About
The National Fluid Power
Association holds a yearly competition for college students, challenging us to
rethink how bikes work by using fluid power. Imagine pedaling a bike where your
energy powers a hydraulic pump, which moves fluid through a motor to turn the
wheels. It’s like water flowing through a mill, but the energy flows through
tubes to make the bike move.
Our team designed a three-wheeled
bike that combines pedaling with hydraulics. We chose key parts like a
hydraulic accumulator to store energy, solenoid valves to direct fluid flow for
mode selection, and mountain bike wheels for strength and durability. Each part
works together to make the bike faster, more efficient, and easier to control.
Since this was our university’s
first time in the competition, learning about hydraulics was a big challenge.
We began with what we knew and purchased the right bike frame, before focusing
on hydraulic components. We sought advice from engineers who work with
hydraulics and conducted our own research to design a system that balances
power and control. Our system lets the rider pedal smoothly while storing
energy for sprints. We tested everything, from how much pressure the system
holds to how quickly it responds to the rider, ensuring the bike works in
different race modes. We competed in Ames, Iowa, in four
events: a sprint race, an efficiency race, an endurance race, and a
regenerative braking test. Our team
completed all the races and placed well in the awards, especially for the
midway and final reviews. By using hydraulic power, the NFPA enables us to
learn the essentials of hydraulics, which is a subject not commonly taught in universities.
By allowing us to learn this field, it brings awareness to a subject that goes
largely unnoticed by many engineers, both old and new.
