PRESENT-DAY PATENT- A PREVIEW

Generate power from exhaust fans...

The growing demand on power has accelerated its generation from both the renewable and the non-renewable resources, simultaneously ensuring its sustainability for the future. Though so many researchers have concentrated on generating power from renewable energy sources like, the solar or wind power, there is also a different angle of power generation- “Produce power from something in use”. For instance, power can be generated using the mechanical energy from cycling or it can be generated using the dissipated hot air or cooling water from the electronic equipment/ devices. One such interesting system for power generation has been put forth by the researchers of National Institute of Technology, Patna, wherein the exhaust fan can be operated in a dual mode. In one mode, the exhaust fan does its regular job of expelling out the waste hot air. In contrast, in the second mode, the same exhaust fan is used as a micro wind turbine that generates electric power. The key components are: (i) a motor, (ii) the plurality of blades connected to the front shaft of the motor and (iii) a DC (Direct Current) generator connected to the rear shaft of the motor through the coupling. The blades are powered by AC, during the former mode of operation. On the contrary, when the exhaust fan is idle, the air stream flowing causes the blades to rotate in the opposite direction to generate power. The exhaust fan with a diameter in the range between 350 mm and 450 mm has been witnessed to deliver an output power of about 0.7 watt to 1.5 watt. The power being generated from the exhaust fan set-up can be stored in batteries and made to drive small electronic devices, after conversion into Alternating Current (AC) using an inverter. Hence, power generation is not restricted to massively-constructed turbines alone. Generating power from everyday households too means a lot!!! 

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