Funky Axial Power Generation
Funky Axial Power Generation
(OP)
Wondering what if any work has been done in building practical axially moving magnet power generators with real power ouputs.
I have an application where I have a lots of random axial vibration available (think of a giant hammerdrill) and I wanted to scavenge power out of the environment.Imagine a souped up kinetic flashlight. I know it can be done if I need only a few milliwats of power, but I need about 50 Watts! Ideally at 15-25VDC out.
My intuition says that I might try something very simple like a magnet moving axially inside a coil of wire or a variant thereof to generate the power just like the kinetic flashlight, maybe a stack of them? I dont think I want to try to convert the random axial vibration and try and rotate a dc motor shaft which would take my problem from one in magnetics and motor design to one in mechanical widgetry.
How could I go about this? My rough numbers says that I can get about a 0.25"-0.50" of axial motion of a magnet at 5 to 10 Hz for a 0.750" Diameterx 1.0" Long SmCo Magnet. If I stacked a bunch of these and had say 12 or 15 coils, would I even come close to getting the 50 watts or so I need?
Any and all advice will be appreciated.
MG
I have an application where I have a lots of random axial vibration available (think of a giant hammerdrill) and I wanted to scavenge power out of the environment.Imagine a souped up kinetic flashlight. I know it can be done if I need only a few milliwats of power, but I need about 50 Watts! Ideally at 15-25VDC out.
My intuition says that I might try something very simple like a magnet moving axially inside a coil of wire or a variant thereof to generate the power just like the kinetic flashlight, maybe a stack of them? I dont think I want to try to convert the random axial vibration and try and rotate a dc motor shaft which would take my problem from one in magnetics and motor design to one in mechanical widgetry.
How could I go about this? My rough numbers says that I can get about a 0.25"-0.50" of axial motion of a magnet at 5 to 10 Hz for a 0.750" Diameterx 1.0" Long SmCo Magnet. If I stacked a bunch of these and had say 12 or 15 coils, would I even come close to getting the 50 watts or so I need?
Any and all advice will be appreciated.
MG





RE: Funky Axial Power Generation
Trying to harness that vibration of a hammerdrill is just going to give you a perpetual motion machine. Will not work.
Mike Cole
RE: Funky Axial Power Generation
mgopalan, the problem here might be similar however. If you are able to solve the conversion problem, the raw power needed to generate 50W will in effect represent slightly more than a 50W increase in the energy used to create your motion in the first place, so your net gain will probably not be worth it compared to just plugging in a 50W power supply.
HOWEVER, if you are in a situation where you need some electrical power, let's say for instrumentation, in an area where only mechanical power is available to you, you may be on to something. I'm no help on the magnetics though, sorry.
"Venditori de oleum-vipera non vigere excordis populi"
RE: Funky Axial Power Generation
These guys found a way to power small electronic devices by scavenging energy from people walking by embedding peizoelectric transducers in show soles! :
http:
RE: Funky Axial Power Generation
That should read ....shoe soles
RE: Funky Axial Power Generation
Who says there is an energy crisis.
RE: Funky Axial Power Generation
http://www.microgen.com/main2.swf
Basically it's driven by a Stirling engine for recovering electrical power from a domestic boiler flue. They use a moving magnet inside a stationary winding.
RE: Funky Axial Power Generation
"Venditori de oleum-vipera non vigere excordis populi"