30 WATT GENERATOR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-03424A000700030005-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 26, 2013
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: September 1, 1956
• Content Type: REPORT

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/06/26: CIA-RDP78-03424A000700030005-8
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30 Watt Generator
Hand cranked -
We set up the fluid clutch as shown in the photos, and experimented
with various speed and torque combinations. It was immediately apparent that
a man would get real weary trying to crank 30 watts, and he'd get even more
weary trying to crank the 50 watts necessary to replace generator losses.
About the maximum Exit input for a handcrank is ten watts. Most
comfortable speed was about 50 RPM with about 80 inch pounds of torque. Faster
speeds were unrythmic and tiring. Slower speeds were unrythmis and the torque
became noticeable.
The clutch would not give us more than 80 inch pounds torque on the
input shaft, so we were unable to compare speeds and torques at the 50 watt
inpit; but the one combination we could get - 5ORPM and 80 in-lbs - was murder.
Foot Cranked -
50 watts (input) isxtkaxwx for one hour, is equal to t2x2xx 133,000
foot pounds of work. If a 150 lb man pushed a pedal three inches every second,
he would do the required amount of work. This is equivalent to climbing one
flight of stairs wvery 48 seconds - and to climbing 75 flights of stairs in an
hour. It wouldntt be comfortable, but it would be possible, and would be far
more comfortable than trying to develop the power with a hand crank.
Thermopile
A collection of thermocouples in a power pack is generally called a
thermopile. Eppley Laboratories in Nmxiaxt Newport, R.I. has made a power supply
for a behind-the-lines transmitter. (for ACGilbert who were working for Govt.)
Using couples giving Milmottxxsztpitxpaxxx 80 microvolts output per microwatt
of radiation, they built a power pack measuring 2" x4" x 6" which had an output
of 30volts at 10ma - a third of a watt. The device required I 600 watts of
input heat, and so had an efficiency of 0.05% . They used an electric heater in
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/06/26: CIA-RDP78-03424A000700030005-8
50X1
Declassified in Part- Sanitized Copy Approved forRelease2013/06/26 : CIA-RDP78-03424A000700030005-8
the one they built for Gilbert, but have since made them with radio-isotope
heaters. Since making this device, Maria Telkes of solar house fame has
developed thermopiles which give 100 micro volts per micro watt, but this is
still nowhere near the efficiency needed to get 30watts in Mg the space we are
talking about,
Model Airplane motors-
These g came in sizes from 1/10 to 1 HP. Those designed for ships
or racing car use are rated for continuous duty. 30 watts is the equivalent of
only 0.04 HP, so these motors are definite possibilities. Don suggests getting
one larger than necessary and dimipputimg xatmipKtimg dissipating some of the
power in a muffler to kill the noise. The engine would have to be air-cooled
also. Furthermore, the gas used in it would have to be mixed with oil.
Exact figures on gas consumption were unavailable, but these are
A%IA
two cycle engines, are therefore veryAefficient, and la being low power, will
consume less gas than a lawn mower.(My 1.6 HP mower uses about a quart of gas
in two hours.) ( If my memory serves.) The model shop i#Middletwn estimated
about 11 Ounces of gas per hour for a 1/4 HP motor.
Batteries-
I contacted the PR Mallory Co on the possibilities of using batteries
for this application. They did some figuring and called back with a negative
answer. They could give us the power requited in a volume 2 and a half by three,
by eleven inches. ( I asked for one and a half by three by six.)
Photo-voltaic Cell -
Might get a collection of photocells, point them at the sun in daylight
and at a burning wick at night. Kodak makes a very compact non-vacuum device called
the Ektron whose output rivals that of a photomultiplier tube. Might be worth
checking further. ( Our catalogue is missing.)
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/06/26: CIA-RDP78-03424A000700030005-8
Declassified in Part- Sanitized Copy Approved forRelease2013/06/26 : CIA-RDP78-03424A000700030005-8
,
Combination of Elements-
Might use combination of the above - eg foot cranked generator
storing energy in a battery. This might allow the input-ee to rest part
of the time - a desirable feature. However, unless the battery is also
partly chargeable at hame, by plug-in, the field operator would still have
to supply the full amount. Furthermore a combination of elements will
complicate the packaging problem, and space problem.
Table-
Following is a conversion table of energy equivalents-Each value given
Is equivalent to 30 watt-hours of energy.
0.03 Kilowatt-hours
0.0403 Horsepower-hours
102 Btu's
25.8 Kilo-calories
2:1211x
7.96 x 104 ft-lbs
Following is the amount of fuel needed to produce the above amount of energy.
Values given are high-heat values obtained in calorimeter.
of heat to electrical energy considered.
1/100 lb coal or coke
1/200 lb gasoline (6 lbs per gallon)
1/186 lb kerosene
1/10 Cu ft natural gas
NOT is conversion
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/06/26: CIA-RDP78-03424A000700030005-8