It has always been the goal of modern society to achieve the cheapest, most efficient, most abundant energy source. Today we mainly use carbon based fuels, or as it is more commonly known as, fossil fuels. As our society advanced, we started to understand the impact fossil fuels have on the environment, the increasing rate we consume fossil fuels, and the finite supply we have on this earth. Using this knowledge, we know that we need alternative fuels, and machines that can harvest these fuels. The Stirling engine, Peltier effect, and the Mendocino motor are all generators that run off alternative fuels.
Stirling Engine
The Stirling engine was invented in 1816 by Robert Stirling. It has remained mostly unchanged since then. It runs off the difference of temperature between the two aluminum plates. As the bottom plate heats up, the displacer will raise. As the plate raises, the top aluminum plate cools the displacer, causing the displacer to fall. This movement is then converted into mechanical energy by a piston. This piston drives the flywheel. To implement this device, one would need a water heater, and a Stirling device. The torque on a modern Stirling device would be sufficient enough for an average household, so every house would need a generator. I believe that this machine isn’t widely used because the cost of the materials and manpower is significantly higher than burning coal. Also the switch between the two fuels would cost billions if not trillions of dollars. All the pros from this motor are long term. A new technician field would be created to repair and maintenance the generators. Over time the CO2 levels would drop because the Stirling engines have zero emissions.
Peltier Effect
In 1834, Jean Charles Athanase Peltier discovered that two unlike metals kept at a difference of temperature, creates a current. This isn’t a very practical solution to alternative energy in my opinion. They work great with fridges, but on a larger scale I believe upkeep cost would be tremendous. Also the repair and maintenance would be a problem as well. Overall I do not support the use of the Peltier effect on a large scale for an alternative energy supply.
Mendocino Motor
The Mendocino Motor cannot be used to generate electricity. It is used as a learning tool. In this devise, there are four solar panels with copper wire rapped around the corners. When the light turns on, a current runs through the copper wire. This creates a magnetic field that reacts with the central bar magnet on the base. This causes the solar panels and copper wire to spin fast. The four corner magnets on the base balance the panels and copper wire. The panels and copper wire is free floating. The floating devise if very sensitive to the load put on it, so no current can be harvested yet. I fully support this devise and the research of this devise. I believe that if this can be used to create a current. The buy in cost would be relatively lower than the other alternatives, and the energy created is only limited to how fast the motor can turn.
References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stirling_engine
http://searchnetworking.techtarget.com/definition/Peltier-effect
http://www.chessplayingrobot.com/id4.html
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Thanks man, this is actually a blog I have to do for a class.
I found your blog very interesting as it is sort of like a beginners tutorial on some basic and simple machines that rely on the use of solar energy to run. It is a good way to start learning about solar power and how it might influence the way the world changes in the future.