MIT Alternative Energy Innovation: Humdinger Windbelt

I first saw this technology at an MIT conference for emerging technologies a few years ago. Today Humdinger LLC. is ready to make some noise! This relatively simple design can make productive use of non-linear, or turbulent, wind flow. Using a vibrating belt that can me set in to motion in very light winds oscillating magnets create electricity.

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The belt resonates, like the phenomenon that caused the Tacoma Narrows Bridge to collapse, when wind passes across it. However, the windbelt operates well at various speeds due to “aerostatic flutter.” This is more or less a variation on the typical resonance we see with vibrating belts and stringed instruments. Magnets are placed at the end of the windbelt and they move past copper coils to create electrical power.

The windbelt is a scalable unit that is built on a modular platform. Humdinger’s micro unit singly produces enough energy to power sensors or LEDs. The medium sized units can power cell phones, personal lights, WIFI routers. The great thing is they can be linked together to supply greater power needs.