Andrew said -
>If anyone is serious about perpetual motion then you should be
>looking at converting heat (atomic kinetic energy) to motion, so some sort
>of nano-machines turning a generator or a very sensitive infra-red
>solar-cell.  Then you can get power *out* of your fridge :)

hey ! been there, done that:
PUBLIC DISCLOSURE:

One of my (Graham Daniel)'s inventions: (I thought of it about 8 years
ago.(I have long sleeves))

Piezoelectric refrigerator and electric generator, acoustic damper:

All non absolute zero solids/liquids/liquids(etc) exibit physical
movement of their atoms (and molecules).  This is actually visible to
the naked eye as in famous "Brownian motion" where smoke particles are
observed in a microscope and seen to eratically change velocity and
direction due to colisions with other atoms/(&bigger stuff)

Now consider a micro engineered surface, using modern integrated circuit
construction techniques it should be possible to produce a micro array
of piezo electric "bumper zones" connected to microengineered full wave
bridge rectifiers.   The rectifier's DC outputs may then be grouped as
applicable to build the required output voltage/current.

Any motion against above surface will result in:
1) damping of such motion by piezoelectric bumpers such that rebound
energy is reduced.
2) output of electrical energy from piezoelectric bumpers available in
proportion to heat energy recieved at surface.

Surface may exibit other properties also such as "stickyness" and
acoustic damping and is liable to cause icing and reduced effectiveness
in some applications.

regards,
G.D

--
Steam engines may be out of fashion, but when you consider that an
internal combustion engine would require recovery of waste heat by
transfer just before top dead centre then fashion becomes rather
redundant, USE STRATIFIED HEAT EXCHANGERS ! and external combustion.

You heard it first from: Graham Daniel, managing director of Electronic
Product Enhancements.
Phone NZ 04 387 4347, Fax NZ 04 3874348, Cellular NZ 021 954 196.