Re: bmw-digest V9 #483

[Richard McKendrick <mckendri@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

> 
> Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1998 11:50:51 +1100
> From: Tuncay Bolat <bolat@domain.elided>
> Subject: Self generating generator
> 
> I've had this idea in my head for the past 5 years and still cant figure
> out the reason that it wont work. If it works it can power those
> electric superchargers or those vibrating gearnobs. Here it is.
> 
>    ()-------()
>    a          b
> 
> You spin motor (a) when motor (a) spins, it creates electricity (like
> any other electric motor). You use the electricity just created to spin
> motor (b) then you get motor (b) to spin motor (a) and the cycle should
> keep on going or should it? Put me out of my misery!! And don't bloody
> flame me!
> 
> Regards
> Tuncay.
> 
> P.S if it works i got a patent allready.

Hey Great, you've just invented perpetual motion!!!!  Or have you?  The
problem with the above is that you haven't accounted for the efficiencies
of the motors in either drive or generator mode.  You see no system can be
100% efficient you always have something sapping the energy be it
friction, gravity, resistance in the wire and windings etc.....

For the above to work the whole system would have to be even more
efficient that 100%, to account for the loss in energy driving the Gear
Vibrator or electric supercharger whatever.  I think the efficiency of an
electric motor is about 60%, maybe more, maybe less, doesn't matter as its
never 100% efficient.  A normal motor turned into a generator is not going
to be very efficient at all maybe 1 or 2%.  The energy you put in to start
the system is not going to last very long when you take the above
efficiencies into account.

Nice idea but, as a famous Simpson would say, Dooohhhh.

PS. The above maybe factually inacurate but its intellectually correct, I
think!!

R.Mckendrick '89 735i

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