NewNergy

NewNergy discusses the latest inventions, innovations and breakthroughs in the energy & environmental sciences.

Revolving Doors Harvest Human Energy

Posted on Wednesday, September 23, 2009 posted by posted by Mak @ 4:28 AM

Energy harvesting revolving doors capture otherwise wasted human energy and convert it to electricity to power the installation site, for example lighting and signage.

Designers Jennifer Broutin and Carmen Trudell at design studio Fluxxlab have created Revolution Door, which is a modified revolving door made up of three parts - a redesigned central core replacing that of any existing or new revolving door, a mechanical/electrical system that harnesses human energy and redistributes electricity to an output, and an output device that maps the harnessed energy. The energy harvesting revolving door was exhibited in Manhattan's Eyebeam art and technology centre. When visitors walked through the door, the energy harnessed was used to power a sign that lights up as people pass through.

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CMU Startup Harnessing Human Body 'Biopower'

Posted on Tuesday, September 15, 2009 posted by posted by Mak @ 3:35 AM

Bio-Nano Power, at tenant at Central Michigan University Research Corp.'s business accelerator has developed a prodess to harness the power that’s available right in a human body.Nathan Long at Bio-Nano Power filed a comprehensive patent, “Bio-Nano Power Cells and Their Uses,” which ties together more than two years of intense biotechnology and nanotechnology research to develop power cells that generate efficient, high density power and emit lower CO2 pollutants.

According to Long, the body is full of bio-fuels that can be converted to electrical energy to run devices inside the body, or to be recreated outside for virtually any power-related need. The patented process he has developed and tested combines the strength of advanced biotechnology with honed nanotechnology techniques in a new and different way.

Long’s patented process creates that “team” of enzyme catalyst polymers that efficiently produce power when activated by common bio-fuels.Long’s vision for Bio-Nano Power is to focus on much needed medical device applications like smaller, faster biosensors for diabetes patients to monitor glucose levels or for clinicians to track and monitor heart conditions through self-powered devices.

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Harnessing Kinetic Energy from Marching Soldiers

Posted on Monday, August 3, 2009 posted by posted by Mak @ 6:04 AM

Researchers at the University of Leeds in the UK aims to develop a system that can harness kinetic energy from marching soldiers.

The $1.5 million plan will focus on finding a way to convert human energy into usable power for military field applications. Soldiers carry around electronic equipment such as large flashlights, and power sources in the form of batteries can weigh as much as 10 kilograms of a foot soldier’s usual 75 kilogram pack. Clearly, having a power source they can carry around will be beneficial.

The Leeds scientists plan to create a similar system that includes knee wraps and backpack straps with crystals and high-tech ceramic materials acting as piezoelectric transducers. These piezoelectric components are responsible for converting mechanical energy from movement into electric charge.

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Bicing, Bike-sharing in Barcelona - Stop Driving, Start Pedalling!

Posted on Monday, May 5, 2008 posted by posted by Ecacofonix @ 10:22 AM

In its first two months, Bicing, a bike-sharing program in Barcelona, Spain, garnered over 30,000 subscribers. This is good news for new bike-sharing programs in Washington D.C. and San Francisco.

Initially, locals were skeptical that Bicing would attract users, but the service has enjoyed phenomenal success and encouraged commuters to stop driving and start pedaling within the city center. One hundred bike rental stations are conveniently located near major transit hubs. Subscribers simply pick up one of Bicing’s 1500 cycles and zip past stalled traffic to pick up groceries and run other quick errands. Bikes are outfitted with a carrier, a bell and light, and are easily adjustable to match your size.

Source: Carectomy

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Nanowire Clothing Makes Electric Energy from Our Movement - Zhong Lin Wang

Posted on Saturday, May 3, 2008 posted by posted by Ecacofonix @ 7:57 AM

Professor Zhong Lin Wang of Georgia Tech has harnessed the power of nanowires to come up with materials that can convert kinetic energy into electrical current. The professor's main idea is to make clothing woven from these fibres that would allow your body's natural motion to power any electrical device you may be carrying.

His idea is for a shirt but there's no reason why it would have to be the human body's movement. Campers could harness electrical energy by the motion of the wind blowing on their tents or by trailing a kite made of these fibres.

The nanowires work on the piezoelectric effect which describes a property whereby materials create electric potential under physical stress. So far, Zhong Lin Wang has measured four millivolts from a 1cm fibre but he predicts that a metre square of such fabric could generate up to 80 milliwatts of power.

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