| Improved Flashlight Design Let’s imagine a different kind of flashlight. I like the idea of
using a pull string human motion over crank. I think this technique would be a much more efficient way to convert human power to electrical power. This device would be a miniature version of
the technique often used to start a lawn mower. The imaginary device would be held in one hand, while the other arm would pull the string. Each pull of the string would spin a flywheel
up to a high RPM, which would be connected to a brushless motor, acting as alternator. I imagine that such a device could generate several watts of power, perhaps as much as 20 watts.
Such a machine would produce 50 or 100 times more power than the shaking magnet technique. Let’s then connect the output of the three phase alternator to a three phase bridge rectifier. The output of the bridge would then
be connected to a bank of quality super capacitors rated at 2.5 volts. Perhaps the total capacitance would be about 50 Farads. I would then use an efficient DC-to-DC converter (Maybe
using Texas Instrument’s TPS61070 device), designed to maintain a constant current flow to one or more LEDs. One LED might be adequate but an array of 7 LEDs would be even better.
Let’s say the pull string approach could generate 5 watts of power. Then, a 50 Farad cap would be charged up to 2.5 volts in less than a minute. Once
charged, a DC to DC converter with an 80% efficiency would keep a single 20ma white LED going for 30 minutes. Such a flashlight would be much brighter than the above device. A larger
350 farad capacitor from www.maxwell.com might be used to power a 7 LED flashlight for 30 minutes
after 7 minutes of charging. If a 20 watt device could be developed, it might be powerful enough to charge up a dead automotive lead acid battery after a few minutes of string pulling to start a
car. Such a device might be small enough to fit into a car’s glove box and could make a nice Christmas gift. |