Teeny tiny turbine engines

[eridani]

http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2006/microengines.html

MIT researchers are putting a tiny gas-turbine engine inside a silicon chip about the size of a quarter. The resulting device could run 10 times longer than a battery of the same weight can, powering laptops, cell phones, radios and other electronic devices.

It could also dramatically lighten the load for people who can't connect to a power grid, including soldiers who now must carry many pounds of batteries for a three-day mission -- all at a reasonable price.

The researchers say that in the long term, mass-production could bring the per-unit cost of power from microengines close to that for power from today's large gas-turbine power plants.

Making things tiny is all the rage. The field -- called microelectromechanical systems, or MEMS -- grew out of the computer industry's stunning success in developing and using micro technologies. "Forty years ago, a computer filled up a whole building," said Professor Alan Epstein of the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics. "Now we all have microcomputers on our desks and inside our thermostats and our watches."

While others are making miniature devices ranging from biological sensors to chemical processors, Epstein and a team of 20 faculty, staff and students are looking to make power -- personal power. "Big gas-turbine engines can power a city, but a little one could 'power' a person," said Epstein, whose colleagues are spread among MIT's Gas Turbine Laboratory, Microsystems Technology Laboratories, and Laboratory for Electromagnetic and Electronic Systems.

[GAspnes]

1. more dependence on fossile fuels

Dayum.

[Tesha]

2. You don't think most American computers are powered by fossil fuels?

You don't think most American computers are powered by fossil fuels
already? Where do you suppose the electricity comes from?

And some of these MEMS machines want to burn methanol or
ethanol.

Tesha

[GAspnes]

3. actually, it's all solar power

isn't it?

[Tesha]

4. Over rather a longer time scale, yes. (NT)

[muriel_volestrangler]

6. You can make turbines that run on ethanol

http://www.purepowerenergy.net/

[lvx35]

5. That is just awesome.

Just doing it is amazing, all else aside...But I still don't understand what fuel something that little runs on.

And aren't gas turbines what drive jet engines? The thought of having little tiny jet engines is awesome too...My kids could finally have the little tiny toy jet that actually flies I always dreamed about as a kid. :)

[GAspnes]

7. gotta watch out, a little

I saw a pic (can't find it now) of one working last year. There's a 1" flame coming out one side. Don't carry it in your pocket.

[lvx35]

8. uh oh. Well, I guess hat rules out my toy plane! :) nt

[GAspnes]

9. the toy plane, fine.

I always wanted one of those. But as a power source for a laptop, I'm not so sure...

[lvx35]

10. What'ya TALKING about!?!?!?!

are you kidding me? Dude. I am a computer nerd, at a school full of computer nerds, and I will tell you ONE thing: The day I come into class with a laptop that has chrome exaust pipes shooting FLAMES out on the sides, is the day I will be coronated KING of all nerds! :)

[sakabatou]

11. You might be the king of all nerds but I'll still be the

OTAKING!