Windbelt
The Windbelt is a device for converting wind power to electricity.[1] A windbelt is essentially an aeolian harp except that it exploits the motion of the string produced by the aeroelastic flutter effect to move a magnet closer and farther from one or more electromagnetic coil and thus induce current in the wires that make up the coil.
Prototypes of the device are claimed to be 10 - 30 times more efficient[2] than wind microturbines. One prototype has powered two LEDs, a radio, and a clock (separately) using wind generated from a household fan. The cost of the materials was well under US$10.[3]
An improvement on the prototype increased efficiency hundredfold bringing the cost down to around $2 a watt. There are three sizes in development -
- a 'micro' version that could be used to charge small gadgets. This could be put into production in around six months.
- a 1 meter version that could be used to charge cellphones or run LED lights This could go into production within 18 to 24 months.
- an experimental 10-meter model that has an unknown production date.[4][5][6][7]
The Windbelt's inventor, Shawn Frayne, was a winner of the 2007 Breakthrough Award from the publishers of the magazine, Popular Mechanics.[8] He is improving the Windbelt's design to make it more affordable.[9]
Footnotes
Cite error: Invalid <references> tag;
parameter "group" is allowed only.
<references />, or <references group="..." />References
- Instructions for building a proof-of-concept windbelt-powered lamp with parts recovered from an old hard drive
- Windbelt cheap micro wind generator REUK.co.uk 17 October 2007
- Windbelt - reinventing wind power physics.org 22 April 2010
External links
- Humdinger Wind, company founded by the inventor, and holder of the patents.
- Energy Harvesting Journal, 30 Mar 2010 Wind energy harvester from Humdingersv:Windbelt
