Body Heat Energy Generation

BuzzSkyline writes "Researchers in Belgium have developed devices to harvest the waste heat our bodies throw off in order to convert it to electricity to run devices such as a wristband blood oxygen sensor and an electrocardiogram shirt. As a side benefit, the power sources help cool you down and keep you looking cool, all while running sundry micropower devices. In fact, the researchers mention that the energy harvesting head band works so well that it can get uncomfortably cold. In that case, they say, 'This problem is solved in exactly the same way as someone solves it on the body level in cold weather: a headgear should be worn on top of the system to limit the heat flow and make it comfortable.' But it would be such a shame to cover up the golden heat-harvesting headband with a hat."

Comments

Screw that

[elrous0]

You're wasting the real potential of this thing. I live in an area that gets hot as hell in the summer. If it really does get "uncomfortably cold," I'd pay good money for a whole suit made of the stuff.

Re:Screw that

[yurtinus]

Given tthat it's coming from a country where the diet consists of chocolate, beer, waffles (with chocolate on) and fries (with mayonnaise) I'd say they aren't exactly anorexic.

Interested in losing weight without changing your diet? Boy have I got the product for you! The HeadFlex 3000 will burn calories while you go about your day, no exercise needed, and power your iPod, cell phone, or portable dialysis unit! Just strap it on, plug it in, and burn those calories!

Re:Cold?

[oodaloop]

It feels cold because it's sucking heat out and using it. So it's constantly leaching heat out. Hence it would feel cold. Simple, really.

Re:Free Energy?

[Anonymous Coward]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battery_(electricity)#Rechargeable_battery_chemistries

I'd love to know where you get 5 kWh from an iPhone battery. Li-Ion batteries have an energy density of 128 Wh/kg, so your iPhone battery must weigh 39 kg.

Granted, a 5 kWh Li-Ion battery will cost a fortune, so for something of that capacity, you're more likely to use a lead-acid battery of car/alarm/emergency light fame. That battery would weigh 129 kg. My brother-in-law has an iPhone; I'll ask him if it came with a dolly for the battery.

Now, it would make more sense if that was a 5 Wh battery; then we're talking about 39 grams, which is probably a bit easier to carry around. And your charging cost is down to 0.005p, but will likely be a good deal higher due to energy loss.

Re:Cold?

[Hatta]

It's not sucking heat out, that would actually require extra energy input. It's not a pump, it's more like a water wheel.

But my question has been answered. It doesn't get below ambient temperature. We just don't feel ambient temperature as cold as it actually is, because air is a pretty good insulator.