Producing Electricity Using a hitherto unknown Phenomenon
Monday, March 15th, 2010
A hitherto unknown phenomenon described as thermopower waves, discovered by MIT researchers, reportedly opens up a new area of energy research. The new phenomenon can be used to send powerful waves of energy through minuscule carbon nanotube wires.
A moving pulse of heat traveling along a microscopic wire drives electrons along creating electric current. Carbon nanotubes are a few billionths of a meter in size and qualify as a microscopic wire. These tubes are lattices of invidividual carbon atoms, and constitute one of the most promising current development in nanotechnology.
A complicated process initiated by coating the tube with a fuel that produces heat by decomposing, and then igniting the fuel was observed to push electrons along and create a substantial electrical current. The size of the voltage peak that resulted from the experiment surprised the researchers.
Weight for weight, the above process is reported to create 100 times more energy than a lithium-ion battery. The researchers attribute this high energy output to a process they call electron entrainment. It is similar to ocean waves picking up debris and carrying it along.
Applications include producing tiny devices that are distributed in the environment like dust and act as sensors. According to the sceintists, the power does not leak when not used, as it happens in batteries. Instead, it can remain available indefinitely until used.
Read the report at: NanoRealm
Tags: carbon nanotube, electricity generation, thermopower waves
Posted in energy generation, nanotechnology | No Comments »
Electricity from Wasted Heat Using Nanotechnology Electrodes
Monday, March 8th, 2010
According to a recent study, thermocells based on carbon nanotube electrodes might prove useful in generating electricity from heat discarded by chemical plants, automobiles and solar power farms. Harvesting the presently wasted energy in this manner can not only lower the energy footprints of individual organizations but can also provide clean energy locally.
Electrolyte-filled, textile-separated nanotube sheets can be wrapped around pipes carrying hot waste streams of manufacturing or electrical power plants. The temperature difference between the pipe and its surroundings create an electrochemical potential difference between the nanotube sheets. The thermocells utilize this potential difference to create electricity.
It is estimated that this new process can generate electricity at a cost 36% less than solar cells. Additionally, it can generate energy even when the sun is not shining, unlike solar cells.
Button sized thermocells are also visualized. Unlike button cell batteries, these thermocells do not run down. Such thermocells can power sensors or electronic circuits.
The high current density offered by carbon nanotubes with their giant surface area and unique electronic structure is tapped by the new thermocells for generating energy with high efficiency.
Read the news at Nanowerk.com
Tags: carbon nanotube, efficient energy generation, energy from wasted heat, thermocells
Posted in nanotechnology, renewable energy | No Comments »
