is it possible?

Question

I have a question which is engineering based. i understand this question is probably not possible but I am wondering if anyone with a greater understanding of physics and engineering might have something forward looking ideas or something to add.

In a simple explanation i think it would be possible some how to use human pedal like power to turn a generator of the same size you would use at a nuke plant. Its clear a human can not directly turn it pedal power so no flames please, my question is what what laws of physics could we integrate together to allow this to happen.

Don't forget coal plants and nuke plants which turn these generators are very very costly to run. I should say Extremely costly to run. So try to think of it this way you have let say 12 humans per 8 hour shift per one generator, and they are going to be cream of the crop for this duty.

Give your best answer, answers which say its not possible are fine just back it up. Thanks and have fun

Jasun

teeyore - i would like to comment on your answer inherent inefficiencies in the human body is far from correct. Did you see the matrix hahaha. And 100 tea spoons equal 1 shovel lol. I understand what your trying to say but do you know about the creature we call ants? Anyways i glad you gave an answer, but im looking for answers that may solve or suggest solutions and which press the limits of physics and engineering.

thomas c - The problem is that you need to figure out how to convert the energy produced into the amount of energy/power needed to turn the generators.

young guns - interesting answer and possible true if the numbers where correct. But i think with many of the laws and physics and engineering and other things we can convert much less people power into real power.

Answer 1

In peak condition, a person can only generate a couple hundred watts, and probably not for very long.

For simple math, let's assume a person pedaling can sustain roughly 100 watts of electrical output for more than an hour. This is 0.1 kW.

A typical generating station produces more than 1,000 MW. That's 1,000,000 kW continuously 24 hour a day, 365 days a year.

You would need 10 million people pedaling full time. If they worked 8 hour shifts, you'd need 30,000,000 people just to produce the power of one nuclear unit. And that doesn't even begin to address the support service logistics, such as producing food, shelter, clothing, transportation, for this extra 30M people.

Every watt used by these 30M people when they're not pedaling is another watt that must be generated by more people pedaling on another generator.

Excerpt from web page:
"The power levels that a human being can produce through pedaling depend on how strong the pedaler is and on how long he or she needs to pedal. If the task to be powered will continue for hours at a time, 75 watts mechanical power is generally considered the limit for a larger, healthy non-athlete. A healthy athletic person of the same build might produce up to twice this amount."

Answer 2

Just as an extension to this hypothetical situation: if you use 10 millions people simultaneously to run the power plant, the power required from the plant becomes lower. Why? Cause the city lost 10 millions of people who were consuming the power. With a nuclear power plant, those 10 millions were consuming power. No they are not! Therefore the number of people required to do the same work done by a nuclear plant will be less than the number suggested above (10 millions).
Philosophically speaking, the society will be divided into two groups: power generators and power consumers. Something like a Masters / Slaves society!

Answer 3

Well, while it might be possible to use, say, "pedal power" to generate the energy output of a nuclear plant, the problem would be with the inherent inefficiencies of the human "machine", i.e., the human body itself. Even if you used people who were all Olympic-caliber athletes, they would still need to take breaks during their shift and they would still need to rest. In addition, their bodies are not injury-proof, and they don't come in unlimited quantities.

A similar analogy would be this joke (I work in the construction industry, btw): A man sees an equipment operator using a backhoe to dig a trench in the ground. He walks up to him and says, "You know, you could do the same job if you hired ten men with shovels." The operator looks down at the man and responds, "That's right, but how about if I hire 100 men with teaspoons instead?"

Answer 4

That would be interesting, I think it would be a fun job too. Get in shape and create energy at the same time. It would have to pay the same as a starting job for a 20 yr old though, otherwise people would take a job at Starbucks and not the energy plant.

It would be possible, you just need enough strong young (wo)men to pedal like mad for a 8 hrs a day.

Answer 5

yes