Gizmodo: generators

Revolving Door Uses You to Make Energy

Mark Wilson — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 18:30:00 EST

It's an alarmingly simple concept that claims to be the world's first application: Netherlands-based company Natuurcafé La Port installed a power generator into a revolving door. Fantastic, but it took us this long?

The door is the entrance to the Driebergen-Zeist railway station, where it's predicted to generate 4600 kwh of energy a year—or somewhere around what the average house needs annually, depending who you talk to. Not bad at all. Sure, it's probably not enough to power all of those train lines, but it's essentially free energy. And heck, it's a lot more practical than this idea. [Boon Edam via Inhabitat]

An Underwater Generator Inspired by Sharks, Minus the Seal Killing

Adam Frucci — Wed, 21 May 2008 18:30:00 EDT

It never hurts to take cues from nature when designing technology, and that's just what BioPower Systems did when engineering its bioSTREAM underwater generator. It's inspired by shark tails, using the shape in a fixed device that moves with the motion of the ocean. It reverses the use of the tail, with the water moving it rather than it moving in the water, but by anchoring it to a fixed point it allows it to align itself in any direction depending on how the flow is moving. No word on just how cost-effective generating energy this way would be, however. [BioPower Systems via PSFK]

Here's One Magnetic Free Energy Machine That Actually Works

Wilson Rothman — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 16:40:00 EDT

OK, so it isn't the finest week for free-energy machines, but perhaps the boys at Steorn are just giving this category a bad name. Some seemingly free-energy concepts make sense, because they are powered not by mystical cosmic vibrations, but actual earthly ones. Scientists at the University of Southampton have created a generator that is fueled by the tremors of everyday life. It makes a trace amount of electrical current, but it's enough to power sensors and, eventually, small machines.

The trick with this generator is efficiency: Its vibrating magnets are 10 times better at generating current than other machines of this sort. The obvious use for this is in wireless sensors, that currently use batteries that need to be replaced, and therefore must be located in accessible spots. With a vibration generator like this, you can stash a sensor wherever you like. Wherever you like.

The generator may also one day be used to power a pacemaker, which would indeed be a funny twist: It would derive its power from the beating of the heart that its job is to keep on track. How's that for existentialism?

Good vibes power tiny generator [BBC News]
Vibration Energy Scavenging Project [Vibes]

Nanogenerator Magically Cranks Out Watts From the Environment

Charlie White — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 09:43:27 EDT

We're thinking this nanotechnology thing is catching on big-time. First someone figured out how to use the technology to keep panties fresh and odor-free, and now brilliant scientists have been developing small generators that might just be able to someday do away with batteries. They're first trying to develop a way to power those devices that are so minuscule you could fit thousands of them on the head of a pin.

The generator uses a clever technique of lining up zinc oxide nanowires inside of a special electrode, where those tiny filaments are sent into movement by forces such as ultrasonic waves, mechanical vibration, blood flow, or even movements such as walking. It doesn't sound like it's going to create a lot of electricity, but that'll be plenty of juice to power up cute little nanoscale robots, and even biosensors implanted in the human body.

But wait. These generators could be able to power so much more than that. You might even use this tech someday to power a cellphone. Really? Here's the best part:

Says Professor Zhong Lin Wang, one of the brains behind this mind-boggling breakthrough:

"If you had a device like this in your shoes when you walked, you would be able to generate your own small current to power small electronics. Anything that makes the nanowires move within the generator can be used for generating power. Very little force is required to move them."

What's the big deal? Simple: Look Ma, no batteries. – Charlie White

Nanogenerator provides continuous power by harvesting energy from the environment [Physorg.com]

ECube Emergency Kit

johnb — Wed, 03 May 2006 14:50:11 EDT

While this isn't a "real" product, it seems pretty cool. It's a self-contained emergency kit complete with generator, a propane battery, and a trickle charger. There's also a first-aid kit in there, for when the rest of the stuff suddenly explodes.

Designer Page [VonHeifner via Yanko]

Backpack Generator

Travis Hudson — Fri, 09 Sep 2005 09:08:25 EDT

Some smarty folks at the University of Pennsylvania have developed a backpack that helps you walk while also turning your movement into energy.

The backpack's load plate is mounted to the pack and suspended by springs, which allows the load to echo the hip's movement. This drives a rack-and-pinion device, which in turn powers a motor that acts as a generator. The result is a conversion of the body's mechanical energy to electricity.

This could definitely be practical for explorers, hikers, soldiers, etc. Although it could be a bit overkill for Timmy on his first day of kindergarten. Stick to the Spongebob kids, no need to save the earth yet.

Inventors charged up over backpack generator [Global Technology]