In another shining example of using what you have for power generation, a Netherlands train station is using a revolving door to produce electricity. The Natuurcafe La Port in the train station expects the coming and going of patrons to provide 4,600 kWh a year. So, while the coffee powers the customers, the customers are powering the coffee shop.
The door uses a generator that harvests the kinetic energy produced when the door spins and a supercapacitor to store the energy. The energy is used to power the cafe's LED lights. When the lights use up the stored energy from the door, the station's main energy supply takes over. For the curious, the station has a display that shows the amount of energy generated as customers walk in and out.
While 4,600 kWh is a small amount compared to a train station's total energy needs, it's great to see a large building harvesting renewable energy from as many sources as possible. These types of kinetic energy generators could go a long way if they're consistently implemented in both new buildings and renovation projects.
via CleanTechnica
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written by Clinch, December 10, 2008
I've said it before, and I'll say it again, these types of things don't make sense. You're not harnessing an untapped energy supply, you're making things harder to move (i.e. by attaching an electric generator to them), and making the energy from the additional work that needs to be done.
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written by bobbobberson, December 10, 2008
how about instead of having a generator powering a lightbulb how about you turn off automatic door and allow people to open them?
As soon as you install that generator people will choose an easier path. People don't like to be annoyed and its not saving the enviroment.
As soon as you install that generator people will choose an easier path. People don't like to be annoyed and its not saving the enviroment.
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written by Matt Simmons, December 10, 2008
Normally you would be right. In this case however, the large doors are (I'm pretty certain) intentionally slowed down so that they don't run over people if someone else pushes hard. When harnessing this energy, making it harder to push will be a good thing. The generator can take the place of the inertial dampener.
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written by Matt Simmons, December 10, 2008
Normally you would be right. In this case however, the large doors are (I'm pretty certain) intentionally slowed down so that they don't run over people if someone else pushes hard. When harnessing this energy, making it harder to push will be a good thing. The generator can take the place of the inertial dampener.
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written by Clinch, December 10, 2008
If that were the case, and the generators are replacing something (that takes away energy, but doesn't use it) [just looked it up, it's called a "governor"] then it would not be a bad idea (although I'm still not convinced it would be that good either), but if people choose an easier path (as bobbobberson pointed out) and it happens to be a normal door, then it will end up being worse (because revolving doors keep heat in, so using normal doors loses [heating] energy through draughts]).
I'll just have to wait and see how successful this revolving generator is, although I wont be surprised either way.
I'll just have to wait and see how successful this revolving generator is, although I wont be surprised either way.
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written by Erik, December 11, 2008
4600 kWh / year? That is 525 Watts continuously. Or 0.7 hp. People don't generate that kind of power (0.7 horses would). These door generators seem to always have fictitious energy specs. I think the idea is fun, but the misinformation about the power output is sad.
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written by Erik, December 11, 2008
The door is saving energy by lowering heating and cooling energy usage -- revolving doors are good at that in public spaces.
The manufacturer says this and says the generator only powers the lights in the ceiling of the door.
http://www.boonedam.nl/inc/press/pressdetail.asp?PressId=182
The manufacturer says this and says the generator only powers the lights in the ceiling of the door.
http://www.boonedam.nl/inc/press/pressdetail.asp?PressId=182
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written by Tenley Sablatzky, December 11, 2008
I think this is a great way to safe energy. Even though its not much its certainly a start and lets face it there aren't a whole lot of other companies doing anything to conderve energy.
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written by dialtone, December 11, 2008
instead of revolving doors- how about a huge turnstile like in Conan the Barbarian & unemployed people or work out fanatics could turn this connected to a generator & get paid based on how much electricity they generate [removed]void(0);
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written by david, December 11, 2008
I have to call BS on this. The article quotes a estimated Savings of 4600kWh per year. This is a savings of about $800 a year, if you use the commercial energy costs of NE US as a guide. How many years before this will even pay for itself?
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written by Jeremy, December 11, 2008
My guess is the 4600 Kwh/yr is from multiple doors, otherwise you're talking about 500 watts continuously, which, if you've ever used a rowing machine that displays output, is at elite athlete level.
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written by Clinch, December 11, 2008
I usually get confused when it comes to kWh, as it contains elements of second (1w=1j/s) and hours (the h) [and it gets even more confusing if years is thrown in], but isn't the 525 watts what is produced in an hour, (i.e. 0.5kWh) and a continuous supply would be what's produced each second (as watts are j/s), which would be 0.15 watts continuously?
But either way, it's going to be bad, as one would require you to be as strong as a horse to enter, and the other produces an almost insignificant amount of power.
But either way, it's going to be bad, as one would require you to be as strong as a horse to enter, and the other produces an almost insignificant amount of power.
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written by David Keech, December 12, 2008
After chasing the trail through blog after blog after blog, all referencing each other and copying each other's images, I finally found the original press release: http://www.boonedam.us/inc/pre...ressId=182
The 4600kWh figure is PURELY the amount of heat energy saved by installing a revolving door. It has nothing at all to do with the generator. The press release doesn't say how much energy people generate using this.
There is an indication in the cafe of when the power for the lights is coming from human power and when it is coming from mains power and I think that is what is important. People can see the feedback of their own actions towards saving the planet.
The 4600kWh figure is PURELY the amount of heat energy saved by installing a revolving door. It has nothing at all to do with the generator. The press release doesn't say how much energy people generate using this.
There is an indication in the cafe of when the power for the lights is coming from human power and when it is coming from mains power and I think that is what is important. People can see the feedback of their own actions towards saving the planet.
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written by N T Nair, December 18, 2008
Another case of looking for simple solutions with huge potential. The new trend is welcome
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written by Doug, December 20, 2008
The release at http://www.boonedam.us/inc/pre...ressId=182 nor the pdf press release contain the word heat, that the word search functions could find, anyway. What I believe what is meant by the somewhat confusing paragraph is this. The coffee shop would have used 4600 kWh more power per year, if a conventional sliding door was installed. In that event the patrons use of revolving door must have produced 4600 kWh.
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written by Doug, December 20, 2008
Why 2 different document's word search function didn't find it I don't know. The use of the word heat has no connection the heat conservation though, only a graphical display of effort exerted. The .7 HP is only an estimate if based on the estimated power saved. No one human can sustain .7 HP for very long, but multiple human make enough peaks of power where the average could be close to that figure. The fixation on cost recovery compared to unsustainable means of power production, is a lack of understand of the problem. Comparison to other solar power energy production costs would be valid. As all sustainable power has it's roots in the sun. Given the lack of data this is no more than bench racing.
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written by A, December 20, 2008
maybe all doors should have something small attached to them to generate electricity - get a little workout while producing some energy
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written by Mark, December 22, 2008
The doors are at the station in my home town and I have used them a couple of times. They don't require much of an effort to rotate and I find it a to be a nice idea to generate some electricity just by opening a door.
If I read the press release correctly, the only thing that's actually powered by the door is the interior LED lighting.
No wonder: to generate 4600kWh during 6500 business hours means you need to constantly produce 710W of power. You're never going to be able to get that with this bicycle hub dynamo sized generator.
The 4600kWh clearly applies to all energy savings by installing a revolving door instead of an electric sliding one, so most of the savings will be in heat, some in electricity.
If I read the press release correctly, the only thing that's actually powered by the door is the interior LED lighting.
No wonder: to generate 4600kWh during 6500 business hours means you need to constantly produce 710W of power. You're never going to be able to get that with this bicycle hub dynamo sized generator.
The 4600kWh clearly applies to all energy savings by installing a revolving door instead of an electric sliding one, so most of the savings will be in heat, some in electricity.
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written by screen printing machine, November 17, 2009
When harnessing this energy, making it harder to push will be a good thing. The generator can take the place of the inertial dampener.
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