How can we use sound energy to power motors?

[ben328i]

i might have already posted this i forgot
basically one day i was why can't we get more energy from a motor by using its sound waves.

but some has thought of that already so...
how does he do it. how does it work.

[edit: crackpot link deleted]

 

[russ_watters]

The amount of energy contained in sound waves is unbelievably low. There isn't any useable energy to harness.

Also, we don't provide free advertising to crackpot websites here - even if you just posted the link to ask a question.

 

[ben328i]

what??

 

[russ_watters]

Which part didn't you understand...?

 

[ben328i]

Which part didn't you understand...?

ok sry bout the advertising thing.
but how can you just blow off an energy source that is consitantly made with everysingle type of engine.
even if it only get a little energy it could make a lot of things more efficient.
even if it gave you 2 extra mpg i mean that's a lot.

 

[russ_watters]

but how can you just blow off an energy source that is consitantly made with everysingle type of engine.
even if it only get a little energy it could make a lot of things more efficient.
even if it gave you 2 extra mpg i mean that's a lot.

Yes, that is a lot - and sound energy can't do that for you! Sound energy is much, much, much weaker than that. Lemme back up a bit:

Converting sound energy to electrical energy is not a new concept. That's what a microphone does. And there are systems out there, such as the Navy's sound powered phones, that use the energy generated by the microphone to power the device. But the amount of energy we're talking about here is miniscule.

If you could use the enclosure of a gas turbine enegine to capture the sound (in a way, it does already...) and convert it directly to power, you'd be able to generate a few extra watts for a plant that already generates megawatts.

For other devices, it isn't even possible to do that - you can't improve the fuel economy of your car this way because you can't caputure the sound without enclosing the car in a coccoon. Sound energy radiates in all directions.

A somewhat related concept that would be more workable would be to use piezoelectric shocks or engine mounts in your car to generate electricity. These might generate enough electricity to run the cabin LED lights, but that's it: a few watts.

 

[brewnog]

A somewhat related concept that would be more workable would be to use piezoelectric shocks or engine mounts in your car to generate electricity. These might generate enough electricity to run the cabin LED lights, but that's it: a few watts.

Russ is correct.
This kind of technology is being developed for things like accelerometers designed to power themselves and transmit measurements wirelessly, for widespread condition monitoring in plant. Even on huge plant, the power output is very small (and I don't even think it's yet great enough to power the radio transmitter).

 

[ben328i]

o ok.
i completely forgot what a mic does.
well...
i think ill get back to my math homework instead of pondering this

 

[russ_watters]

Keep daydreaming, though - that's where engineers come from.

 

[Danger]

And guys like me... but that's probably not something that should be publicized.

 

[ben328i]

And guys like me... but that's probably not something that should be publicized.

huh?