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Microgenerators Coming Soon to Electronics Near You

Posted by michael on from the kickstart-your-cellphone dept.

fygment writes "A new microgenerator developed at Georgia Tech can now produce enough power to run a small electronic device, like a cell phone, and may soon be able to power a laptop. The microgenerator is about 10 millimeters wide, or about the size of a dime. When coupled with a similarly sized gas-fueled microturbine (or jet) engine, the system, called a microengine, has the potential to deliver more energy and last 10 times longer than a conventional battery. This is still just a quarter of the problem. A turbine is still being developed to turn the generator and that will require fuel and storage of some kind."

6 of 254 comments (clear)

  1. Size by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny
    The microgenerator is about 10 millimeters wide
    Or "one centimeter" as we say in English.
    1. Re:Size by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

      No, that is not a joke. The unit size here is specifying the precision.

      mm = + or - 0.5 mm
      cm = + or - 0.5 cm

      The other way to do it is with significant figures.
      10.0 cm would be (ostensibly) the same thing as
      10mm.

  2. Don't drop it by shiba_mac · · Score: 5, Funny

    I can see MP3 players of the future becoming like cars in the movies. Drop it, and watch the spectacular explosion as all the fuel goes up.

  3. Re:No thanks. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Oil doesn't depend on fossil fuels. It's just currently the cheapest source. It should bequite easy to use vegetable based oil, and the great thing about that is that you can even use old stuff that's already been used for cooking if you want to filter the crap out.

  4. Re:The perfect "turbine" is... by otuz · · Score: 5, Funny

    Microturbines, on the other hand won't crap all over the place.

  5. Re:No thanks. by Murphy+Murph · · Score: 5, Informative
    And the hot exhaust from the turbine would feel absolutely lovely against one's leg while being carried in a pocket


    On your fears of hot exhaust:

    My cell phone = 3.6v battery @ 850 mah.
    That is 3.06 watt hours.
    If I talk non-stop on my phone it takes two hours to kill the battery.
    That's 1.53 watts consumed at FULL usage.
    1.53 watt hours = 1,316 calories.
    That's enough heat to raise 1.3 Liters of water one stinkin' degree - over the course of one hour.
    I'm willing to be your thigh contains more than 1.3 Liters of water.

    Assume 33% efficiency and you still don't have much to fear.

    --
    I dub thee... Sir Phobos, Knight of Mars, Beater of Ass.