbon emitter, so that, a new problem
is going to appear. Because of this chronic crisis, new solutions
II. TYPES OF MECHANISMS
raised up as a prerequisite for ensuring the continuity of life.
New projects executed to provide part solution of the whole We can develop electricity from speed breakers by using three
problem. One of these projects is power generation using main mechanisms as follow:
hydraulic speed breakers. This device is depending on the high A) Crank-shaft mechanism
density of vehicles and crowded, which is a disadvantage in the B) Rack and pinion mechanism
city, to generate electricity. In addition, it is a green source of C) Roller mechanism
energy. Generating electricity with zero carbon emission. A. Crank-Shaft mechanism
This device as illustrated in Fig.2, converts the kinetic energy
of the vehicles into electric energy. This is done by moving

978-1-5386-2269-8/17 $31.00 © 2017 IEEE 93

DOI 10.1109/ICPET.2017.23
plate installed on the road, this plate captures very small
movement from the road surfaces and it transferred to a
rotational speed by crank shaft which turn the linear stroke to
rotational one. After rotational speed converting it must become
high rotational speed about 1500rpm to be suitable for
generators. In this paper they use spiral spring to store rotational
speed with specific torque. [3]. Fig3. Illustrates the results by
this relation between voltage (v) and speed of vehicle km/hour.

Figure 4: rack and pinion speed breaker

C. Roller mechanism
This project, which is in Fig.5, explains the mechanism of
electricity generation from rollers speed breakers. The friction
force due to vehicle movement acted upon the speed breaker
system is transmitted to chain sprocket arrangements. The
sprocket arrangement is made of two sprockets. One of the
sprocket is larger in dimension than the other sprocket. Both the
Figure 2: Schematic diagram of crank shaft mechanism sprockets are connected with chain which transmits the power
from the larger sprocket to the smaller sprocket. As the power
is transmitted from the larger sprocket to the smaller sprocket,
the speed that is available at the larger sprocket is relatively
multiplied at the rotation of the smaller sprocket. The axis of
the smaller sprocket is coupled to a gear arrangement. [5]
Roller mechanism has a lot of losses from slipping between the
vehicle’s wheels and rollers of the system. Another problem in
this system that the small touching area with vehicles and the
short duration of system operation.

Figure 3: Voltage vs speed graph

B. Rack and Pinion mechanism

"When a vehicle moves over a speed breaker system it exerts a
force on it as a result speed breaker move down this linear
motion of system is converted to a rotary motion by using a rack
and pinion mechanism which is placed in the bottom of speed
breaker, Fig.4. The axis of the pinion is coupled to a gear
arrangement [4].
The two above mechanisms are using the potential energy of Figure 5: model of the prototype
the vehicle to convert it into rotational motion by using different
ways of converting linear motion to rotational one but the big III. DOUBLE CRANK SHAFT MECHANISM SPEED
problem of these mechanisms is no benefits from returning the BREAKER
speed breaker plate to its state before going down (no electricity This mechanism is called double crank mechanism using
generation). Also the gears will rotate in the opposite direction articulated plates and contain a lot of components, one of them
when the system return to its initial case. play a major and very important role in this mechanism. This
component is Cam clutch bearing (or ratchet mechanism).

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 A. Results of Double Crank Shaft mechanism (1st version)
The articulated plates in this version have two stages, every
stage make the underground system to rotate, so the generator
will rotate also with 1500 rpm averagely to generate 100 Amp.
The duration of every stage in the articulated plates is 0.7
second approximately with 10 km/h vehicle speed, and all
energy that used to generate the electrical energy is the potential
energy which was estimated by:-

potential energy of the vehicle (Pe)

= mass of vehicle (m). gravitational acceleration(g).
speed breaker stroke (h)
Figure 6: Double Crank Shaft Mechanism Speed Breaker
= 1200 ∗ 9.81 / ∗ 0.1 = 1177.2 (1)
The components as illustrated in Fig.6 are; hump (articulated
plates), cranks, one way bearing (ratchet mechanism), journal To get the mechanical power you must divide the energy value
bearings, gearbox and generator. When the vehicle cross over by the time, which was 0.5 second
the hump, the hump makes two strokes up and down as a result .
of front tires effect, so we have 4 strokes per car. Under the first ℎ = = 2354.4 watt (2)
.
joint (joint between first two plates -moving point-) the
mechanical system has been connected. This system is going to After four trials test, the system produced 100 A by using car
convert the linear motion of the strokes into rotational motion. generator (alternator) which is 12 volt, so the electrical power
Under the moving point there is a two connection rods. These was 1200 watt. These results allowed us to estimate the
rods connected to a two cranks which include two clutch efficiency,
bearings one for each crank which fitted tightly to the main
shaft. This type of bearing allow rotation for just one direction = = 51% (3)
(CW or CCW). These bearing should be connected in the same .

case and turn but the crank must be opposite each other to be
A current of 100 A was produced by continuous motion of the
able to get benefit with the up and down strokes, and rotating
system, and the flywheel gives the system the ability to continue
the main shaft. When the vehicle crosses over the plates the first
rotation for 2 seconds. Therefore, the effect of one vehicle
joint goes downward, and the second joint goes upward. Due to
operate the system for 3 seconds, so to know the number of
this motion, one of the two clutch bearings rotates the shaft
vehicles needed for one hour, to give us the maximum
while the another one does not, this is the first stroke. After that
efficiency equals, 3600sec\3sec = 1200 vehicle per hour.
when the vehicle goes on, the second joint goes down and the
The efficiency was improved by some modifications to the
first one back to its origin position up again, now the second
system like:
bearing affects and rotates the shaft while the first one doesn't,
1- The angular velocity of the system was increased by
and so on. Using this mechanism make the ability to get benefit
two stages the first one was gearbox 1:36 and the
with the two strokes motion to produce electricity and as a result
second was two pulleys and belt with 1:6 ratio, these
increasing the efficiency. I the table I there some important
two stages must become one stage like a gearbox only
components of the Double crank mechanism were
to reduce friction losses and the slipping between the
manufactured.
belt and pulley.
Table I Double crank shaft mechanism components and their details and 2- The DC generator which was used in the experiment
dimensions.
was 1200 watt only but the torque of the system can
component details and dimension rotate another one with greater power, but it was very
3 plate of AISI1020 STEEL supported by hard to get it because wasn’t available in Gaza in that
articulated hinge support two of them are time.
plates (450*2000*40) and one (1200*2000*40) 3- The stroke in the articulated system was 0.1 m but the
one way rotational cam clutch which contain international standard of speed breakers allow us to
cast iron pin and 60 clined with 70 degree increase that stroke to 0.18 m, this difference will
ratchet component AISI1020 teeth gear (80mm diameter
and 90mm thickness)
increase the production of power 8%.
4- The mechanical parts have high percentage of losses,
1:36 ratio
gear box which was converted to heat energy from friction so
Pulleys system two Aluminum pulleys 1:5.7 ratio the preferred solution for this problem was using the
two opposite cranks have 350 mm length hydraulic system to convert the vehicles potential
cranks and connecting from the center of main shaft to center
rods energy to electricity.
connecting rods (520mm length)
5- To have a continuous rotation of the system we must
main shaft of the system 30mm diameter use flywheel but the storage of flywheel is not efficient
VOLVO car alternator like oil pressure storage in the accumulator in the
DC alternator 1200watt (100Amp,12volts) hydraulic system.

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 Table II Crank Shaft Mechanism Speed Breaker experiments

Angular velocity (RPM)

2000
stroke picture before crossing 1500
stroke state beginning 1st stroke (vehicle front wheels) 2nd stroke (vehicle front wheels) 1000
voltage (volt) 0 11.8 14 12.4 12.2 14.5 11.9 500
current (amp) 0 88 107 94 90 110 77 0
angular speed(rpm) 0 1250 1600 1300 1220 1680 1270

2
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8

1.2
1.4
1.6
1.8

2.2
2.4
2.6
Time (s)
power (watt) 0 1038.4 1498 1165.6 1098 1595 916.3
y = -0.0839x6 + 3.7453x5 - 66.16x4 +
duration (sec) 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2
587.53x3 - 2740.2x2 + 6290.2x - 4080.7
stroke picture after crossing Figure 8: angular velocity vs time graph

stroke state 3rd stroke (vehicle rear wheels) 4th stroke (vehicle rear wheels) end
2000

Power (watt)
voltage (volt) 12.5 13.5 12.1 13 14.2 12.7 0
current (amp) 98 101 78 92 109 81 0 1500
angular speed(rpm) 1310 1580 1200 1450 1610 1350 0 1000
power (watt) 1225 1363.5 943.8 1196 1547.8 1028.7 0 500
duration (sec) 1.4 1.6 1.8 2 2.2 2.4 2.6
0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2 2.2 2.4 2.6
Time (s)
y = -0.0605x6 + 2.6816x5 - 47.361x4 +
Table III: Average values of voltage, current, rpm & power
425.11x3 - 2036x2 + 4880.2x - 3234.5
Figure 9: power vs time graph
Average
Variables
of the variables
20
voltage 12.9 15
Voltage (volt)

current 93.75 10
rpm 1401.667
5
power 1218
0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2 2.2 2.4 2.6
In Tables, II and III the system was experimented using a
Time (s)
(RENUALT DUSTER 2012) and the results were divided into y = -0.0007x6 + 0.033x5 - 0.5833x4 + 5.1864x3 -
four strokes. The first stroke was with the vehicle’s front 24.276x2 + 56.108x - 36.454
wheels; the second one was on the second articulated plates
joint with the vehicle’s front wheels also; the third stroke with Figure 10: voltage vs time graph
the vehicle’s rear wheels on the first articulated plates joint, and
the fourth stroke is depend on second articulated plates joint IV. HYDRAULIC SPEED BREAKER DESIGN:
with the vehicle’s rear wheels.
The values in this table were analyzed by many experiments to
reach these results. The voltage and current was gotten using a
load and voltmeter and ammeter, the RPM was measured by a
tachometer on the alternator shaft and the Power was calculated
by multiplying the current value by voltage value in the same
instant. After that, all values were analyzed in graphs below in
figures 7, 8, 9 and 10.

150
100
Current (Amp)

50
Figure 11: Hydraulic speed breaker Design
0
-50 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2 2.2 2.4 2.6
A. Procedures
Time (s)
y = -0.005x6 + 0.2243x5 - 3.9987x4 + 36.033x3 After all troubles mentioned in the previous prototype, and the
- 171.72x2 + 404.88x - 265.36 loses of energy dissipated in the crank shaft system due to solid
parts friction and converting of motion from linear to rotational
Figure 7: current vs time graph
motion. A new solution raised up to avoid these problems.
Another mechanism used, which depends on a hydraulic
system. The hydraulic system which illustrated in Fig. 11, has

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no solid parts touching because it depends on an oil The output power of the hydraulic speed breaker is depending
(incompressible substance) to convert the movement vehicle on the flow rate and pressure. Flow rate is measured for the
weight into energy. The hydraulic system has many steps to trucks crossing rate so: Oil flow rate for one truck with 4 wheel
produce energy:- stages as in Fig. 13, each stage have average mass 15000 kg is
1- The weight and speed of the vehicles are used to press
two pistons (120mm diameter), which are selected to
use for heavy load vehicles.
2- The potential energy of the vehicle moved by the c
= ∗ . ∗ . ∗
piston to the oil compressed inside. The compressed 1 minut 4
oil leave the piston chamber with 132 bar of pressure ∗( ) ∗
1000
and 90 lpm (liter per minute) flow rate [6]. ∗
3- There are some valves and hydraulics instruments will 4.55
be controlled by PLC system to increase its efficiency. 1000
These components are check, proportional and relief =4∗4∗2∗ ∗ (0.12) ∗ 0.3 ∗ = 23.8
4 4.55
valves [7]. = 0.0015 / (4)
4- After the pistons compressed, the pressurized oil is
stored in two hydraulic accumulators with 120 liters of
volume to manage the amount of oil which pumped Pressure is estimated using:
and give the next component its efficient flow and
h c wheel stage
pressure. The capacity of the accumulators help the Pressure = (
system to run continuously when no vehicles are e ea
∗ 0.000145038) ( )
passing on the hydraulic speed breaker.
5- Accumulators will provide the hydraulic motor with 150000
specific amount of oil pressure and flow rate, which Pressure = ∗ 0.000145038 = 1923.6
∗ (0.12)
convert these values into rotary motion with specific 4
= 132.63 (5)
torque and 1500 rpm shaft rotating.
6- The generator will use this torque and angular velocity Theoretical Power is estimated using:-
to produce the electrical power.
Pressure ∗ flow rate 1923.6 ∗ 23.8 gpm
Power = = (6)
1714 ∗ Efficiency 1714 ∗ 0.8
= 33.4 = 24565.658 watt

Note: This version still in the design stage. The ongoing step is
execution, so there are no experiments until now.

V. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

1- Using the hydraulic system was better than the double
crank mechanism and it feasible to use it in small systems
for cars like double crank but with small pistons and
accumulators.
2- Double crank mechanism or the small system of power
Figure 12: hydraulic circuit for hydraulic system
generation using speed breakers is good solution for Gaza
strip traffic lights, because it produce about 1200 watt/h
Fig. 12 illustrates the schematic diagram of the hydraulic circuit and the traffic light package which contain 4 traffic lights
of the hydraulic speed breaker. and their controller consume 700 watt/h [8], so from the
estimation for Gaza streets and speed breaker power
generation, the speed breaker can power the one cross
B. Results of Hydraulic speed breaker (2nd version) : traffic light about 18 hours daily for the minimum number
of cars cross the traffic lights daily (880 vehicles – table
VII and fig. 14 in the appendix) .
3- The vehicle must cross the speed breaker with its
minimum velocity because it can give chance for system
to complete full cycle of operation.
4- Hydraulic system which was designed in this paper was
suitable for trading cross borders like “Karm Abu Salem”
cross border, it have a capacity of 550 loaded Turks daily
and it operate 5 hours daily, so 110 trucks cross on the
Figure 13: Truck load distribution hydraulic speed breaker per hour.[9]

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 Actually two trucks will fill the accumulators of this SALAH AL DEIN ST. (NORTH TO SOUTH)
system and will operate the alternator for one minute, so
the system in this cross border will generate an electricity 550
to “Karm Abu Salem” cross border During the working 500

Number of vehicles
period. 450
400
5- Batteries are used in this system to compensate low 350
vehicles crossing duration. 300
6- Comparison between hydraulic speed breakers and other 250
energy resources [10][11] : 200
150
Table IV: 20 KW generator cost study 100
50
Generator study per year 0
20 KW generator price ($) 4500 - 6 7 8 9 10111213141516171819202122
fuel price / liter ($) 0.52 - Time (hr)
cars busses heavy & medium veh.
full load fuel consumption (liter/hour) 3.2 28032
maintenance / 150 hour operation ($) 350 20440 Figure14: Salah Al Dein St. Statistics

fuel / year ($) 14576 -

REFERENCES
maintenance / year ($) 20440 -
total ($) 39516 [1] UN OCHA, “Gaza’s Electricity Crisis: The Impact of Electricity Cuts on
the Humanitarian Situation”, May 2010
Table V: 20 Kw solar panel cost study [2] AlJazeera news report, “GAZA’S Electricity Crisis”, 19 June 2017
[3] N. Fatima, J. Mustafa M., Production of electricity by the method of road
solar panel study per year Hump power generation, Tech Student Department of Electronics &
avg cost of solar energy / watt ($) 3.26 Communication Engineering Amity University, Lucknow.
20 KW ($) 65200 [4] T. Mazumder , Electricity Generation by Hump (Speed Breaker)
maintenance / month ($) 200 2400 Arrangement on Road, POWER SECTOR company.
total ($) 67600 [5] A. Afroz, M. Umar Khan, A. Zafar, K. Bakht, and S. Altaf, “Generating
Electricity through Harnessing of Kinetic Energy Using a Ramp”, International
Table VI: hydraulic speed breaker cost study
Journal of Modeling and Optimization, Vol. 3, No. 6, December 2013
per [6] P. Chapple, Principles of Hydraulic Systems Design, New York, NY
speed breaker year
Momentum Press, 2nd ed, 2015
unit cost ($) 20000
[7] N. Fatima, J. Mustafa M., Production of electricity by the method of road
maintenance / months ($) 150 1800
Hump power generation, Tech Student Department of Electronics &
total ($) 21800 Communication Engineering Amity University, Lucknow.
[8] Y. Gautam, Uninterruptible Power Supplies Keep Traffic Signals on,
As a result, the comparison in tables (IV,V,VI) demonstrate that
Illinois Department of Transportation, Oct, 2008
the speed breaker has an economical advantage in comparison
with other competitors’ sources. [9] Gisha report, “ Kerem Shalom Crossing”, Legal Center of Freedom of
Movement, March 2017
VI. APPENDIX [10] Global Petrol Prices website, “Gasoline and Diesel prices, liter”, prices
Statistics for the main street in Gaza strip (Salah El Dein Street report of June 2008
-North to South): [11] N. Fatima, J. Mustafa M., Production of electricity by the method of road
Hump power generation, Tech Student Department of Electronics &
Table VII : Salah Dein St. main statistics
Communication Engineering Amity University, Lucknow.
Cars (vehicle) Busses Heavy & medium
(vehicle) vehicles (vehicle)
Average 880 156 108
Rush 16:00 – 17:00 7:00 – 8:00 15:00 – 16:00
hour (1777 vehicle) (1078 vehicle) (676 vehicle)

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