Help with torque and power required please

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the torque and power requirements for an electric skateboard-like device intended to carry a 100 kg load at a speed of 1.1 m/s over a distance of 12 km. Participants explore various factors affecting performance, including gear sizes, motor specifications, and the impact of hill grades on torque and power needs.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant seeks assistance in determining gear sizes and motor specifications for their skateboard-like device.
  • Another participant notes that torque requirements will vary based on the steepness of hills, emphasizing the need to calculate torque for the steepest hill encountered.
  • A participant suggests calculating for a maximum hill grade of 30%.
  • Discussion includes the maximum force that can be applied to the skateboard, calculated using the wheel-road friction force and the normal force based on weight distribution.
  • One participant calculates that the maximum power required at the desired speed is approximately 378 W, or about half a horsepower, based on friction and velocity.
  • Concerns are raised about whether the previous calculations adequately account for the 30% grade, with some participants asserting that the maximum friction force is a separate consideration from the ability to climb that grade.
  • Another participant calculates the change in potential energy when climbing a 30% grade, estimating a power requirement of about 325 watts, while noting that this does not include frictional losses.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the adequacy of previous calculations regarding the 30% grade. While some assert that the maximum friction force is sufficient for analysis, others emphasize the need to consider the implications of climbing steep grades. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the best approach to account for these factors.

Contextual Notes

Participants have not reached consensus on the impact of hill grades on power requirements, and there are unresolved assumptions regarding friction coefficients and energy losses in the system.

Kevj999
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I am looking to build a skateborad like device that i want to power with electric skateboard-like system. However I only want it to go 1.1m/s using 60mm wheels moving a 100kg load for 12 km. I am looking for help determining gear sizes, motor sizes and specs, really anything. I have seen so much assistance through this forum. Thanks so much!
 
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The torque needed will depend on how steep the hills are. It will take more torque when climbing hills than to overcome friction when traveling on the flat. You need to find the torque needed to overcome friction, while climbing the steepest hill.
What grade is the steepest hill ?
Motor or wheel angular velocity is measured in radians per second which is 2 * Pi * RPM / 60.
From that the power needed will be the torque multiplied by the angular velocity.
watts = Newton*metres * radians/second
 
I think i would want to calculate for a max 30% grade.
 
The maximum force you can apply to your skateboard is determined by the wheel-road friction force ##\mu N##.

I don't think your friction coefficient ##\mu## will be higher than 0.7. If you are powering 2 of 4 wheels, then the normal force ##N## is about half the supported weight, i.e. ##50\ kg \times 9.81\ m/s^2 = 490.5\ N##.

So the maximum force your skateboard can produce is ##0.7 \times 490.5\ N = 343.35\ N##. At the velocity you want, you then need ##1.1\ m/s \times 343.35\ N = 378\ W## of power or about ½ hp. That is what your maximum motor output should be (or less).

At 1.1 m/s, your wheel will revolve at ##\frac{1.1\ m/s}{0.030\ m}\times\frac{30}{\pi}\frac{rpm}{\frac{rad}{s}} = 350\ rpm##. So, for the gearing, whatever rpm your motor is, the gear ratio ##GR## will be ##GR = \frac{rpm_{motor}}{350}##.
 
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Note: It doesn't appear that "@ jack action" has accounted for the 30% grade in the above solution.
 
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JBA said:
Note: It doesn't appear that "@ jack action" has accounted for the 30% grade in the above solution.
It doesn't matter. It represents the maximum friction force that the skateboard can produce. Whether it can or cannot climb a 30% grade with that force is another characteristic that can be evaluated separately. If it cannot, then there is nothing you can do about it (except increase friction or weight distribution).
 
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If you climb a 30% grade at 1.1 m/sec you are rising at 0.33 m/sec.
Your total? mass is specified as 100 kg. The change in potential energy per second will be m·g·h.
100 * 9.8 * 0.33 = 323.4 joules per second = 325 watts, or about half a HP.
That ignores frictional losses in the system.
 

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