Summary

We have developed a inexpensive centrifugal pump that attaches to a simple power takeoff on a Buffalo Bike. Our hypothesis is that a less efficient centrifugal pump paired with power generation from cycling will be overall more efficient than a more efficient positive displacement pump paired with stepping power generation. We have recently shown this to be true by accurately measuring the input biomechanical power and output hydraulic power from both systems to produce efficiency curves as a function of hydraulic load.