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There's a device called a thermoelectric generator (TEG) module that utilizes the Seebeck effect to generate current from heat variance. It's the corollary to the Peltier effect, which is what makes those 12v plug-in car coolers work. The short version is, if you heat one side of a Peltier junction and cool the other, you get current. TEGs are tiny devices that string together a veritable shittonne of Peltier junctions.
The things are about the size of a CPU with a couple wires coming out. They need a good bit of temperature difference to be effective - say, 100 degrees or so. No problem, exhaust on one side, big fuckoff cooling fins on the other and you're set. You might have to keep moving to maintain the cool side's coolness, so keep in mind this is completely impractical for anything besides racing.
The link below is a spec sheet for TEG devices, one of which has load output voltage of 4.2v @ 3.5A. 3 in series (12.6v) x 4 in parallel (14A) and you've got enough power generation to run your coils without a magneto, alternator, or battery.
Naturally, you've got no power to start your bike when it's cold, so you'd have to either a) hook up a power source to warm it up or b) take a blow torch to the hot side to get your machine going. After that - power your bike with a couple ounces worth of electrics.
Maybe you string in a very small SLA to keep you powered while you're on the line - I don't think it'd be necessary, but it's hard to say without testing it.
I'm on a 14-hour-a-day campaign schedule, so no chance of trying this at present. Will someone for the love of god try this?
A
http://www.termo-gen.se/TEG_modules_Bi2Te3.pdf
There's a device called a thermoelectric generator (TEG) module that utilizes the Seebeck effect to generate current from heat variance. It's the corollary to the Peltier effect, which is what makes those 12v plug-in car coolers work. The short version is, if you heat one side of a Peltier junction and cool the other, you get current. TEGs are tiny devices that string together a veritable shittonne of Peltier junctions.
The things are about the size of a CPU with a couple wires coming out. They need a good bit of temperature difference to be effective - say, 100 degrees or so. No problem, exhaust on one side, big fuckoff cooling fins on the other and you're set. You might have to keep moving to maintain the cool side's coolness, so keep in mind this is completely impractical for anything besides racing.
The link below is a spec sheet for TEG devices, one of which has load output voltage of 4.2v @ 3.5A. 3 in series (12.6v) x 4 in parallel (14A) and you've got enough power generation to run your coils without a magneto, alternator, or battery.
Naturally, you've got no power to start your bike when it's cold, so you'd have to either a) hook up a power source to warm it up or b) take a blow torch to the hot side to get your machine going. After that - power your bike with a couple ounces worth of electrics.
Maybe you string in a very small SLA to keep you powered while you're on the line - I don't think it'd be necessary, but it's hard to say without testing it.
I'm on a 14-hour-a-day campaign schedule, so no chance of trying this at present. Will someone for the love of god try this?
A
http://www.termo-gen.se/TEG_modules_Bi2Te3.pdf
