Many household electronic devices — flashlights, stereos, radios — require AA, AAA, C, and D size batteries. These batteries are often disposable in remote areas of the world that lack access to grid electricity. In parts of the globe, disposable batteries can account for over 50% of household energy expenditures and amount to 25 or more batteries disposed of per person per year. This amounts to more than 25,000 batteries annually for a village of 1000 people. Solutions to this problem can address economic and environmental concerns. Replacing disposable batteries with rechargeable batteries maintained by a local entrepreneur is one business-driven method to reduce environmental waste and household energy expenditures. This study evaluates technical options for providing rechargeable batteries to a decentralized population, and introduces a prototype portable charging kit that addresses the techno-economic requirements of charging batteries, delivering batteries at a reasonable cost to consumers, providing a profit margin for local entrepreneurs, and allowing for portability during travel between villages or refugee camps. The unit includes a solar PV power source, a lead-acid battery for intermediate energy storage, a battery charger equipped with single cell batteries, a charge controller to manage power flow, and a protective suitcase to house the equipment.
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ASME 2014 International Design Engineering Technical Conferences and Computers and Information in Engineering Conference
August 17–20, 2014
Buffalo, New York, USA
Conference Sponsors:
- Design Engineering Division
- Computers and Information in Engineering Division
ISBN:
978-0-7918-4631-5
PROCEEDINGS PAPER
Single Cell Battery Charger for Portable Electronic Devices in Developing Countries
Nathan G. Johnson,
Nathan G. Johnson
Arizona State University, Mesa, AZ
Search for other works by this author on:
Michael Granato
Michael Granato
Arizona State University, Mesa, AZ
Search for other works by this author on:
Nathan G. Johnson
Arizona State University, Mesa, AZ
Michael Granato
Arizona State University, Mesa, AZ
Paper No:
DETC2014-35457, V02AT03A048; 7 pages
Published Online:
January 13, 2015
Citation
Johnson, NG, & Granato, M. "Single Cell Battery Charger for Portable Electronic Devices in Developing Countries." Proceedings of the ASME 2014 International Design Engineering Technical Conferences and Computers and Information in Engineering Conference. Volume 2A: 40th Design Automation Conference. Buffalo, New York, USA. August 17–20, 2014. V02AT03A048. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/DETC2014-35457
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