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Hydrogen Micro Turbine Only 4mm In Diameter

Posted by chrisd on from the small-is-way-cool dept.

savaget writes: "Luc G. Frchette of the Columbia University Microsystem Engineering Laboratory has developed a 20W electrical generator powered by a hydrogen turbine just 4mm in diameter. For more details, read the Wired article or an older Popular Science article. The tiny generator is more efficient than any battery and is expected to find military and commercial uses including robotics." Imagine the uses ...

8 of 353 comments (clear)

  1. First Power! by SirSlud · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    Okok, I couldn't resist. I never do that.

    But where does the exhaust go?
    And isn't this kind of a step back in our attempt to stop using fossil fuels, or is it still a better alternative by the messes left by batteries in land fills?

    --
    "Old man yells at systemd"
    1. Re:First Power! by FFFish · · Score: 1, Offtopic

      You ever notice the number of SUVs with Sierra Club stickers on them? Ever gone to a trailhead and noticed how many nice, new, shiney SUVs have those stickers?

      Sierra Club is an outrageous sham.

      --

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      Don't like it? Respond with words, not karma.
  2. Has anyone called Norelco? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    They could definitely put to use such a high-speed spinning thingie.

  3. 2.4 million RPM?! by imrdkl · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Dont be around when one of these babies throws a rod, I guess.

  4. Why? by cperciva · · Score: 4, Offtopic

    Why would anyone *want* a tiny hydrogen-powered turbine generator? Fuel cells are already more efficient than they are even hoping this will become; fuel cells also likely to live much longer since they don't have any moving parts.

    I'll agree that it's cool to take things that we are used to at macroscopic scales and make them tiny, but it usually isn't going to be an efficient way of doing anything.

    --
    Tarsnap: Online backups for the truly paranoid
  5. But... by dreamchaser · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    ...can you power a Beowulf cluster with one of these?

    Sorry...couldn't resist...

  6. Does that work with cats too? by Nathdot · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Do cats go nuts at 40KHz?

    If the answer is yes then Hoooo BOY!

    Is there anything more annoying than a housemate's cats?

    Sign me up for one of those small-mammal destroying PDAs. Second thoughts, make that two!

    :)

  7. Personal Power by dfuller · · Score: 0, Offtopic


    Imagine. Now the lactose intolerant and determined
    legume eaters may never have to buy batteries
    again...