How to Charge Your Cellphone Using Wasted Heat 214
Ilya writes "Companies such as BMW are investing in Thermoelectric Generators to make their cars more efficient by replacing the alternator. Thermoelectric Generators convert wasted heat from the engine into electrical power. This green instructable shows how you can use the same technology right now at home to harvest expelled heat from home appliances to charge your cellphone and other gadgets. Also features a lego racer powered by the roaring flames of a tea candle."
but is it cost effective? (Score:1, Insightful)
Re:Sipping From a Firehose (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Sipping From a Firehose (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Sipping From a Firehose (Score:3, Insightful)
Yes, since we can't solve the problem in one step, we should never proceed
To restate your premise:
Given that the average American drives 8500 miles per year, spending one day a month bicycling to work isn't going to make a damn bit of difference.
Re:Sipping From a Firehose (Score:5, Insightful)
Additionally, such waste heat might not actually be "free" - depending on some of the implementation details.
The engine works by generating heat and then converting it to mechanical motion while dissipating that heat to a cold sink. If you don't "waste" that heat by sending it to a cold sink then the engine operates less efficiently.
Again, it depends on the details - the energy might be "free," or it might just rob the engine of power just as an alternator does. You can't get around the laws of thermodynamics, though...
Re:Thermodynamics (Score:5, Insightful)
P.S. Ever heard of google?
Please, it's a fairly esoteric piece of knowledge and this is as good a forum to ask it in as any. A bit of civility wouldn't kill you.