Solar Paper is an item that charges an iPhone fairly fast, and it's from a company called YOLK. Among its impressive qualities are two key features: It's very light and it's very thin.
Solar paper can charge almost any device that recharges via USB, including, smartphones, tablets, walkie talkies, flashlights, portable game consoles, cameras, video cameras, and rechargeable batteries.
An emergency generator for your phone at time of power outages? That's on offer in the form of a crowdfunded-campaign item called Candle Charger. It offers USB power when you need it, designed to keep phones souped up when the grid cannot. Two ingredients are involved: a candle and water, together behaving as a little indoor power plant for smartphones, to make sure you stay connected no matter what.
The device is from Stower. The company said the Candle Charger is an emergency preparedness product that you don't know if you need it until you really need it. Other alternatives are no alternatives under certain conditions. Batteries drain quickly; solar chargers can't help at night or indoors; hand cranks produce minimal power.
How it works: You put Candle Charger on a stand. You fill the device bath with water ("Water volume is 150ml. Refill as needed, approximately every 30 minutes".) You light the Stower candle below. You plug in an electronic device to charge.
Andy Byrnes, co-founder of the company, told John Brownlee in Fast Company, "We wanted to design something that was safe, more personal, and could be used indoors, which is where the idea of building it around a candle came from."
A startup team calls their work a product. They also call it a social movement. Many people in the over-7,000 islands in the Philippines lack access to electricity .The startup would like to make a difference. Their main ingredient is salt.
Their product is a lamp that takes two tablespoons of salt and a glass of water in order to work. This is from the Sustainable Alternative Lighting, or SALt Corp. This is a startup focused on delivering a cost effective, environmentally safe lamp that runs on salt water.
Their lamp could be an alternative to kerosene/battery powered lamps and candles as a main source of lighting. They said use of the SALt lamp for eight hours a day every day delivers an anode lifespan of six months and used just as an alternative light source will prolong the life of the anode for more than a year.
For people living along coastlines, even running up the cost of salt would not be a problem. They could store ocean water in bottles and use them to power the lamp. The salinity of ocean-water can operate the lamp. They said it would give eight hours of running-time.
http://www.salt.ph/
This fully transparent solar cell could make every window and screen a power source
Back in August 2014, researchers at Michigan State University have created a fully transparent solar concentrator, which could turn any window or sheet of glass (like your smartphone’s screen) into a photovoltaic solar cell. Unlike other “transparent” solar cells that we’ve reported on in the past, this one really is transparent, as you can see in the photos throughout this story.
The prototype TLSC currently has an efficiency of around 1%, but they think 10% should be possible once production commences. And while we’re probably not talking about a technology that can keep your smartphone or tablet running indefinitely, replacing your device’s display with a TLSC could net you a few more minutes or hours of usage on a single battery charge.
kublikhan wrote:This fully transparent solar cell could make every window and screen a power source
Back in August 2014, researchers at Michigan State University have created a fully transparent solar concentrator, which could turn any window or sheet of glass (like your smartphone’s screen) into a photovoltaic solar cell. Unlike other “transparent” solar cells that we’ve reported on in the past, this one really is transparent, as you can see in the photos throughout this story.
The prototype TLSC currently has an efficiency of around 1%, but they think 10% should be possible once production commences. And while we’re probably not talking about a technology that can keep your smartphone or tablet running indefinitely, replacing your device’s display with a TLSC could net you a few more minutes or hours of usage on a single battery charge.
Although 1% efficiency is pretty bad, I still like the idea of making the phone itself the solar panel.
Alfred Tennyson wrote:We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are;
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.
I like that idea even betterTanada wrote:Picture every car using this type of glass for the side and rear windows to power the vent fan and keep the car interior from heating up when in a sunny parking lot.
Fuel Economy in Hot WeatherRunning your car's air conditioning is the main contributor to reduced fuel economy in hot weather. Its effect depends on a number of factors, such as the outside temperature, humidity, and intensity of the sun. Under very hot conditions, AC use can reduce a conventional vehicle's fuel economy by more than 25%. The AC's effect on hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and electric vehicles (EVs) can be even larger on a percentage basis.
Ohm is a 6-pound drop-in replacement for your car battery. What's not to like about what it claims to deliver. It never needs jump-starting. Works on the coldest days (in temperatures as low as -40C). Lasts more than twice than lead-acid batteries, which go for three years. Here, you are looking at a 7-year average lifetime. No lead, no acid. When Ohm says it is a drop-in replacement they mean that it is installed in the same way.
How it works: There is a "burst of energy" for starting the engine which comes from a bank of supercapacitors. When the engine is not running, the supercapacitors are kept charged by a small array of batteries.
As for materials the company said its supercapacitors are mostly carbon. The batteries are LiFePO4 (lithium iron phosphate.)
As for dimensions, Ohm's are 9.0"x6.8"x6.8", and will fit Group 35 batteries. "It will also fit in most cars above Group 35, but may require some extra fixturing, " according to the site.
Viewers might find the pricing amenable considering how long it lasts and some other benefits."Conventional car batteries contain dangerous acid and are responsible for over 24 million pounds of environmental lead contamination each year. Ohm has no lead, no acid, and is safe for the environment." Another promotion point being highlighted by Ohm is its light weight. "It's the easiest, most affordable way to instantly drop 30 pounds or more from your curb weight by switching from a lead-acid battery."
Specs:
550+ CCA (Cold Cranking Amps)
7 year average lifetime
Rated for -30°C to +50°C
Weighs 6 pounds
10 Amp hour reserve capacity
Group 35 form factor
Never needs jump-starting
Reactive architecture
LiFePO4 battery chemistry
EDLC supercapacitor chemistry
Dimensions: 9.0"x6.8"x6.8"
This is a body heat-activated little flashlight which goes by the name of Lumen. New York-based Rost is the creator behind this product. He is an engineer; his work environment focuses on producing injection molds and parts for mining machinery. That is worth mentioning because as an engineer he is involved continually with products that are built to last. One might think of his flashlight as an eternal torch.
How it works: Touch Lumen and the heat of your body is converted to light.
He said, "when your temperature is 98 °F and air temperature is 82 °F Lumen produce about 15 mA@3v. When difference is bigger - excessive power is stored in a capacitor to power Lumen whenever you need it. Such amount of energy is enough to power 5 mm Cree led with 3000 mCd light output."
Joe Svetlik in Trusted Reviews talked about the technology that makes the flashlight work with no battery support: "It features a thermoelectric generator – basically a small ceramic bar – that produces a current when you place your thumb on it. The difference between your body temperature and the environment is enough to power a single LED. When the difference is bigger – you're extremely hot, or the environment is extremely cold – the excess power is stored for later."
vox_mundi wrote:Solar Paper, the world's thinnest and lightest solar charger
http://organictransit.com/information-about-the-elf/
It looks like an inverted tricycle with an egg-shaped shell. The makers of the Elf vehicle tout it as the future of environmentally friendly urban transport, combining pedal power with battery propulsion and solar charging.
You start it up with a modified bicycle pedal crank, and steer and brake with handlebars. The battery kicks in to take it up to a speed of some 40 kilometers (25 miles) per hour.
The Elf has a solar panel on the roof that charges the battery, which offers a range of around 50 kilometers (30 miles)—or more, if you are willing to pedal.
Sparks said the Elf is "street legal" and requires no registration or insurance, with federal rules classifying it as a bicycle. But some state or local rules may be different.
The ELF body is made from a rugged ABS composite called Trylon that protects you from the elements and helps you stand out in traffic. It now comes standard with 100 W solar panel, Dynamic Dampening front suspension, EZ Ergonomic sliding seat and a sturdy deck lid and bulkhead, for additional security and cargo capacity.
ELF Features
- 100W solar panel
- EZ Ergonomic Sliding Seat
- Front Dynamic Dampening Suspension
- Reinforced CON-Pearl™ Bulkhead & Decklid
- Aluminum 6061 T Alloy frame
- Continental Town & Country tires on the front
- Kenda Kiniption rear tire
- 3-speed internally geared hub
- AVID BB7 disc brakes on the front wheels
- LED headlights, tail lights, brake lights, and turn signals
- Race Face sealed bearing Crank set
- 48V 11 Ah Lithium-ion battery with charger
- Enclosed cargo compartment with a locking lid
Video: Using cardboard, tape and a pencil to produce energy
A small device made from everyday materials can generate enough energy to power several diodes. This clever discovery by an EPFL postdoctoral student was presented yesterday at a global conference on micro- and nano- systems in Shanghai.
All you need to generate a little electricity is cardboard, Teflon tape and a pencil. A team from EPFL, working with researchers from the University of Tokyo, used these materials to make an 8-cm2 device that can generate more than 3 Volts of power: a simple, eco-friendly and inexpensive system that can produce the same current as two AA batteries – enough to operate a remote control.
Maxwell's demon, a hypothetical being that appears to violate the second law of thermodynamics, has been widely studied since it was first proposed in 1867 by James Clerk Maxwell. But most of these studies have been theoretical, with only a handful of experiments having actually realized Maxwell's demon.
Now in a new paper, physicists have reported what they believe is the first photonic implementation of Maxwell's demon, by showing that measurements made on two light beams can be used to create an energy imbalance between the beams, from which work can be extracted. One of the interesting things about this experiment is that the extracted work can then be used to charge a battery, providing direct evidence of the "demon's" activity.
Even though the researchers did not aim to realize optimal work extraction, it's possible that some type of Maxwell's demon could one day have practical applications.
Scientists from the RIKEN Quantitative Biology Center in Japan removed the electric organ from a torpedo eel and chemically stimulated the organ by injecting a solution of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine though a syringe. They were able to achieve more than a minute of continuous current, with a peak voltage of 91 mV and 0.25 mA of current. By increasing the number of syringes, they achieved a peak voltage of 1.5 V and a current of 0.64mA.
Scientists from the RIKEN Quantitative Biology Center (QBiC) in Osaka began work to develop a new type of electricity generator, based on the knowledge that electric rays known as torpedoes can beat other systems by generating electric power with near 100% efficiency. The torpedo has electric organs with densely-aligned membrane proteins that convert the chemical energy of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) into ion transport energy, and a nervous system that controls the whole process.
QBiC's Yo Tanaka and his collaborators thought the principle used by the fish might be applied to make a breakthrough power generator. Their experiments, reported in Scientific Reports, artificially reproduced and controlled this phenomenon
They began by looking at what happens in a live electric ray. Tanaka says, "When we used physical stimulation of a live torpedo, we detected less than 10 milliseconds of pulse current with a peak voltage 19 V and current of 8 A in the electrical response. Using this pulse, we found that we were able to store enough electricity to light up LED light or drive a toy car."
Then, in an attempt to generate more electricity, they removed the electric organ from a torpedo and chemically stimulated the organ by injecting a solution of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine though a syringe. They were able to achieve more than a minute of continuous current, with a peak voltage of 91 mV and 0.25 mA of current.
Tanaka continues, "By increasing the number of syringes, we achieved a peak voltage of 1.5 V and a current of 0.64mA. In addition, we found that it is possible to repeat power generation and keep the organ functional for up to one day." By combining a fluid control device to control the stimulation as is done by the torpedo's own nervous system, they were able to generate and store electricity with a peak voltage of 1.5 V and 0.25 mA of current.
One step closer to turning people into batteries
Yo Tanaka, Shun-ichi Funano, Yohei Nishizawa, Norihiro Kamamichi, Masahiro Nishinaka & Takehiko Kitamori, "An electric generator using living Torpedo electric organs controlled by fluid pressure-based alternative nervous systems", Scientific Reports
A smart material that switches back and forth between transparent and opaque could be installed in buildings or automobiles, potentially reducing energy bills by avoiding the need for costly air conditioning.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge have developed a type of 'smart' glass that switches back and forth between transparent and opaque, while using very low amounts of energy. The material, known as Smectic A composites, could be used in buildings, automotive or display applications.
vox_mundi wrote:Producing electrical power with cardboard, tape, and a pencilVideo: Using cardboard, tape and a pencil to produce energy
All you need to generate a little electricity is cardboard, Teflon tape and a pencil. A team from EPFL, working with researchers from the University of Tokyo, used these materials to make an 8-cm2 device that can generate more than 3 Volts of power: a simple, eco-friendly and inexpensive system that can produce the same current as two AA batteries – enough to operate a remote control.
DesuMaiden wrote:Anyone can tell me? Are solar panels made of any rare earth minerals or other rare materials that are scarce and running out of? Are solar led panels solutions a reliable source of energy? Is it intermittent or constant? I just want to know if solar energy is a reliable source of energy.
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