Construcción de un prototipo piezoeléctrico para la generación de energía en senderos peatonales, caso de estudio: Barrio el Dorado en el municipio de Málaga, Santander.

Abstract

This research focuses on the construction of a piezoelectric prototype for generating energy in pedestrian paths, using the El Dorado neighborhood in the municipality of Málaga, Santander, as a case study. The problem sought to solve is the need to generate clean and sustainable energy from pedestrian traffic in public spaces. The methodology used includes determining the average daily pedestrian traffic (ADT) to understand mobility patterns and the amount of available mechanical energy. The technical characteristics of different piezoelectric panels, storage batteries, and lighting systems were analyzed to select the most optimal materials. The piezoelectric lighting prototype was subsequently designed, built, and evaluated to ensure its proper functioning. Thus, the research demonstrated that the path under study has an average traffic of 966 people on vacation days and approximately 1,118 people on academic days, compared to the UIS Málaga campus, generating an average of 0.05 Wh per footfall, which could translate into 9,594 Wh/day. Thus, by 2030, the population is expected to increase by 6.11%, bringing this figure to 10,179 Wh/day. These quantities are sufficient to power an LED luminaire for more than three hours a day, thanks to the low consumption and high efficiency of these luminaires. This lighting system is not only environmentally friendly, but also provides the path with complete illumination along its 203 meters, according to the strategic distribution of the panels. This research demonstrated the technical and practical feasibility of implementing a piezoelectric power generation system on the pedestrian path in the El Dorado neighborhood of Málaga, Santander. The prototype operates with minimum displacements of 0.05 meters and powers 12V LED modules. When replicated on a large scale and with the average traffic obtained, it will generate enough energy to power the luminaires and provide sufficient lighting for safe and efficient transit along the path.