Monday, 11 September 2023 | PNS | NEW TEHRI
The physics department at HNB Garhwal Central University in Srinagar has achieved a milestone with the successful patenting of the ‘power generating tile’. Alok Sagar Gautam, from the university’s department of physics headed this project. This invention comprises a unique combination of solar, piezoelectric and electromagnetic generators within a compact tile structure.
Collaborating with the Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, under the guidance of Sneha Gautam, the team including Pullanikkat Abhilash, Pullanikkat Abhishek and other researchers played a crucial role in developing the solar panel and piezoelectric generator components. Additionally, Sanjeev Kumar, a research scholar from the university’s department of physics, contributed by manufacturing the axial power generator. The patent application for this innovative technology was filed on June 23, 2023, and it was published by the Indian Patent Office on September 1, 2023.
The power generating tile is designed to revolutionise energy generation from footpaths by harnessing from multiple sources of power. When a person walks across them, the piezoelectric and axial power generators activate, converting mechanical energy into electrical energy. This energy is then transformed into direct current using a full-wave rectifier and stored in a battery. In times of no foot traffic, the solar panel takes over, recharging the battery. The applications for these tiles are manifold, with potential use in illuminating intersections, displaying advertisements, and powering Wi-Fi at bus stops.
