Part c-
Name of Product: Magnetic Energy Generator - A (MEG-A)
Designers: Jaehwa Hong, Andrew Miller, America Juarez-Mtz
target consumer
Our target consumer would be an adult who doesn’t like the already created sources of renewable energy, whether it’s because they don’t have enough space, not enough money, or have an opinion against the sources. We are also aiming for developing countries and their citizens, since most still don’t have electricity in their homes, and a source of energy that doesn’t impact the environment, doesn’t require everyday maintenance, produces a usable amount of electrical power, and is durable enough to last a very long time, will help both the citizens, and their country to further develop.
Customer Needs
According to the Energy Information Administration, the average monthly bill was $114.09 in 2014. The trend shows the increase of retail prices of electricity. Based on our survey, most of people responded our question what is your ideal electric cost to be zero dollar. So, the customers want cheap and efficient renewable energy source.
Performance. What must the product be able to do?
The product must be able to produce 50 watts, be environmentally friendly, so it has no impact on the environment in terms of space, and it must not produce any pollution such as carbon dioxide emissions, water pollution, or any land pollution. It has to be durable enough to survive at least a 10 foot drop and continue working properly. Has to be able to continue running in temperatures as low as -20 degrees, and as high as 110 degrees. And it needs to be resistant to the weather, so if it rains or snows, the material that the motor is made out of won’t rust, or if it’s really hot the material won’t warp. It also needs to be resistant to varying amounts of humidity. Essentially it needs to be resistant to everything in nature so that it is able to continually work with 99% percent efficiency in all types of environments. This is so that anyone around the world would be able to buy the motor and use it where they live and not have to worry about buying special parts or pieces to protect the motor from the environment.
Target Cost
Our target cost is going to be 100 dollars or less so that we have room for expansion and improvement on the prototype. Based on the average electricity cost of Maryland, if this product costs about $100 the consumers would get money after 1.6336 years.
Amount of electricity(kWh per capita) usage for low income citizens in the world on average.
Target cost: $100 and produce 50watts per hour.
Maryland average electricity cost in 2017: 14.17 cents per kwh
17.004 cents per day, $5.10 per month, $61.21 per year
Life expectancy in US: 78.74 years-------$4820.021856
Average electric use in home per month: 911 kwh
In Maryland, the average electric bill is $129.09. So, if you buy 26 of this product which is about $2600, you won’t have to pay your electric bill forever
Target cost: $100 and produce 50watts per hour.
Maryland average electricity cost in 2017: 14.17 cents per kwh
17.004 cents per day, $5.10 per month, $61.21 per year
Life expectancy in US: 78.74 years-------$4820.021856
Average electric use in home per month: 911 kwh
In Maryland, the average electric bill is $129.09. So, if you buy 26 of this product which is about $2600, you won’t have to pay your electric bill forever
Size and Weight
We don’t have any restriction on our size and weight. But for the convenience, it is going to be a small and compact product. Our target size is about 1’x1’x.5’ so that way we can put all the required parts to the product. For the weight, it’s going to be 5 lbs or less.
Aesthetics
We do not have any restrictions of the color, surface, treatment, or shape of our product. The product does however need to feature an outside plastic casing, and a magnetic shielding material on the inside in combination with the motor, to prevent any issues with interconnecting magnetic fields.
Materials
Specifically, our product will feature an outside protective casing that will block dust and dirt from getting into the motor, and make the motor extremely durable and impact resistant. This box would be made out of a flexible yet sturdy material, so it’s going to be made out of polyurethane plastic. Housing for the motor in the generator will either be made out of plastic, or made out of magnetic shielding material such as mu-metal to prevent the rotation of the motor being affected by the other magnets outside of the motor. The rest of the motor will either be plastic and then surrounded with magnetic shielding material, or it will be completely made out of the magnetic shielding material.the wires that move the electricity from the motor to the connected object will be in a rubber coating, to allow for durability, strength, and resistance from the environment.
Safety and Legal Issues
A magnet set must have a flux index of 50kG2 mm2 or less and this must be followed for individual magnets and intended for use as a part of a magnet set and this is under the Consumer Product Safety Act ASTM F963-11.
https://www.cpsc.gov/Regulations-Laws--Standards/Rulemaking/Final-and-Proposed-Rules/Magnets
https://www.cpsc.gov/Regulations-Laws--Standards/Rulemaking/Final-and-Proposed-Rules/Magnets
Ergonomics
Our product would not bother the customer with its size and cost. When you turn on this product, it would produce electricity continuously. During the process of producing electricity, it doesn’t produce any greenhouse gases and noise.
Operating Environment
The product needs to be able to operate efficiently in all conditions. It will be corrosion resistant, which means that it won’t oxidize or rust after a long period of time being in an open environment. It will need to resist heat from the sun and cold during winter. The product will also need to be very durable.
The operating environment for our product would be a stable environment. The product would produce very little noise, so it won’t affect the surrounding environment. Because the Mu-Metal is a nickel-iron alloy, it is highly corrosion resistant. It is able to withstand a wide variety of severe operating conditions involving corrosive environments, high temperatures, and high stresses. However, the product will enclosed in an environmental resistant plastic such as Urethane. The Urethane casing will also act as a sealant, preventing dirt and dust from getting into the generator and interfering with the motor. Pressure would not be a problem since both the Mu-metal and Urethane have high durability, and the pressure in the environment that the generator will be in, will be too low to impact the motor’s operation.
The operating environment for our product would be a stable environment. The product would produce very little noise, so it won’t affect the surrounding environment. Because the Mu-Metal is a nickel-iron alloy, it is highly corrosion resistant. It is able to withstand a wide variety of severe operating conditions involving corrosive environments, high temperatures, and high stresses. However, the product will enclosed in an environmental resistant plastic such as Urethane. The Urethane casing will also act as a sealant, preventing dirt and dust from getting into the generator and interfering with the motor. Pressure would not be a problem since both the Mu-metal and Urethane have high durability, and the pressure in the environment that the generator will be in, will be too low to impact the motor’s operation.
Global Environment
At the University of Pennsylvania, they are working on the method of separating neodymium from electronics. This process is more cost effective than mining rare earth elements from a limited supply. At the end of its life, this magnets can be recycle.
Service Life
Service life depends on how long the magnets last (magnets tend to last up to 100 years). Service life depends on how long the product will last before any repair. Another factor that needs to be taken into consideration is how long the motor would last.
Magnets strengths are measured by the grade. The Maximum Energy Product of the material that the magnet is composed of; is the grade of the magnet. Magnets are really strong and their strength is permanent unless a stronger force is magnetic/electrical or high temperatures affect it. Over time magnets lose magnetism by one percentage point every 10 years, which is a slow degradation that is very slow.
https://www.magcraft.com/magnet-university
http://www.eamagnetics.com/reference-design-tools/magnetics-faq/
Magnets strengths are measured by the grade. The Maximum Energy Product of the material that the magnet is composed of; is the grade of the magnet. Magnets are really strong and their strength is permanent unless a stronger force is magnetic/electrical or high temperatures affect it. Over time magnets lose magnetism by one percentage point every 10 years, which is a slow degradation that is very slow.
https://www.magcraft.com/magnet-university
http://www.eamagnetics.com/reference-design-tools/magnetics-faq/
Product Life
I thinking about at least 1 year. Even though magnetic generator is free-energy, no one would try to create unless efficiency is very high to dominate other renewable source. And, the technology is rapidly changing.
Durability and Maintenance
No, Because, the neodymium magnets lose their magnetic property 1% every decade. So, you won’t need routine maintenance.
List of criteria (top is most important and bottom is least important):
Customer Needs
Performance
Target Cost
Durability and Maintenance
Service Life
Safety and Legal Issues
Size and Weight
Materials
Global Environment
Operating Environment
Product Life
Aesthetics
Ergonomics
Performance
Target Cost
Durability and Maintenance
Service Life
Safety and Legal Issues
Size and Weight
Materials
Global Environment
Operating Environment
Product Life
Aesthetics
Ergonomics