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BY Tali Aaron : March 26

U Michigan Develops Generators Powered by Random Vibrations

power generation from vibrations


New research is revealing that random motions could become society’s newest energy source. Researchers at the University of Michigan’s Engineering Research Center for Wireless Integrated Microsystems have announced the development of energy-gathering generators that harness environmental vibrations to power devices such as wireless sensors or wristwatches.

The new generators, called PFIGs, Parametric Frequency Increased Generators, were created by Doctor Khalil Najafi and Tzeno Galchev, a doctoral student. The devices can use random energy from traffic, human movements, and moving machines to provide renewable electrical generation.

Prior developed generators have relied on predictable and regular energy sources, so the harnessing of kinetic energy is a breakthrough. The device is only one cubic centimeter in size and uses piezoelectric material - non-conductive material such as crystal or ceramic which can release charges when activated. Future applications could use random human movement to power implanted medical devices such as pacemakers or other surgically implanted sensors. The PFIGs could also reveal cracks or corrosion in structures such as bridges before human inspection would notice the problems.

Other technologies using piezoelectric kinetic energy:

European researchers create micro-sized device to harvest energy from vibrations

Kinetic energy cell phones

Hydrogen fuel from water using crystals and sound

Recommended for Further Reading:

Posted in: Alternative Energy
Tags: university of michigan (4)   energy generation (5)   cleantech (324)   renewable energy (502)   alternative energy (122)   researchers (14)   piezoelectric (4)   Lutron (5)   generators (5)   kinetic energy (5)   
First Published: March 26, 2010 at 10:26 am

8 Responses to U Michigan Develops Generators Powered by Random Vibrations

  2. EMERALD CITY NIGHTS on November 7, 2012 at 10:51 pm


    U Michigan Develops Generators Powered by Random Vibrations http://t.co/ZvguqGzR #eco #cleantech #greenbuilding #renewableenergy

    Reply
  3. buildaroo on November 7, 2012 at 7:11 pm


    U Michigan Develops Generators Powered by Random Vibrations http://t.co/ZvguqGzR #eco #cleantech #greenbuilding #renewableenergy

    Reply
  4. buildaroo on September 8, 2012 at 5:29 pm


    U Michigan Develops Generators Powered by Random Vibrations http://t.co/ZvguqGzR #eco #cleantech #greenbuilding #renewableenergy

    Reply
  5. buildaroo on January 31, 2011 at 8:16 pm


    U Michigan Develops Generators Powered by Random Vibrations http://bit.ly/9XB6SP #eco #cleantech #greenbuilding #renewableenergy

    Reply
  6. Andreas Taferner on July 21, 2010 at 3:41 am


    U Michigan entwickelt Generatoren von Random Vibrations Powered ...: New research is revealing that random motions... http://bit.ly/ccb15D

    Reply
  7. People Powered Sidewalks Light Street Lamps in France « Alternative Energy « buildaroo.com on April 15, 2010 at 2:16 pm


    [...] energy cell phones: shake a leg for the sake of generating power U Michigan develops generators powered by random vibrations Hydrogen fuel from water using crystals and [...]

    Reply
  8. Heidi Schwartz on March 26, 2010 at 6:26 pm


    RT @buildaroo: U of Michigan develops generators powered by random vibrations http://bit.ly/9XB6SP #renewableenergy #greentech #energy #eco

    Reply
  9. greenbuzz on March 26, 2010 at 5:26 pm


    New research is revealing that random motions could become society’s newest energy source… http://goo.gl/fb/3BJU

    Reply

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