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Date: Thu, 08 Jun 2017 00:57:32 +0000
Subject: The Power Generation Floors
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HUMAN POWER PLANT

///////////////////////////////////////////
The Power Generation Floors

Posted: 07 Jun 2017 01:00 PM PDT
http://www.humanpowerplant.be/2017/06/power-generation-floors.html


Three floors of the human powered student building are taken up by the
central human power plant, which is run by the entire community. How long
the students need to exercise on these floors, depends only on their demand
for energy.
Communal Exercise Machines


The energy that's produced on the power generating floors is used to heat
the building, warm the water, run the refrigerators, flush the toilets, and
power the lights and other devices in the communal spaces, among other
things. On the other hand, electricity used in the individual student rooms
is generated in the rooms themselves.

The power generating floors are equipped with various individual and
communal exercise machines. Most power is produced by large treadmills and
capstans, which are each operated by up to a dozen people at the same time.
Pets are welcome to join the effort.

The power producing students are encouraged by live musicians. The use of
music during physical labour -- to pass the time, to coordinate timing, or
to protest against work conditions -- has a very long tradition.


Operating treadmills and capstans requires strength and endurance, but also
skills and team work. Students must be coordinated to run these machines
efficiently and safely. Especially treadmills can be dangerous. The
students learn how to act if someone falls. By introducing an element of
danger, the human powered student community benefits from the risky
behavior of young adults.

Electricity Production

The human power plant can combine the power output of 400 students. If each
of them produces 100 watts of power, the peak power capacity of the human
power plant is 40 kilowatt. Including losses for distribution and energy
conversion, which we estimate to be 50%, the human power floors can supply
a maximum 20 kilowatts of electric power.


If this effort would be sustained for 24 hours per day (the "slavery"
scenario, in which each student does a daily shift of 9.6 hours), the
maximum electricity production would be 423 kilowatt-hours per day. If the
same power output would be sustained for only 8 hours per day
(the "fitness" scenario, in which each student does a daily shift of 3.2
hours), maximum electricity production would be 144 kilowatt-hours per day.


For comparison, the average electricity consumption in a common (fossil
fuel powered) student dorm for 750 students is 3.000 kilowatt-hours per
day, roughly 10 to 20 times more than we have available. However, the human
powered student community requires much less electricity than a common
student building for three reasons: most household tasks are organized
communally, the building makes use of very efficient technology, and
students have adopted less energy-intensive daily routines.

Although humans themselves can be considered as batteries, the human
powered student building is equipped with a gravity battery in one of the
former elevator shafts. It has a storage capacity of 156 kWh electrical
energy. This non-human energy storage smooths out peak energy demand, which
allows to spread out the workforce more evenly throughout the day. Energy
storage also allows to operate machines, such as refrigerators, for 24
hours per day without introducing night shifts.

Heat Production

The human power plant is like a co-generation power plant: it produces
electricity but also uses the waste heat that is produced in the process.
The body heat from the power producing students is piped throughout the
building and into communal spaces and individual student rooms. By opening
the vents in the pipes, students can release the warm air into the room or
in their personal body suit.

The human body produces between 50 and 150 watts of heat during rest or
light activity. During exercise, these numbers can double or triple.
Assuming 400 students can each sustain a heat production of 200 watts, we
have 80 kW of heat available at maximum power production.

On the other hand, to raise the indoor temperature by 10 degrees celsius in
a building the volume of the Willem C. Van Unnik building takes 255 to 900
kW of heat, depending on the insulation level.


Unfortunately, our building is not very well insulated. This could be
improved by investing in extra insulation, but we found even more
energy-efficient alternatives in heated body suits, thermal clothing, and
the encouragement of physical activity (so that people need less heating).
Work schedules

The maximum power capacity of the human power plant says nothing about the
effective power and energy production. This ultimately depends on how much
energy is used. Because the users of energy are also the producers of
energy, there's a strong incentive to reduce energy demand.

Daily working schedules for communal power production can vary from less
than one hour to 8 hours or more depending on communal and individual
preferences. The working schedules are negotiated and set up by the
students themselves, who are in total control of their human powered
community.


The seasons also influence the working schedules. Lowering power generation
in winter is problematic because it also lowers the heat production.
Furthermore, less people generating power also means that more people are
inactive and thus need more heating.


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<h1 style=3D"margin:0;padding-bottom:6px;">
<a style=3D"color:#888;font-size:22px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-se=
rif;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none;" href=3D"http://www.humanpower=
plant.be/" title=3D"(http://www.humanpowerplant.be/)">The Power Generation =
Floors</a>
</h1>
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<p style=3D"margin:1em 0 3px 0;">
<a name=3D"1" style=3D"font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:1=
8px;" href=3D"http://www.humanpowerplant.be/2017/06/power-generation-floors=
.html">The Power Generation Floors</a>
</p>
<p style=3D"font-size:13px;color:#555;margin:9px 0 3px 0;font-family:Georgi=
a,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;line-height:140%;font-size:13px;">
<span>Posted:</span> 07 Jun 2017 01:00 PM PDT</p>
<div style=3D"margin:0;font-family:Georgia,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;line-=
height:140%;font-size:13px;color:#000000;">
<div xmlns=3D"http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p><span style=3D"font-size: 13=
pt;"> <a class=3D"asset-img-link" style=3D"display: inline;" href=3D"http:/=
/krisdedecker.typepad.com/.a/6a00e0099229e8883301b8d289eabc970c-pi"><img cl=
ass=3D"asset  asset-image at-xid-6a00e0099229e8883301b8d289eabc970c image-f=
ull img-responsive" title=3D"04 GYM=E2=80=93NEW copy" src=3D"http://krisded=
ecker.typepad.com/.a/6a00e0099229e8883301b8d289eabc970c-800wi" alt=3D"04 GY=
M=E2=80=93NEW copy" border=3D"0" /></a></span></p>
<p><span style=3D"font-size: 13pt;">Three floors of the human powered stude=
nt building are taken up by the central human power plant, which is run by =
the entire community. How long the students need to exercise on these floor=
s, depends only on their demand for energy. </span></p>
<p style=3D"text-align: center;"><span style=3D"font-size: 13pt;"><strong>C=
ommunal Exercise Machines<br /></strong></span></p>
<p><span style=3D"font-size: 13pt;">The energy that's produced on the power=
 generating floors is used to heat the building, warm the water, run the re=
frigerators, flush the toilets, and power the lights and other devices in t=
he communal spaces, among other things. On the other hand, electricity used=
 in the individual student rooms is <a href=3D"http://www.humanpowerplant.b=
e/2017/05/for-rent-750-human-powered-student-rooms.html">generated in the r=
ooms themselves</a>.</span></p>
<p><span style=3D"font-size: 13pt;">The power generating floors are equippe=
d with various individual and communal exercise machines. Most power is pro=
duced by large treadmills and capstans, which are each operated by up to a =
dozen people at the same time.&nbsp;Pets are welcome to join the effort. </=
span></p>
<p><span style=3D"font-size: 13pt;">The power producing students are encour=
aged by live musicians. The use of music during physical labour -- to pass =
the time, to coordinate timing, or to protest against work conditions -- ha=
s a <a href=3D"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Work_song" target=3D"_blank" r=
el=3D"noopener">very long tradition</a>. <br /></span></p>
<p><span style=3D"font-size: 13pt;">Operating treadmills and capstans requi=
res strength and endurance, but also skills and team work. Students must be=
 coordinated to run these machines efficiently and safely. Especially tread=
mills can be dangerous. The students learn how to act if someone falls. By =
introducing an element of danger, the human powered student community benef=
its from the risky behavior of young adults.<br /></span></p>
<p style=3D"text-align: center;"><span style=3D"font-size: 13pt;"><strong>E=
lectricity Production<br /></strong></span></p>
<p style=3D"text-align: left;"><span style=3D"font-size: 13pt;">The human p=
ower plant can combine the power output of 400 students. If each of them pr=
oduces 100 watts of power, the peak power capacity of the human power plant=
 is 40 kilowatt. Including losses for distribution and energy conversion, w=
hich we estimate to be 50%, the human power floors can supply a maximum <a =
href=3D"http://zy3995.en.ec21.com/20KW_Diesel_Generator_Set--2952107_295224=
6.html" target=3D"_blank" rel=3D"noopener">20 kilowatts of electric power</=
a>. <br /></span></p>
<p><span style=3D"font-size: 13pt;">If this effort would be sustained for 2=
4 hours per day (the "slavery" scenario, in which each student does a daily=
 shift of 9.6 hours), the maximum electricity production would be 423 kilow=
att-hours per day. If the same power output would be sustained for only 8 h=
ours per day (the "fitness" scenario, in which each student does a daily sh=
ift of 3.2 hours), maximum electricity production would be 144 kilowatt-hou=
rs per day. </span></p>
<p><span style=3D"font-size: 13pt;"><a class=3D"asset-img-link" href=3D"htt=
p://krisdedecker.typepad.com/.a/6a00e0099229e8883301bb09a35e6f970d-pi"><img=
 class=3D"asset  asset-image at-xid-6a00e0099229e8883301bb09a35e6f970d img-=
responsive" style=3D"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;=
" title=3D"Human powered floors in the human powered student building" src=
=3D"http://krisdedecker.typepad.com/.a/6a00e0099229e8883301bb09a35e6f970d-5=
00wi" alt=3D"Human powered floors in the human powered student building" />=
</a></span></p>
<p><span style=3D"font-size: 13pt;">For comparison, the average electricity=
 consumption in a common (fossil fuel powered) student dorm for 750 student=
s is <a href=3D"https://www.smith.edu/env/pdf%20files/2009/Steingard_Energy=
Use_09.pdf" target=3D"_blank" rel=3D"noopener">3.000 kilowatt-hours per day=
</a>, roughly 10 to 20 times more than we have available. However, the huma=
n powered student community requires much less electricity than a common st=
udent building for three reasons: most household tasks are organized commun=
ally, the building makes use of very efficient technology, and students hav=
e adopted less energy-intensive daily routines. </span></p>
<p><span style=3D"font-size: 13pt;">Although humans themselves can be consi=
dered as batteries, the human powered student building is equipped with a g=
ravity battery in one of the former elevator shafts. It has a storage capac=
ity of 156 kWh electrical energy. This non-human energy storage smooths out=
 peak energy demand, which allows to spread out the workforce more evenly t=
hroughout the day. Energy storage also allows to operate machines, such as =
refrigerators, for 24 hours per day without introducing night shifts.<br />=
</span></p>
<p style=3D"text-align: center;"><span style=3D"font-size: 13pt;"><strong>H=
eat Production</strong></span></p>
<p><span style=3D"font-size: 13pt;">The human power plant is like a co-gene=
ration power plant: it produces electricity but also uses the waste heat th=
at is produced in the process. The body heat from the power producing stude=
nts is piped throughout the building and into communal spaces and individua=
l student rooms. By opening the vents in the pipes, students can release th=
e warm air into the room or in <a href=3D"http://www.humanpowerplant.be/201=
7/05/for-rent-750-human-powered-student-rooms.html">their personal body sui=
t</a>.&nbsp; </span></p>
<p><span style=3D"font-size: 13pt;">The human body produces between 50 and =
150 watts of heat during rest or light activity. During exercise, these num=
bers can double or triple. Assuming 400 students can each sustain a heat pr=
oduction of 200 watts, we have 80 kW of heat available at maximum power pro=
duction. </span></p>
<p><span style=3D"font-size: 13pt;">On the other hand, to raise the indoor =
temperature by 10 degrees celsius in a building the volume of the Willem C.=
 Van Unnik building takes <a href=3D"http://www.calculator.net/btu-calculat=
or.html?roomwidth=3D13&amp;roomwidthunit=3Dmeters&amp;roomlength=3D100&amp;=
roomlengthunit=3Dmeters&amp;ceilingheight=3D77&amp;ceilingheightunit=3Dmete=
rs&amp;insulation=3Dgood&amp;temperature=3D10&amp;temperatureunit=3Dc&amp;c=
alctype=3Dheat&amp;x=3D57&amp;y=3D15" target=3D"_blank" rel=3D"noopener">25=
5 to 900 kW of heat</a>, depending on the insulation level. </span></p>
<p><span style=3D"font-size: 13pt;"> <a class=3D"asset-img-link" style=3D"d=
isplay: inline;" href=3D"http://krisdedecker.typepad.com/.a/6a00e0099229e88=
83301b8d28a7736970c-pi"><img class=3D"asset  asset-image at-xid-6a00e009922=
9e8883301b8d28a7736970c img-responsive" style=3D"display: block; margin-lef=
t: auto; margin-right: auto;" title=3D"Power producing floors detail" src=
=3D"http://krisdedecker.typepad.com/.a/6a00e0099229e8883301b8d28a7736970c-5=
00wi" alt=3D"Power producing floors detail" /></a></span></p>
<p><span style=3D"font-size: 13pt;">Unfortunately, our building is not very=
 well insulated. This could be improved by investing in extra insulation, b=
ut we found even more energy-efficient alternatives in heated body suits, t=
hermal clothing, and the encouragement of physical activity (so that people=
 need less heating).&nbsp;</span></p>
<p style=3D"text-align: center;"><span style=3D"font-size: 13pt;"><strong>W=
ork schedules</strong></span></p>
<p><span style=3D"font-size: 13pt;">The maximum power capacity of the human=
 power plant says nothing about the effective power and energy production. =
This ultimately depends on how much energy is used. Because the users of en=
ergy are also the producers of energy, there's a strong incentive to reduce=
 energy demand. </span></p>
<p><span style=3D"font-size: 13pt;">Daily working schedules for communal po=
wer production can vary from less than one hour to 8 hours or more dependin=
g on communal and individual preferences. The working schedules are negotia=
ted and set up by the students themselves, who are in total control of thei=
r human powered community. <br /></span></p>
<p><span style=3D"font-size: 13pt;">The seasons also influence the working =
schedules. Lowering power generation in winter is problematic because it al=
so lowers the heat production. Furthermore, less people generating power al=
so means that more people are inactive and thus need more heating. <br /></=
span></p></div>
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