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Thermo-Electric Generator Powered by Body Heat

posted by n1 on Sunday April 13 2014, @11:48PM   Printer-friendly
from the environmentally-conscious-fornication dept.

prospectacle writes:

Researchers at The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology have developed a thermo-electric generator which resides in a light, flexible glass-fabric, and which can be powered by body heat.

When using KAIST's TE generator (with a size of 10 cm x 10 cm) for a wearable wristband device, it will produce around 40 mW electric power based on the temperature difference of 31 degrees F between human skin and the surrounding air.

To put this in context: Based on Table 9 ("Average System Power (mW)") of this research paper into smart-phone power consumption (based on the Openmoko Neo Freerunner) we'd need at least 10 times that (400 to 1100 mW) to power our phones.

 
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  • (Score: 2) by prospectacle on Monday April 14 2014, @12:49AM

    by prospectacle (3422) on Monday April 14 2014, @12:49AM (#31076) Journal

    You're right. You could attach an emergency-recharge pack in a watch-like casing. Meanwhile you use and charge your phone as normal, but if you ever get caught out, you've got a few minutes worth of power stored in your wrist-band.

    For more surface area they could make power pants.

    I concede that the last sentence in the TFS may have looked dismissive, but it supposed to be; it was simply meant to address the question "So how much is 40mW in practice?". I figured a smart-phone is an example use-case that most people would be familiar with.

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    If a plan isn't flexible it isn't realistic
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  • (Score: 2) by prospectacle on Monday April 14 2014, @12:52AM

    by prospectacle (3422) on Monday April 14 2014, @12:52AM (#31077) Journal

    "... last sentence in the TFS may have looked dismissive, but it wasn't supposed to be.."

    --
    If a plan isn't flexible it isn't realistic

    • (Score: 2) by tynin on Monday April 14 2014, @02:37AM

      by tynin (2013) on Monday April 14 2014, @02:37AM (#31110) Journal

      Thanks for the correction. In my tired stupor, it did appear dismissive.