On Nov 22, 5:10*am, Bruce wrote:
On Sun, 21 Nov 2010 22:49:30 -0600, CaveLamb
wrote:

One of the problems using the engine propeller to turn an alternator
is that the prop pitch is all wrong.

By 90 degrees, in fact.

It works though, witness the bloke I mentioned that had an alternator
belted to the propshaft.... just that it doesn't produce much power.

Cheers,

Brice

Why not use stone wheels too Bruce, since you are talking about stone
age tech? Using a belt drive and a big alternator is not going to
capture much energy anything.

Now directly couple a motor/generator that consists of a stator
winding employing a high pole count configuration, which allows for
high copper utilization (minimizing energy loss and cost), and a
hollow rotor upon which powerful rare earth permanent magnets are
mounted on the outer circumference coupled to a variable pitch prop
system and you can pump out some serious energy. The city buses that
are using these moters claim they capture 97% of the kinetic energy
developed while stopping.

You are comparing apples to oranges.

Joe