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Vehicle Wind-Energy Turbine

Capture airflow while driving
 
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Effortless supplemental power source. Vehicle designed with aerodynamic reverse "gills" to capture the airflow generated by normal vehicle operation. Provides an extra source of power for back-up battery, ac/dc, running lights, etc. that stays fully charged automatically through vehicle use.
allynius, Oct 16 2012

Ram air turbine http://en.wikipedia...iki/Ram_air_turbine
generates power from the airstream due to the speed of the aircraft---in emergencies. [baconbrain, Oct 17 2012]

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       But the alternator already does that without producing any drag.
DIYMatt, Oct 16 2012
  

       I really don't want to be a jerk, but there are at least a half-dozen other halfbakes proposing this very same concept. The general consensus seems to be that the amount of energy generated would be neglible due to the increased drag the turbines would inflict, and that concepts like dynamic braking and heat recovery would be much more efficient.
Alterother, Oct 16 2012
  

       General consensus nuthin'. This is nothing less than a proposal for a perpetual motion device. [marked-for-deletion] Bad science.   

       //I really don't want to be a jerk//   

       Yes you do. Just admit it.
ytk, Oct 16 2012
  

       I'll freely admit to being a pompous, arrogant, self- absorbed, sarcastic, and frequently demeaning asshole, but I honestly don't want to be thought of as a jerk.
Alterother, Oct 16 2012
  

       “Be” is different from “be thought of as”.
ytk, Oct 16 2012
  

       Now you're just being a jerk.
Alterother, Oct 16 2012
  

       Mission accomplished!
ytk, Oct 16 2012
  

       It's a bit like the WWI aircraft fuel pumps: a little propeller spins in the wind and pressurises the fuel tank.   

       The only advantage of this idea that I can think of is that the altenator belt wouldn't need replacing. Don't sit in slow moving traffic for long though, unless you've got a magneto.
TomP, Oct 16 2012
  

       There could be a mechanical power take off from the drive shaft which runs a small fan, to blow air over the turbine when the vehicle is stationary but the engine is running.
pocmloc, Oct 16 2012
  

       what would be more interesting is a sail configuration that used prevailing winds to reduce energy need, a wind hybrid
theircompetitor, Oct 16 2012
  

       In case anyone is skeptical about my earlier statement:   

       The point is that this idea proposes recapturing energy that is directly used to move the vehicle forward, to be used as an auxilliary power source for the vehicle. But since recovering this energy would create drag and slow down the vehicle, every bit of energy you could possibly recover would simply be additional energy spent to move the vehicle forward against the increased resistance.   

       Any purported ability to recover /more/ energy than the incremental amount spent to power the recovery device makes this into an over-unity machine (simply use the recovered energy to power the vehicle, yielding /even more/ recovered energy!), i.e. perpetual motion.
ytk, Oct 16 2012
  

       RAT
lurch, Oct 16 2012
  

       Hmmm, how about a propeller on a motorcycle helmet that charges a cell phone?
allynius, Oct 16 2012
  

       THAT is a halfbakery idea my friend.
DIYMatt, Oct 16 2012
  

       ah but what [a] obviously means is a roof-mount wind-shark which wiggles in the wind providing electricity for when the alternator's overloaded or gone titsup.   

       Though personally I find the velociraptor, head hanging out the window in delight, more of a classic.
FlyingToaster, Oct 16 2012
  

       Pure Gary Larson, that is.
8th of 7, Oct 16 2012
  


 

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