Any use for this power generating technology?

prState

Pedelecer
Jun 14, 2007
244
0
Las Vegas, Nevada
I was in the local library today and browsing the magazine rack and saw a short article on a device designed to produce small amounts of electricity cheaply and highly efficiently, for use in third world countries.

The guy who designed it was actually working from the idea of how some bridges have collapsed when they start rocking in storms setting up ...well whatever it is harmonics, vibrations, you engineers should know I guess.

Anyway it's extremely simple. It's a membrane (not sure what material, but since it's suppose to be cheap for people without electricity it can't be much more than rubber or similar) stretched tightly, like a drum head maybe. Magnets are attached to the middle and when the membrane vibrates between coils, it produces electricty, caused by as little as 10mph of wind --it is claimed to be up to 30 percent more efficient than the best microturbines.

The online magazine is here, but I didn't see the article in the online version (though I didn't do more than a brief look)

Popular Mechanics

Of course, I was thinking more along the lines of a potential charging source, not actual delivery power while e-biking.

If nothing else, I thought it was interesting, if not of practical use.
 

flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
52,763
30,349
I know of this, but the generation levels are extremely low, too low to be useful. If they were useful, surface wave power generation would use this, but it's been found that coupling the power to conventional generating methods is much more productive. As you say, interesting though, and it could have a use in some areas in a more complex and two function way.

In arid areas like the Namib coastal zone, the sheets could act as dew collectors for the regular morning mists, this already being done to gather water. At the same time, the tiny generation amount could trickle charge a small battery to provide LED lighting at night, and these two uses might make it economic.
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Ian

Esteemed Pedelecer
Apr 1, 2007
1,333
0
Leicester LE4, UK.
An interesting idea prState but as you say perhaps not a great deal of practical use. In your part of the world solar has to be the way to go, here in the UK I struggle to get a small part of my power from my solar panels, but it could be a much greater part in the Nevada sunshine. They might even even provide usable power at night from the Las Vegas lights:D .
 

prState

Pedelecer
Jun 14, 2007
244
0
Las Vegas, Nevada
They might even even provide usable power at night from the Las Vegas lights:D .
Ha! That's a funny idea. I'm almost tempted to make a faux news story with photos of panels set-up near some of the oversized marquees, with the headline "Man draws energy from casino lights"

I also need a tin foil hat to protect me from the radiation though, being so close to all that energy. :)
 

flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
52,763
30,349
I think our rotational speeds on e-bikes are a bit of a limitation for using this idea, with wheel speeds of around 200 rpm and small diameter motors, there wouldn't be much centrifugal energy available.
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