Micropower
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Micropower describes the work that researchers at several universities are doing to develop very small gas-turbine engines. These devices would offer the promise of a lighter weight power source for portable electronic devices. The components of any turbine engine: the gas compressor, the combustion chamber, and the turbine rotor itself, are fabricated from etched silicon, much like integrated circuits. The technology holds the promise of ten times the operating time of a battery of the same weight as the micropower unit, and similar efficiency to large utility gas turbines. Researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology have thus far succeeded in fabricating the parts for such a micro turbine out of six etched and stacked silicon wafers, and are working towards combining them into a functioning engine about the size of a U.S quarter coin.[1]
Researchers at Georgia Tech have built a micro generator 10 mm wide, which spins a magnet above an array of coils fabricated on a silicon chip. The device spins at 100,000 revolutions per minute, and produces 1.1 watts of electrical power, sufficient to operate a cell phone. Their goal is to produce 20 to 50 watts, sufficient to power a laptop computer.[2]
Scientists at Lehigh University are developing a hydrogen generator on a silicon chip, which can convert methanol, diesel, or gasoline into fuel for a microengine or a miniature fuel cell.[3]
Professor Sanjeev Mukerjee of Northeastern University's chemistry department is developing fuel cells for the military which will burn hydrogen to power portable electronic equipment such as night vision goggles, computers, and communication equipment. In his system, a cartridge of methanol would be used to produce hydrogen to run a small fuel cell for up to 5,000 hours. It would be lighter than rechargeable batteries needed to provide the same power output, with a longer run time. Similar technology could be improved and expanded in future years to power automobiles.[4]
The National Academies' National Research Council recommended in a 2004 report that the U.S. Army should investigate such micropower sources for powering electronic equipment to be carried by soldiers in the future, since batteries sufficient to power the computers, sensors, and communications devices would add considerable weight to the burden of infantry soldiers.[5]
[edit] Notes
- ^ [1] “Engine on a chip promises to best the battery,” ScienceDaily, viewed 9/20/2006
- ^ [2] “Georgia Tech microgenerator can power electronics,” ScienceDaily, 1/25/2005, viewed 9/20/2006.
- ^ [3] “Power plant on a chip? It’s no small matter to Lehigh scientists,” ScienceDaily, 9/24/2001, viewed 9/20/2006
- ^ [4] "Military Looks To Northeastern Professor For A Future Powered By Fuel Cells." ScienceDaily, April 22, 2004, Source: Northeastern University. retrieved Jan. 24, 2007
- ^ [5] “New power sources needed for soldier of the future,” ScienceDaily, 9/13/2004, viewed 9/20/2006
[edit] See also
- Battery (electricity)
- Cell phone
- Electrical generator
- Electronics
- Gas turbine
- Land Warrior
- Integrated circuits
- Laptop
- Microelectronics
- Microelectromechanical systems
- U.S. Army
