Perpetuum, a subsidiary of Southampton University, claims that its vibration generator PMG 17 is a safe and durable substitute for batteries and hard-wired power supply equipment. This kind of micro-generator converts mechanical vibration into electrical energy by using carefully designed * * * sounding magnets and coil arrangement, thus providing power for the whole wireless sensing system. The generated power is enough to provide power for several low-energy wireless sensors through various wireless networks.
In order to make cars consume energy and generate new energy at the same time, Israeli scientists have found a way to use car movement to make streets and highways generate electricity. The secret of this technology is that a special material-miniature piezoelectric crystal is laid under the road surface. When this piezoelectric crystal is squeezed and deformed, it will generate a small amount of electricity (equivalent to separating the positive and negative charges in the same amount to generate voltage), and when thousands of piezoelectric crystals are implanted on the surface of the expressway, the expressway can generate huge electric energy.
In a recent experiment, researchers from Innova Technology Company let a truck cross the road, and the power generation equipment laid under the road began to work, and the generated current successfully lit the light bulb. The researchers also said that the specific power generation capacity of this power generation system depends on the number, weight and speed of vehicles on the road. Ideally, the power generation per kilometer can reach 400 degrees per hour, which is enough to supply the daily electricity demand of 800 households.
Because this power generation technology will not produce any additional pollution, and the service life of piezoelectric crystals implanted in asphalt can generally reach 30 years, and the cost of pavement reconstruction is not very high, so the development prospect is broad. In recent years, many countries have begun to pay attention to and invest in the research of similar technologies.
American scientists once did an experiment at Turin Railway Station. They made a prototype generator, which uses people's footsteps to generate electricity. They say that quite a few people can move their feet enough to generate electricity to pull a train.
The world's first disco that generates electricity by dancing opened in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. In this disco called "Watt Club", about13 of the electricity used for the dance floor is made by the dancing guests themselves.
On July 10, 2009, this environmentally friendly nightclub located in the bustling King's Cross Street in London will be open to guests. Eco-friendly nightclubs provide organic drinks, choose recyclable tableware, install a water circulation system in the bathroom to save water, and the most innovative thing is that it has a dance floor that can generate electricity. When young men and women enjoy their youth on the dance floor, the floor can convert the energy generated by people dancing to music into electricity through springs under the floor and a series of power generation devices, and store it in rechargeable batteries. It is said that this device can meet 60% of the power demand of nightclubs in an ideal situation, and dance fans have made positive contributions to environmental protection while partying.
Japan's sound power generation company has also developed a "power generation floor". On the eve of Christmas 2008, researchers laid four floors on the sidewalk of Shibuya Railway Station in Tokyo. When pedestrians step on it, the panel can generate electricity and provide power for Christmas lighting. According to the measurement, an ordinary person can generate 0.5 watt-second of electricity by walking twice on a 45-square-centimeter floor. At the same time, there is an electronic screen that shows the accumulated electricity generated.
Li Yin Power Generation Company also intends to apply vibration power generation technology to daily necessities. For example, they are cooperating with a famous sportswear manufacturer to develop a "power shoe" with a built-in vibration generator. When people walk in "electric shoes", they can also charge their portable music players and mobile phones.
Scientists at the University of Michigan in the United States have recently developed a micro-generator, which can generate enough electricity through random vibration generated by vehicle movement, factory operation and human movement, and can provide energy for watches, pacemakers and wireless sensors. It is reported that researchers have built three prototypes, and the fourth prototype will be released soon.
Two prototype generators convert energy through electromagnetic induction, which is generated by placing coils in a changing magnetic field. This process is similar to a large generator in a large power plant. The volume of the micro-generator is only one cubic centimeter. This latest and smallest device is made of piezoelectric material, which generates electric charge when it is pressed. This function has been used for security monitoring of infrastructure. This kind of generator can be used to power the bridge sensor in the future, and the bridge sensor can warn of cracks and erosion before the human eye finds the problem.
According to the researchers, this kind of micro-generator can generate 0.5 MW (500 MW) of electricity, which is enough to drive a watch. The watch only needs energy between 1 and 10 MW. This energy can also drive a pacemaker, requiring 10 to 50 microwatts of energy. Researchers hope that micro-generators will be widely used. Researcher Garcev said: "The ultimate goal of this kind of generator is to be used in various fields, such as remote wireless sensors and transplant surgical medical equipment. This kind of generator has a long service life and can be used in places where it is very expensive to replace exhausted batteries, and in worse places, that is, it needs to supply power to the sensor through wiring. "