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YouTube - New Wind Power - The Wind Belt Invention

Working in Haiti, Shawn Frayne, a 28-year-old inventor based in Mountain View, Calif., saw the need for small-scale wind power to juice LED lamps and radios in the homes of the poor. Conventional wind turbines don’t scale down well—there’s too much friction in the gearbox and other components. “With rotary power, there’s nothing out there that generates under 50 watts,” Frayne says. So he took a new tack, studying the way vibrations caused by the wind led to the collapse in 1940 of Washington’s Tacoma Narrows Bridge (aka Galloping Gertie).

Frayne’s device, which he calls a Windbelt, is a taut membrane fitted with a pair of magnets that oscillate between metal coils. Prototypes have generated 40 milliwatts in 10-mph slivers of wind, making his device 10 to 30 times as efficient as the best microturbines. Frayne envisions the Windbelt costing a few dollars and replacing kerosene lamps in Haitian homes. “Kerosene is smoky and it’s a fire hazard,” says Peter Haas, founder of the Appropriate Infrastructure Development Group, which helps people in developing countries to get environmentally sound access to clean water, sanitation and energy. “If Shawn’s innovation breaks, locals can fix it. If a solar panel breaks, the family is out a panel.”

Frayne hopes to help fund third-world distribution of his Windbelt with revenue from first-world applications—such as replacing the batteries used to power temperature and humidity sensors in buildings. “There’s not a huge amount of innovation being done for people making $2 to $4 per day,” Haas says. “Shawn’s work is definitely needed.”

In a conventional wind generator, gears help transfer the motion of the spinning blades to a turbine where an electric current is induced. The Windbelt is simpler and more efficient in light breezes—a magnet mounted on a vibrating membrane simply oscillates between wire coils.


Reader Comments
122. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
The wind belt is perfect. I would like to OFFER my Project BioHOME as a test site to for the wind belt. GOAL. TO POWER A HOME

121. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
great idea how do i build one or buy one i live off grid and see alot of possable uses just as this little hum dinger works like it is and by the way i live in a rual area of nevada that will not be on grid for a long time

120. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
Have you tried mounting your ribbon generator on the edge of a propeller? Will air speed increase output? Cool idea.

119. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
Website: www.ExpressAudioBookCafe.com
Neat idea. But putting the magnets on the belt increase the inertial. I have seen an example in metacafe where the coil is place on the belt ( using a voice coil from an old hard drive )

118. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
hey Shawn, make the belt out of a piezo electric material. try polyvinylidene fluoride. More power baby, go get them. Patrick

117. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
Website: v-winkel.nl
This is "thinking , out of the box". Very nice done, but... It will make a lot of noise, The belt will make vibrations in the surroundings, The belt is twisting for about some 90 degrees I guess, and will soon be damaged at the same place as a guitarstring would. Carboncoated kevlar? Thasts nice. Carbon is a very good conductor of electricity. So my guess would be: make each side of the belt a different charge. Palce in the middle your cupper wired coils where you get the most of energy.

116. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
I think this is a wonderfully creative way of solving a problem. I've read many of the naysayer's comments on this site, but there is one thing that we must keep in mind; and that is, that this is a new concept. Just look at the pure simplicity of Edison's first light bulb, or the simplicity of Bell's first telephone, or the Wright Brother's first airplane, and compare them with their counterparts of today. All of these were history making ideas, but yet, all were very simple in there initial demonstrations. This also is simple in it's "initial demonstration", but only time will tell how the world may be changed by it. Bravo Mr. Frayne!!!

115. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
Brilliant concept, simplicity in motion, scalable in many ways. Not nearly as dangerous as a spinning turbine blade either, plus a lot better looking. I can see this making a lot of people's lives better, especially in poor countries. Looks like a better mouse trap to me, wish I'd thought of that, good work Shawn!

114. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
This guy is very misinformed. First of all, if he thinks that generators are more difficult to manufacture than that thing, he's wrong. Secondly, if you put as many generators as you could in front of that fan, and measured total output, you would get far more current, than if you did the same test with those windbelts, plus, the propeller-wind-generator would be far more stable at different wind speeds. Thirdly, and most importantly, the windbelt is not scalable. This means if it was made 100 times larger, it would not work. The magnets would simply sit in one place and barely move. On the other hand, a small handheld wind-generator, would work remarkably well, if made 100 times larger. I would bet, that the windbelt, would not work at even 10 times larger. The magnets, have to reciprocate, so they can't be made much larger than a marble, before you would encounter insurmountable, mass, acceleration problems. Sorry, but this thing is nothing but a curiosity device.

113. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
This is a very interesting idea.. I remember blowing on pieces of peppermint wrappers to get that high pitch noise as a kid.. I'm guessing this is the same principle only to generate electricity. Well, I have to say it's a very interesting idea. I hope he can go far with it.. I remember someone saying that the higher up you go in the atmosphere, the faster the winds get. I wonder if it would work better up there.. Somehow on a larger scale? *shrugs* The future looks a bit brighter.

112. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
To all you nay-sayers - he never claimed to have solved the world energy problem. He is offering an alternative IDEA that could possibly help. No single invention can claim 100% original thought from mind to paper to production. This is very good thinking that, perhaps, one day someone will be able to take a few most steps toward making this a viable solution.

111. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
Hasn't anyone in the third world heard of an earth battery? Simple stick a zink rod and a copper rod into the ground and electricity. :) More rods more juice.

110. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
Website: justian.org
Wonderful new use of an old idea. When sound was added to movies they used air movement across wire to create electric impulses to record sound. You've taken this idea to a new level. Good luck and make money to employ folks.

109. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
I am very sorry, but the idea is very wrong! Resonance may look powerful, but is built up enenrgy over a longer timespan, when you take out energy, like this "generator", it stops. Go back to your basic physics schoolbooks.

108. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
Website: http://www.g4g.it
Hi your idea really captured my immagination. But i am not a scientist would like to ask how many energy the windbelt would produce if it was 2 meters long and 20 cm large with a minimun speed(as the source u used)? Does windbelt(s) would work or improve if applied to lightweight solar car or light aircraft as handgliding? I was wondering (i have a air cooled computer) what happen if i put the windbelt behind where the air exit? Thanks. Hope u like to answer. Ciao.

107. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
Great Idea! Some one have yet offered you to improve it and produce in large scale?

106. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
The very same thing was proposed 30 years ago, but using piezoelectrics rather than coils and magnets.

105. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
I'm not that impressed. 50 milliwatts is nothing. I have a propeller generator that will produce more power in low wind. There is not enough room fot the magnet to travel to develope usable power. Nothing will become of this. Lets have some details, how many volts at how many amps, under what conditions.

104. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
Wondeful invention Shawn. Was thinking in similar terms using a larger flag shaped method but nothing like this.

103. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
Wonderful idea. Why not mount the magnet and coils where the motion is greatest, in the middle of the belt? More motion = more generated electricity.

102. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
In resopse to number 28 I think that a few well placed gears could allow you to ajust the tension and the coils at the same time so that you can have coils on both ends and adjust the tension with out messing up the coils' alinement.

101. Potential upgrade?
Some people have expressed a concern about the device ceasing to function at lower or higher wind speeds that don't activate the belt's resonant frequency. What's needed is some way to adjust the tension, right? So attach the belt directly to the frame at one end, but at the other attach it via a tension-adjusting lever. On the other end of that lever, projecting out beyond the end of the device into the airflow, you put a thin, flat paddle. The higher the airspeed passing the device, the more the paddle will be deflected, increasing the tension in the belt. Get the proportions of the paddle and lever right and you should be able to tune the system to respond over a wider range of windspeeds.

100. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
OK so when will we be able to buy the windbelt?

99. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
The kite material is what catches the wind. replacing it with a copper wire would create an inoperable device.

98. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
Cool idea. How about using a copper-based strand or conducting polymer strand in place of the kite material? Permanent magnets could then be placed along the "hallway" wherever possible, repositioned to provide for different loads, etc. Admitedly, it would complicate the third-world implications because of the advanced materials, but may provide a higher power density.

97. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
Cool idea. How about using a copper-based strand or conducting polymer strand in place of the kite material? Permanent magnets could then be placed along the "hallway" wherever possible, repositioned to provide for different loads, etc. Admitedly, it would complicate the third-world implications because of the advanced materials, but may provide a higher power density.

96. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
Quite inspiring. I think human powered generators has completly been over-looked. I would imagine that energy would be quite costly somewhere that people make 6 dollars a day. Couldn't they make twice or three times that pedeling a magnet in a coil? I'd like to see a nation of people all wearing corselets with generators built in them to harness the power of motion created when they breath. Thanks again.

95. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
Light emmiting diodes make the use of small amounts of power for lighting very useful. Many years ago Philips of Holland invented a way to make a small wind turbine hanging from a branch produce a high voltage at any speed for charging fixed votage batteries. The permanent magnet rotor was coupled to a resonant circuit that had a current controlled variable inductance in it. The higher the speed and higher the power output the less inductance and its related higher resonant frequency to match the rotor speed. The invention of solar cells and transistors sidelined this small power source. But it might be revived for low power LEDs. The rotor was a variant of what we might call now a cross flow blower. Philips technical reports describe the device. Piezo actuated ButterFLY wings were used to cool additions to some of he first Apple Macintoshes. The vibrating string wind generator coupled with the longest life rated single cell nickel cadmium battery could form a light source for many people. A boost current converter would power a white LED when turned on. A hand powered generator can be made also at low cost and might be much more flexible. Philips also invented and built such hand powered lights during World War Two when flashlight batteries were completely unavailable to the residents of Holland and the rest of Europe. The invention of the white LED makes the operation and use of such squeeze powered lights much easier. Devices with single nickel cadmium cells rarely have the cells fail because of reverse charging or low charging and can be kept in a full discharge state. Voltage booster can be, as stated, turned on to power LEDs. I have a cell phone charger that does just that. H.G..

94. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
Good thinking Shawn! I'm sure this idea will lead to something huge!

93. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
Website: www.SeanReynoldsCS.com
Well... I can certainly see why people dont like to brainstorm in groups. I dont think its fair to jump on people for thinking up applications for this product. About the car's noone is suggesting a perpetual motion machine. They are saying:"see if they would produce enough juice to run one of those solar powered vehicles" so the vehicle is already getting energy from the sun. My question is this: Sure if you put these all around the exterior of the car, it would produce more drag than energy used to power the car, BUT: as 75 stated: Put these on the radiator or front of a car. The point being that if you already have a flat surface producing drag why not use this in front of that drag surface. The result would be, the air slows down (and the car slows) before it (the air) hits the flat area of the front, such as the radiator. Surly this device doesnt produce more drag than a flat wall! So use that drag before its waisted. Why wouldnt that work? PS> Ive never taken fluid dynamics. Just throwing this out there.

92. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
Why is it when comeone comes out w/ an awesome new technology, someone else (below) has to twist it for political punditizing? Can't you just say "Wow! That's great!"

91. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
I'm very impress by this new technology which is essential for pours countries or continents like Africa. I'm from Cameroon in central Africa living in France and i want to know if this process can be sale. Can we consider it like a business opportunity? If yes, how i can represent you in Central Africa? Regards

90. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World ... mmmm really?
Do not confuse what can be done in Haiti with nothing in your hands from what we should do for Haiti using for example our "cheap" technology. The belt stops if not perfectly aligned with the flow, the noise will become a concern for crowded places, the belt will stop on the frame when the wind is generous, the LED will flicker when the wind is not so generous. There is no such innovation here, every children knows that blowing a grass' leaf a flower's petal hold in between the hands in a certain amount whistles or vibrate. Are we saying here the problem is a shaft?

89. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
Where can I get the parts so my son can make this his Science Fair Project. Last year he did a Potato powered calculator. Look ma no batteries.

88. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
To 80 and 82: Just a nitpick, but you're missing the fact that car grills are already subject to drag; this would be a case of recouping some small amount of that lost energy, not creating drag that doesn't already exist (unless poorly designed, of course). Whether the amount is potentially significant is a different question.

87. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
This should be stretched under every single bridge in the world and plugged into the power grid to power the lights on the road above. Amazing.

86. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
Website: www.diyenergy.info
AWESOME, Keep up the goodwork!!!!! This is now a QED proven principle, lets see what the big boys can make of it. However the Little boys are gonna get their first!!!!

85. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
You don't need any kind of mechanical device to keep the windbelt facing into the wind. Simply point it straight up and attach a tall chimney to it. The wind blowing over the top of the chimney would draw air up through it, and would therfore power the windbelt. This way it would always be 'facing' the wind as it doesn't matter which direction the wind is coming from.

84. large scale windbelt
Checkout shawns website and especially the sketch (belt suspended from two mountain tops) http://www.humdingerwind.com/windbelt.html

83. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
I think that there is alot of possable uses for this little guy i already use LEDS in my home in crescent valley nv I would like to know how to build or buy some

82. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
80, Yes, the increased drag would more than offset the output. As for 65 - That's a perpetual motion machine you want there, boyo. It's a no-go. So Solly.

81. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
Website: http://tinyurl.com/34o6x9
To 74: Looks like the cost is many multiples, regardless of future improvements. And the rotor/bearing problem is big. Every one of those little suckers has an axle and bearings or equivalent; if one seizes, the whole array is toast -- it'd probably tear itself apart!

80. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
"If you stack enough of these you could put it inside the grill of an electric car (in front of the radiator) and it would increase the range tremendously." Thanks, I got a good laugh out of that. However, unless you have 100% conversion efficiency, the wind generators would increase the drag by more than the power that they feed to the wheels. Even with 100% efficiency they are a net wash.

79. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
wont work..!! if there is a large volume of air at LOW speeds (which is the case 95% of time) it will not work. It seems to work only when the wind is at high speed

78. some really stupid commenters
Do people have any idea what 0.04 Watts at 10 mph means? It's a *micro*power device! When you need 100 Watts, get a wind turbine for $500, not several thousand of these. And fools who propose sticking these on cars (which already have huge alternators and 12V outlets) or next to laptop fans (which already have batteries and powered USB ports)... learn about conservation of energy.

77. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
Has anyone addressed the cost of the magnets, copper coils, and overall structure, (even at microscale), compared to the overall output of the device? I would be curios to know the final numbers on this one.

76. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
this is amazing! am going to try and make one from junk at home.

75. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
If you stack enough of these you could put it inside the grill of an electric car (in front of the radiator) and it would increase the range tremendously.

74. brilliant lateral thinking, but a correction
wonderful design, but I see the strength being in the simplicity, not in its efficiency; especially for more than micropower applications. his statement that there are "no microwind options on the market at all" is misinformed. see http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/03/21/micro-wind-turbines-small-size-big-impact/

73. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
making a 2 -4 side magnet thats tubaler , so that you have more area for transfer of electic.

72. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
to 70. I thought about that right away as well, but I think the frequency of the movement is more important than the work. Also, placeing the magnets in the middle might weigh the belt down and make it use more wind flow to get to a good enough frequency.

71. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
There should be some utility to adapting this design to underwater usage for rivers and streams. It would have the advantage of constant power with no noise.

70. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
what if the magnet & coils are fixed at the centre of the memberane where the vibrations are the highest.

69. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
Beautiful. Would it work on a bicycle to run head/tail lights?

68. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
Lets go for stupid simplicity and put another micromagnet on the other end. Since it is a frictionless power we effectively doubled the capacity. I could also see the potential of putting up to 4 magnets on one line quadrupling the output. It does appear that doubling the size of the magnet / coil while not powering a house could power say the lights you use in the evening for your home. For the creaters intended audience I would say it is a major innovation.

67. Great!
This is a vary cool idea! Not only that but its well thought out. (All credit to Wikipedia for without it I could not argue a valid point) The point "it doesn’t generate much energy" keeps popping up, so ill see if I can put some facts into the fight. The power available in the wind is given by: (for a Turbine) P = 0.5A Rho r^2 V^3 Where: P = power in watts, A = efficiency constant, Rho = mass density of air in kilograms per cubic meter, (Mass density is worked out as – Rho = Mass / volume) r = radius of the wind turbine in meters, V = velocity of the air in meters per second. So for R=30 Meter's (average inland turbine blade radius) V = 10 mph (16 km/h or 4.5 m/s) (The average speed at wind farms) Rho = 1.225 (At 15*C at sea level) A = 30% (because I don’t know the true figures here I am using a figure someone mentioned earlier) P = 0.15*1.225*900*91.125 = 15069 watts (15Kw or 15,069,000 milliwatts) For the Wind Belt Looks to measure about 80 CM * 10 CM * 10 CM or there about’s Apparently generates 40 milli watts at 10 mph So in its current state if you built a wall out of them 80 meters across and 60 meters high (to match the un-usable area of a turbine) you would generate Number of units = 60000 (80 meters / 10 CM) * (60 meters / 80 CM) 40Milliwatts * 60000 units = 2,400,000 milli watts So to conclude, no it doesn’t generate as much power as a turbine. But Its easier to repair, and requires less land to be dedicated to its use, its cheaper and its user friendly. A good product for an unexplored market

66. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
Nice work Shawn. HHS IB represent. How effective is a large array?

65. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
Enclose the design to work only off of the vibration of a moving vehicle, hook a bunch together and see if they would produce enough juice to run one of those solar powered vehicles they race every year.

64. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
RE: comment #25.. You could make the magnets on the tension end slide as part of the adjustment mechanism to keep things aligned.

63. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
Why are you pronouncing the word turbine as turban, a turban is a wound cloth head piece worn religiously by Sikhs.

62. What about doing this in water?
What about using this same idea in water. or doing a bi-wing concept where multiple bands are in total synch, with just one set of power producing ends that take advantage of the combined power of the bands that are in synch... then put the bands into the water, only have the power producing part out of the water. Ocean currents don't stop. Wind in many places stops at night, and when the sun arrives in the day then the wind starts again. A water current solution would be used in rivers or oceans. Of course the problem with wind turbines is that birds fly into them and die. Is this a problem with this band based tech? And with turbines in rivers, the fish swim (like salmon) swim into them and die. Would a band tech be safer for fish, and many not require a "head" or height of water to make power... ?

61. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
Didnt ET use one of these to power his transmitter to call home ?

60. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
Interesting idea. I would be concerned about its durability though.

59. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
Regarding comment 13: where did 40mW come from? I couldn't find that in the commentary or the text. The power would increase with the size of the unit and the windspeed. And it's constant so there's no need for some poor sod to be sitting there with a crank. Although mouse power deserves a look too. Regarding comments 3 and 5: try a spring for keeping the tension. Use old car springs to keep teh cost down on big units. Resonance will occur on every harmonic of the windspeed so it shouldn't be too hard to attain anyway.

58. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
Would it be possible to build these windbelts into standard power and phone lines? Imagine billions, possible trillions of these windbelts all hooked up directly to our electrical grid, harnessing wind power all over the country. Each windbelt on its own would have a minuscule impact, much like a single pixel on a monitor. But cumulatively, the electrical output could be enormous.

57. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
Phenomenal. Passive power gathering for non ideal conditions. You should really get in touch with the folks at architecture for humanity (http://www.architectureforhumanity.org/)

56. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
Vocal cords work in a similar way. Air passes over a membrane, producing vibrations.

55. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
You can tune the tension automatically without raising the cost or tech level much: Attach the top end of the belt to to a string leading to a small parachute or windsock. As the wind pulls harder on the 'chute, the belt is tightened. This 'chute can also serve as a wind vane (but 2 or more windbelts pointing in different directions makes for fewer moving parts).

54. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
You could attach the device to a weather vane, mounted 90 degrees to a larger vane so that the generator is always in the correct position to catch the wind.

53. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
Put behind an exhaust fan in a laptop.

52. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
I certainly like this idea and would be intersted in building one myself. To have this face the right direction, you could just add a wind vane pependicular to this and it would turn into the right direction. Couple a wind speed sensor and the tension of this thing could possibly be adjusted automatically. Other things that could be done is stacking several of these, and much like a battery the resulting power out could be increased.

51. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
Forget the ends, how about the middle? The mylar strip is rockin' in the middle. More motion - more energy, much more motion than is experienced on either end.

50. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
and the easy way to get a cheap magnet and coil would be to use an old loudspeaker or broken pair of headphones.

49. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
Website: www.filthynoises.com
When it's come to micropower applications, both low and high tech, the only source has been photovoltaic in the past. This would HAVE to have a lower resources footprint than equivalent solar panels and reduces battery size.

48. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
If only our government emulated the inventors this would be a far different world. One of living in harmony with the envirnoment instead of distroying it. Small is beautiful!

47. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
Coils at both ends and at the harmonic nodes, directional vanes, even arrays tuned to a SD around the seasonal swind speed -- elementary adjustments now that the inspiration has occured.

46. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
Website: http://www.includer.org
Thank you to Lucas Gonzalez for alerting us to your invention. We're developing a USB Flash Drive Editor for use by Africans with marginal Internet access so they could work offline, reading and writing text files (like emails) stored on their USB flash drives. We're expecting to use about 4 watts so we're very interested in power solutions. Your windbelt might be useful for recharging batteries, yes? We invite help at http://www.includer.org and http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mendenyo/

45. Wind-facing Problem mentioned.
If you mount this on a long wall, you insure the direction of the wind. You may get verticals, but you still get the wind along the plan of the wall.

44. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
For a dollar, at my loval Dollar Store, I bought an LED flashlight which is powered by occasionally shaking it, so a magnet moves through a coil. I assume I attach it to or hang it from a simple "pinwheel" turbine to get light.

43. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
This is one really neat idea. I've been thinking about an electric car (home Built) that would have an auxiliary energy source when parked. The thought of solar panels has been considered but that is very limited in charge time. Something like this could give you a bit of a trickle charge until you get home after work. Assuming it scales easily, it could be very useful Understand that I've thought about micro turbines but the problem there is the safety issue with the rotating prop. Weight and mass are an issue especially if you want something that tilts up quick in a parking lot.

42. But could you live with it?
It produces electricity out of a very small area by oscillating. Buy that is the problem... The oscillation. If it is working it will be making a lot of noise. If it is scaled to a usable level the noise pollution would be unbearable. If you could somehow dampen the harmonic with an opposite oscillation or a non-rhythmic oscillation it would really open up its usability.

41. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
Website: http://semanticsearch.org
I think there is not a coil at each end because that would increase resistance. I'm sure there are many factors that go into output/windspeed like width and length of the material and tension. A grid of them in different sizes might be needed, or imagine a spring that adjusts tension as wind speed changes. Nice idea!

40. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
Great idea, but if the magnet was in the center of the belt, couldn't be generated more power (using more amplitude)?

39. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
or just stack a few ones like a window blind

38. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
Uh, a vane, a weight to maintain constant tension, some fine tuning (maybe the membrane should BE the coil so that every bit of motion can be harnessed, the strength of the magnets on either side could vary with respect to the wind so that the amount of 'resistance' felt by the coil/membrane balances with the force of the wind to maintain/entrain the most effective harmonic for the whole system... should work very well.

37. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
This is great, for the negative people out there if you have nothing something that works most of the time is better than nothing at all. Did you try attaching it to a vehicle in motion?

36. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
excellent idea, is it just intended for small house useage for ights and redio, could excess electric generated be feed in national grid or stored in batteries when wind is not availible.

35. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
You could keep it pointing into the wind with a vane, same as windmills have been kept pointing into the wind for centuries. Tension could be adjusted automatically with a cam and vane - maybe even using the same one used for positioning. Think about a T-shaped vane, similar to the tail of an aircraft, what would point the generator in the right direction and deflect up and down to operate a cam to adjust tension.

34. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
Minds like these make the world move forward!

33. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
10: Adding another magnet would increase the inertia on the membrane, which means it would take more wind to make power. Might be better to play with the shape of the magnet and arrangement of the coil to tweak for efficency, but I suspect the inventor has (grin)

32. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
Brilliant?? Not. It's just different. Try powering your home this way and you'll find out why wind turbines are less costly.

31. the math and things of that nature
Minimum windspeed is determined by the length to weight ratio of the membrane. The heavier it is (4 magnets instead of 2) the longer the membrane needs to be, the faster the wind has to blow.

30. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
As noted, this seems to be a standing wave application. My question is, If it is a standing wave application, I would think the belt would be subject to a great deal of stress. How long would the belt last in practice? Great idea tho.

29. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
I could see a couple dozen of these tied to a battery charger being enough to supply the lighting needs of a modern US house.

28. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
To address the other comments earlier, it seems like placing another magnet at the other end of the string would act as a dampener on the vibrations effectively reducing the frequency that in turn reduces the current being induced. For that matter, there is a tradeoff between how big the magnet is versus how much dampening it has on the vibrations. In fact, we would ideally want a magnet of very high density. Another effect to keep in mind is that the electrical current and the associated field in turn exerts a force on the magnet that will try to reduce the frequency of vibrations.

27. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
I could see a couple dozen of these tied to a battery charger being enough to supply the lighting needs of a modern US house.

26. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
The Tacoma bridge disaster always captured my imagination. seeing tapes at used auto lots kept this in my mind. I never could figure out how to capture that energy, now I do. A really schmart lad. God bless him. Think about the safty of this for humans and birds. Such ribbons could be on the blades them selves!!! I have some other ideas which I want to explore!!! Thank YOU!!!

25. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
Re comments 9 & 10: The belt is best tensioned from one end. If there were magnets on both ends, the magnets on the adjustable end would tend to lose their critical alignment with the coils. A small offset between center of magnet and center of coil will reduce efficiency.

24. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
Website: www.instructables.com
I'm not sure it's a solution to many actual "problems" (as one earlier comment said, a hand-generator will provide much more power, much more quickly), but I would like to see this as a fence or screen - say, strung between the railings around a balcony or roof-garden and running a small sonne-et-lumiere installation, maybe with the music changing with the wind-speed.

23. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
This guy is a genius. I imagine to adapt this device to different wind speeds you could 'tune' the ribbon by making one end movable. This would change the resonant frequency of the band.

22. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
If you stack these in a double-helix like twisted column, you will be able to multiply the power output and make it omni directional as well. Coupled with intake funnels to maximize response to wind, and possibly a small solar array, these will make very inexpensive very versatile power generation, even for western homes.

21. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
If you put a funnel on the front and a tail on the back, it would probably work in almost no wind. Very low winds are an area most wind turbines fall down in. Bravo!

20. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
Website: www.donovangilhooley.com
I'd love to top my fence with this - or, better yet, make the entire fence out of them. For my family member who live in the country and have miles of fence, I wonder how much would allow them to live off the grid.

19. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
Website: http://ww.com/
I'm sorry but this device is not 10 to 30 times better than then the best microturbines, which are over 20% efficient. Betz' limit is not about to be crossed, no matter whether it is with rotating or vibrating devices. I predict this invention will not 'break' because it it tuned to only a narrow range of windspeeds and wildly inefficient compared to modern rotary machines. Nice try though !

18. Magnetic membrane
Could you loose the magnet and use a magnetic membrane instead ?

17. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
would two poinys fixed to the sea bed with a free floating bouy in the middle act in the same way or am i not awake yet?

16. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
It would be interesting to see how scalable this design is? At some point the conventional turbine should be more more cost effective I would think?s

15. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
To charge a 12v battery at 2 amps, it would take 640 or so of these side by side--am I figuring right? It would be quite a picket fence!

14. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
Website: http://gcd.i.ph
really brilliant KISS application of an old idea. in our childhood days, we built the vibrating membrane out from a long buri leaf to produce droning-sound to our KITES! For more power, chain them. To face the wind, use a wind vane.

13. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
This is a neat idea, but 40mW is really a very very small amount of power. A hand-crank generator could produce as much power in 30 seconds as a 40mW micro turbine would produce in 10 hours. I must presume that the theoretical power available from a micro turbine is much larger than the prototype, otherwise it would only be suitable for very low power unattended uses.

12. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
Website: http://fabienmarteau.free.fr
Yeah, it's really cool.But what is the minimum wind speed for generating power ?

11. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
If this were scaled up it might open the southeast US to wind power. The wind speed there is generally insufficient for turbines.

10. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
Wow... That's a REALLY cool idea! Simple, yet practical for the intended uses. My question: It seems his design uses only one magnet/magnetic coil on one side of the "belt." If another magnet/magnetic coil was placed at the other end, wouldn't it effectively increase ("double?") the power output generated by the vibrating mylar strip?

9. How about 2 magnets: 1 on each end?
This is invention is genius and so simple! Has Frayne considered putting an identical oscillator at the other end of the Windbelt?

8. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
Simply brilliant, I do not know what level sound produces a sheet or an array of foil enough to compete with wind turbines smaller, but again brilliant.

7. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
Website: www.craftskills.biz
Nice application for the bottom-up approach to giving power to the forgotten populations

6. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
That's just... brilliant. Flat out.

5. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
Truly ingenious idea. But for maximum amplitude, the tension has to be tuned. Unless you have a steady wind, that has to happen in real time. The alternative is to have multiple belts tuned differently, and that increases the cost per unit of electricity.

4. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
Did Mr. Frayne tought about using two sets of coils and magnet at both ends of the belt ?

3. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
You could probably easily add the ability to modify the tension as well to catch different wind speeds but I'm sure the inventor has thought of that as well. It looks very promising and possible could replace typical wind turbines as the inventor seems to think as well. Good luck.

2. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
Haiti is poor, but so is our Department of Conservation. This would be nice to power emergency text message relay. Cheap, and easier to make vandal proof.

1. RE: Windbelt, Cheap Generator Alternative, Set to Power Third World
Absolutely awesome idea, but how well would it function if not facing directly into wind?
Windbelt - Third World Power - Wind Generator - Video - Breakthrough Awards - Popular Mechanics




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