“If you do things in a clever way, you can get energy cheaply.”
Those are the words of Max Donelan, a kinesiologist (one who studies anatomy, physiology, and mechanics of body movement -answers.com) at Simon Fraser University and the creator of an innovative new energy device. His invention uses a simple brace to be worn on both knees, which would generate about 2.5 watts of electricity per step.
It’s not much, but it can add up, and we’ve reached the point where any conservation methods of energy, no matter how small, should be welcomed. As Time magazine reports, oil prices have climbed to their highest inflation point yet, and companies of all sizes are looking for ways to combat the fuel crisis.
Creative inventions extend past the power of human movement too. Though not a huge source of energy, vibrations are a plentiful source of energy which we might utilize. The two examples the article mentions to paint a visual picture are the reverberating of a bridge during rush hour or a dance floor’s “pulse.” A British engineer, Steve Beeby, has already developed a device which, though it generates only a few hundred microwatts, has potential to be useful in everyday situations. For instance, those microwatts would be enough to power a pacemaker, reducing a patient’s need to continually undergo medical procedures to have batteries changed. Simple changes may have great effects.
Still more “energy-scavenging” is taking place in two other areas: rain and heat.
Power from rain would involve the use of piezoelectric materials. (Piezoelectricity is “electricity resulting from the application of mechanical pressure on a dielectric (non-conducting) crystal.” -Answers.com) A very small piece of this material, about the width of a strand of hair, can generate a microwatt for every drop of water. Again, not much, but useful. The article suggests using this power for sensors, such as those necessary in the cooling towers of power plants. There are ripple effects too. Take away energy from battery production, materials, and transportation, and we are looking at an effective tool.
Finally, the harvesting of heat may actually outdo all the other potential power sources. We’ve long known that we lose a great amount of energy to heat (about 60% of the world’s energy), but today’s technology may allow us to use some of that lost heat. According to the article, one example involves the simple variance in temperature between two ends of a circuit, which may actually be transfered into currents. As of now, only small developments have been made (powering batteries, for instance). However, scientists are optomistic about the possibility of utilizing heat (as well as other creative sources) for future energy use.
Sources:
Time Magazine (March 17, 2008) “Not a Watt to Be Wasted” -Bryan Walsh
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