Video of the yeast-and-sugar powered generator in action: experience the power of boring

Remember that yeast-and-sugar-powered generator from Dr. Cedrick Ngalande of Malawi we spotted a while back? Ol' Ced's back with a video of the system in action -- and an explanation of how it works, to boot. Just as most of you guessed, the system is powered by the yeast / sugar mix giving off CO2, leading to a pressure imbalance which tips the center of gravity and causes motion. What most of you didn't guess, however, is how freaking slowly that would happen -- check out the video after the break, and then wake up and wipe the drool off your face, slick.

[Via BoingBoing]

[A1 @ Jan 24th 2008 5:09PM]

I can't tell whether it's going really slow or buffering. Stupid internet.

[mr friggles @ Jan 24th 2008 7:42PM]

Its boring because its not run on blood oil.

Suck my balls engagagagagagagagagagagagagaggagaag
gagagagagagagagagagagagaagagagagagagagagagagagag
agagagagaagagagagagagaagagagagggggagaagagggaggag
gagagagagagagagagagaagagaagaagagadet.

^^how it sounds with balls in your mouth.

[A1 @ Jan 25th 2008 12:21PM]

Hello and welcome to the internet!

[jason @ Jan 24th 2008 5:11PM]

Thats the fastest moving sugar Ive ever seen!!!... must be making 21.1 gigawatts!!

[mr friggles @ Jan 25th 2008 2:43PM]

I've been running my car for 2 years on an engine based on this technolgy. In fact, I have almost made it out of my driveway! ;)

[mister me @ Jan 29th 2008 6:12PM]

IT'S 1.21 GIGAWATTS FUCKTARD!!!!



...jk

[Oshi @ Jan 24th 2008 5:13PM]

Wow, how cool this is. Imagine all the slow things in life you can do with that. Like spending time watching something happen. I'm so excited!

[TomTom2007 @ Jan 24th 2008 5:14PM]

with power generated from that generator, we could have the Death Star rebuilt in .... [Calculating Time]....
.... [Still Calculating]....

[Stevo @ Jan 24th 2008 5:43PM]

Much like Windows Vista, You are...

[Speed Kills @ Jan 24th 2008 5:15PM]

Too cool!

Combine this with the million frames per second camera and its pure heaven!

[Seoultrain @ Jan 24th 2008 5:19PM]

wow it goes INSANE at 2:30

[John @ Jan 24th 2008 5:25PM]

A solution to the energy crisis AND world hunger?!

Count me in!

[aeonaero @ Jan 24th 2008 5:34PM]

I've been running my car for 2 years on an engine based on this technolgy. In fact, I have almost made it out of my driveway! ;)

[Stevo @ Jan 24th 2008 5:43PM]

Cool idea...

[Ike Skelton @ Jan 24th 2008 6:00PM]

Wait, so let me get this straight... This thing actually uses CO2 emission as the PRIMARY means of power generation.. So CO2 is purposefully created and not just simply a byproduct??? Freakin genius! AND we can use up precious resources (food) to do this! Give this guy the Nobel prize!

[tekdemon @ Jan 24th 2008 6:04PM]

Umm...E85 fuel is 85% ethanol, and regular gasoline has ethanol in it already...
You do realize that this is how ethanol is made right? And that when you make ethanol you give off lots of CO2.

Anyways, the ethanol made is usable as fuel for cars and electricity and whatnot. Or you could just get drunk off of it. Up to you.

[Cal @ Jan 25th 2008 12:10PM]

But you get alcohol as a side product =)

[Ike Skelton @ Jan 24th 2008 6:19PM]

What? Are you talking to me? Who's talking about ethanol? I'm talking anti-CO2 production here.

[Taylor @ Jan 24th 2008 6:25PM]

Guys!!! Engadget!!! You got to give the original finder of this thing the credit. It's his specialty. Finding African ingenuity.

http://www.afrigadget.com/2008/01/17/dr-ngalandes-sugar-and-yeast-power-generator/

http://whiteafrican.com/

[Reader @ Jan 24th 2008 8:17PM]

ABC should pick this up as a new miniseries.

[Sauerkraut @ Jan 24th 2008 9:33PM]

of course it's slow, still great

[dlehmer @ Jan 24th 2008 10:42PM]

Why is this going to be a significant invention?

[ubernostrus @ Jan 24th 2008 10:43PM]

This could be powered by yeast infections

[Johan S @ Jan 24th 2008 10:56PM]

Seems to me that you can burn the sugar as fuel for heating up a fluid that spins a generator turbine and get more energy.

The whole yeast -> CO2 -> pressure imbalance -> slow turning .. sounds a lot more inefficient.

[Jon Brown @ Jan 26th 2008 12:01AM]

Most people commenting here are not intelligent - certainly not engineers. Do you guys know anything about mechanics????????????? The fact that something is slow doesnt meant mean it is not powerful. Look at the wrist watch. The second arm moves much faster than the hour arm - both have however same power! Even if the rotor is slow, it can still be connected to a geared motor which will then move fast enough to generate electricity.


Looks like most people here have no clue about mechanics. What did you study in college???

[spaceb @ Jan 24th 2008 11:21PM]

Where's the flux capacitor?

[mschaffer @ Jan 25th 2008 12:24AM]

Just imagine eating the sugar, drinking the water, and turning a crank on a small generator. Not only will you have fed a person (instead of some yeast) but your cell phone will be charged in a reasonable time.

This concept isn't new or novel, it's just inefficient. Perhaps Dr. Ngalande should study some thermodynamics.

[soto @ Jan 25th 2008 9:17AM]

"Dr. Ngalande should study some thermodynamics."

Mschaffer, I think you are way ahead in the thought process, Dr Ngalande should be thought about common sense first!
Or maybe an update about modern technologies like windmills or solar panels...

[Johan @ Jan 25th 2008 11:19AM]

0.11 RPM! Not bad

[Pleh @ Jan 25th 2008 3:54PM]

Or you know, they could use the alcohol thats produced in this reaction as a fuel to heat water and make steam for a turbine that would turn about 10,000 faster. Talk about inefficiency

[Jon Brown @ Jan 25th 2008 11:49PM]

Most people commenting here are not intelligent - certainly not engineers. Do you guys know anything about mechanics????????????? The fact that something is slow doesnt meant mean it is not powerful. Look at the wrist watch. The second arm moves much faster than the hour arm - both have however same power! Even if it is rotor is slow, it can still be connected to a geared motor which will then move fast enough to generate electricity.


Looks like most people here have no clue about mechanics

[Jon Brown @ Jan 26th 2008 12:00AM]

Most people commenting here are not intelligent - certainly not engineers. Do you guys know anything about mechanics????????????? The fact that something is slow doesnt meant mean it is not powerful. Look at the wrist watch. The second arm moves much faster than the hour arm - both have however same power! Even if the rotor is slow, it can still be connected to a geared motor which will then move fast enough to generate electricity.


Looks like most people here have no clue about mechanics. What did you study in college???

[liubiao2 @ Feb 8th 2008 12:48PM]

ORG 我终于看完了!!,偶买糕的~肯定是因为我太帅的缘故