New Japanese compact gas-turbine design

[Grey Havoc]

Saturday, Feb. 18, 2012


IHI devises handheld gas generator

Kyodo


IHI Corp. says it has developed a handheld gas-turbine power generator with possible applications in robots.

The generator — powered by propane gas, diesel oil or kerosene — measures 8 cm across and 12 cm long and weighs 1.2 kg. It is designed to run continuously up to three hours.

It will be combined with a fuel tank and other devices when it goes on the market with an expected price of around ¥2 million, the heavy electric machinery maker said Thursday.

While the generator and the add-ons currently weigh a combined 13 kg, IHI plans to reduce the overall weight to 5 kg before putting on sale.

Researchers at the University of Tokyo and other universities were involved in the research and development.

The Japan Times Online

 

[Dragon029]

I wonder if such a device would be sufficient for Boston Dynamic's requirements for Alpha Dog / it's successor - a smaller engine can mean more fuel and/or more acoustic insulation.

 

[Hobbes]

Interesting concept, but gas turbines aren't exactly quiet. This may be limited to outdoors operation.

Also, these things run at phenomenal speeds (100,000 rpm), I wonder how long the brushes on the generator will last.

 

[Nik]

Brushless generator ? Spin the magnets inside the coils, multi-phase rectify the outputs...


This would be less a down-sizing of 'industrial scale' generators than a common trick with stepper-motors run in reverse as alternators...