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Vibration absorbing, self-charging batteries

Catwell
New self-charging AA and AAA batteries are about to be introduced by Brother Industries Ltd. This "Vibration-powered Generating Battery," as the company labeled it, uses electromagnetic induction to generate power. The faux battery body houses the generator and a 500mF capacitor. Currently, the AA-size generator produces about 10-180mW.The target use is for devices that don't always draw power, like remote controls or flashlights. The output sounds fairly weak in the press release, but hopefully the technology will improve before launch, and battery waste will be a thing of the past.
 
 
If you are in Tokyo around July 21-23, 2010, be sure to check out Brother Industries's booth at the Techno-frontier 2010 Expo.
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Cabe
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  • An AA Duracell is good for about 8500 joules (9.5 hours to 0.8V at 250mW discharge power - from data sheet)..

    Brother claim "The average output of the AA-size generator is 10 to 180mW (frequency: 4-8Hz)"

    I did some rough calcs and I think you'll need to shake it VERY hard to get that.

    Lets take it as 50mW so that's 47 hours of serious exercise !!!

    If I were you I'd forget the remote and get up and use the switch on the telly !

  • in reply to michaelkellett

    Michael,

     

    I thought the exact same way. Perhaps everyone should put their electrical devices in a vibratory rock tumbler when not in use. And If the rock tumbler ran off batteries; perpetual motion.

     

     

     

    It really depends on the Brother Industries inductor setup. I can't seem to find any data on that aspect yet.

     

    Another issue I see is the actual output of the device. The energy storage portion of the vibration is a 500 mF at 3.2V or 2.8V, for AA and AAA sizes respectively. Taking the AA option, that is roughly 2.56 Joules at the theoretical maximum capacity. J/s = 0.0426 Watt-seconds. If you can keep it fully charged at all times, that is only ~ 43mW. I suppose if there are several 500mF caps in there it could work. Three would give the 120mW proposed output.

     

    We will know soon enough as details from the Tokyo show roll in.

     

    Cabe

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  • in reply to michaelkellett

    Michael,

     

    I thought the exact same way. Perhaps everyone should put their electrical devices in a vibratory rock tumbler when not in use. And If the rock tumbler ran off batteries; perpetual motion.

     

     

     

    It really depends on the Brother Industries inductor setup. I can't seem to find any data on that aspect yet.

     

    Another issue I see is the actual output of the device. The energy storage portion of the vibration is a 500 mF at 3.2V or 2.8V, for AA and AAA sizes respectively. Taking the AA option, that is roughly 2.56 Joules at the theoretical maximum capacity. J/s = 0.0426 Watt-seconds. If you can keep it fully charged at all times, that is only ~ 43mW. I suppose if there are several 500mF caps in there it could work. Three would give the 120mW proposed output.

     

    We will know soon enough as details from the Tokyo show roll in.

     

    Cabe

Children
  • in reply to Catwell

    After reading the comments, I had a brilliant idea.

    Above ground wires require dampers to keep the wind from setting up oscillations.  We could put these energy collecting batteries all over the place and when you look at the scale, they could produce a lot of wattage by just "hanging" around the wires.  They would keep the wind gust loading down on the wires and get charged, thereby solving two problems at once.

     

    Technology advancements will make them more efficient and increase their power generation, all we need to do is set up the devices and create a current collection subsystem and we get additional power.

     

    Just a thought,

    DAB