Articles tagged with Thermal Energy
Engineers at Oregon State University have developed a new approach for storing concentrated solar thermal energy, enabling more efficient and cost-effective use of this technology. The innovation uses thermochemical storage to hold heat, drive turbines, and reheat for continuous cycles.
Researchers at Stanford University used thermal data and electronic tagging to identify the bluefin's favorite dining spots along the North American coastline. The study revealed that temperature changes impact energy intake, with tunas consuming prey on 90% of days observed.
A research team combined high-resolution observations from Hinode and IRIS with numerical simulations to detect resonant absorption in a solar prominence. This process heats the prominence through turbulent flow, providing a solution to the long-standing coronal heating problem.
Scientists have created nanofibers that enable directed energy transport over several micrometers, facilitated by quantum coherence effects. The discovery could lead to the development of new devices for harnessing sunlight and generating power.
A multidisciplinary team of NYU researchers suggests that temperature changes in the tissues of the body be used as a safety metric for mobile devices operating at mmWave frequencies, rather than power density. They propose using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to monitor thermal changes and ensure device safety.
A team of engineers at the University of California, San Diego, has developed a smart fabric that can regulate body temperature using adaptive thermoelectric technology. The smart fabric aims to cut energy use in buildings and homes by at least 15%, reducing heating and air conditioning bills.
Researchers have made a significant breakthrough in understanding the microscopic electronic structure of cuprate superconductors, a key step towards achieving room-temperature superconductivity. The study reveals a stripe-like pattern in the static electron configuration, which differs from previous theoretical models.
Researchers from Berkeley Lab measured atmospheric carbon dioxide's increasing capacity to absorb thermal radiation over an eleven-year period at two locations in North America. They found a significant uptick in radiative forcing due to CO2 levels, primarily linked to fossil fuel emissions.
Eight seed grants support promising new research in clean technology and energy efficiency, focusing on photovoltaics, nanoscale heat transmission, power electronics, and sustainable energy systems. The projects aim to improve energy efficiency and reduce waste heat.
A team of University of Michigan researchers has created a novel plastic blend that conducts heat exceptionally well, up to 10 times better than traditional plastics. This breakthrough could lead to the development of light, versatile materials for electronics and vehicles.
A new prototype developed by UPV/EHU researchers uses latent heat from paraffin materials to store thermal energy, offering a compact and modular solution for homes. The system can achieve up to 50% less volume and flexible design, making it suitable for spaces with limited availability.
Researchers have created a power harvester that uses natural fluctuations in temperature and pressure to power sensors, enabling them to detect water leaks or structural deficiencies in areas with limited access. The device can harness energy from even slight changes in air conditioning temperatures.
The SHINES project, led by UC Riverside Professor Jing Shi, will investigate new ultrathin films, nanostructured composites, and electrical signal transport. The four-year project aims to advance fundamental advances in energy production, storage, and use.
A new report by NREL found that Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) projects add a value of 5-6 cents per kilowatt hour in California, where renewables will reach 33% by 2020. CSP helps maintain firm capacity and reduces curtailment of variable generation technologies.
A team of scientists has visualized the desorption of oxygen molecules from a silver surface using low-energy electron microscopy. They found that the process involves isolated islands breaking up on the surface, leading to discrepancies between theoretical predictions and experimental measurements.
Researchers developed a predictive theoretical model for heat flux in novel nanomaterials using atom-scale calculations. This could help optimize thermal budget of nanoelectronic devices and produce energy through thermoelectric effects.
KAIST researchers developed a flexible thermoelectric (TE) generator on glass fabric that produces electricity from human body heat, overcoming the limitations of existing TE generators. The new generator is extremely light, flexible, and compact, with a self-sustaining structure that eliminates thermal energy loss.
Engineers have developed a multilayered waveguide taper array that can absorb light across different frequencies, boosting the efficiency of solar power and thermal energy recycling. This technology has potential applications in stealth technology and waste heat recycling.
A new NREL report finds that the value of delivered energy from dry-cooled tower and parabolic trough CSP plants, integrated with thermal energy storage, are quite similar. This technology allows for dispatching solar thermal energy like conventional thermal generation, enabling CSP to respond to changes in supply or demand.
Researchers at Saarland University have developed a novel sensor system that can monitor airborne contaminants and automatically adjust ventilation levels to maintain high-quality indoor air. The system has the potential to reduce energy consumption by up to 50% and minimize health hazards associated with poor air quality.
Researchers found that mild cold exposure can significantly affect energy expenditure over sustained time periods, suggesting a potential benefit for weight loss. Brown fat, a heat-generating organ thought to be active only in infants, is also present in adults and can be activated by cold temperatures.
A new approach to harvesting solar energy could improve efficiency by using sunlight to heat a high-temperature material whose infrared radiation is then collected by a conventional photovoltaic cell. The technique makes it possible to take advantage of wavelengths of light that ordinarily go to waste.
Researchers found that geoengineering methods to reduce temperature by reflecting sunlight are unlikely to restore the planet's original climate. This is because altering sunlight can have unwanted effects on the Earth's water cycle and rainfall patterns.
Researchers have developed a novel type of OLED that shows promise for high conversion efficiencies, potentially leading to cheaper displays. The new compounds can store electrical energy for longer periods, allowing for more efficient light generation and reduced heat production.
Scientists at PNNL found that new rooftop units reduce energy costs by 41% compared to current units. If widely adopted, these devices could idle eight average-size coal-fired power plants in a year.
Researchers from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found that upgrading airtightness to a uniform level could achieve as much as $33 billion in annual energy savings. Reaching the IECC standard would yield the most benefit, with significant energy cost savings and reduced airflow in homes.
Researchers Drs. Michael Hahn and Daniel Wolf Savin found evidence that magnetic waves can heat the corona, depositing most of their energy at low heights for widespread heat distribution. This discovery helps answer a 70-year-old solar physics conundrum about the Sun's extreme corona temperature.
The new institute explores basic science of energy conversion on nanoscale, with potential to discover new ways of generating energy. Scientists will explore biological systems and build hybrid/artificial systems to revolutionize energy science.
Scientists at Royal Holloway University have discovered a way to suppress thermal conductivity in sodium cobaltate, enabling waste energy harvesting. This breakthrough could lead to more efficient thermoelectric materials for reducing carbon emissions.
Researchers at Monash University have developed an ionic liquid-based thermocell that can harness waste heat from power stations and vehicle exhaust pipes to generate electricity.
Research shows that king penguin chicks' mitochondria adjust to minimize energy cost during fasting in the cold, conserving energy for vital functions. This adaptation enables them to produce heat without depleting their energy stores, increasing their survival chances.
A team of researchers has successfully measured heat transfer at the atomic scale, enabling insights into the relationship between heat dissipation and electronic structure in devices. This breakthrough could help overcome technological hurdles in creating smaller and more powerful electronics.
A University of Michigan researcher has developed a new thermoelectric material that converts waste heat into power with increased efficiency. The material, engineered at the atomic level, boosts its ability to convert heat into power by 200 percent and its electrical conductivity by 43 percent.
Arizona State University computer scientist Carole-Jean Wu has been awarded the Bisgrove Scholar Award to fund her research on reducing energy consumption in computing systems. Her goal is to locate and convert heat into electrical energy to power devices, enabling more efficient energy management solutions.
Research suggests that cold cities like Minneapolis require three-and-a-half times more energy for climate control compared to warm cities like Miami. Dr. Michael Sivak's study analyzed heating and cooling degree days, appliance efficiencies, and power-generating plant efficiencies to reach this conclusion.
Researchers have developed a high-efficiency process that converts various biomass types into crude bio-oil, yielding an energy efficiency of 85-90%. The process is environmentally friendly and accepts all kinds of biomasses, with potential to replace fossil fuels in transportation.
Researchers discover that urban heat generated by metropolitan areas can cause continental-scale surface warming in high latitudes, leading to remote temperature changes. The study suggests that the influence of energy consumption should be considered in computer models to predict future climate change.
A new study by NREL found that CSP with thermal energy storage can lower peak net loads, displacing natural gas-fired generators and reducing the need for coal, adding significant value to utility companies. The report suggests that CSP with six-hour storage capacity can increase operational value by up to $35.80 per megawatt hour.
Researchers at Max-Planck-Gesellschaft create an atomic gas that exhibits a negative Kelvin temperature, where particles possess high energies despite being thermally insulated. This phenomenon challenges traditional notions of heat and cold, with potentially groundbreaking implications for thermodynamics and quantum mechanics.
The Mercyhurst University study assesses the current and future impacts of climate change on the overwintering energetics and microenvironmental conditions of the goldenrod gall fly. The research reveals a significant increase in energy use by larvae during winter, projected to decline with rising temperatures.
Researchers found that warmer temperatures than usual can save energy in data centers, with potential benefits for system reliability. The study suggests that most organizations could run their data centers hotter than currently recommended, saving up to 5% of energy consumption.
A new technique developed by NASA scientist Nicholeen Viall uses color-coded images to track the 12-hour history of cooling and heating on the sun. The technique reveals that coronal heating is likely caused by numerous nanobursts of energy, lending credence to those theories.
Researchers have developed a 'pyroelectric nanogenerator' that converts waste heat into electricity using the ancient pyroelectric effect. The device has the potential to power applications such as wireless sensors, temperature imaging, and medical diagnostics, offering a new source of energy from environmental waste.
A new compound has been discovered that can significantly reduce heat absorption on building roofs and walls, making it a promising candidate for 'cool roofing' applications. The material has an infrared heat reflectivity of around 40%, outperforming most blue pigments currently used.
Researchers in Sheffield have mapped a possible expansion of the city's district heating network, which could reduce CO2 emissions by 80,000 tonnes annually. The system, powered by waste and steel plant heat, provides low-cost heating to over 140 public buildings and 3,000 homes.
A recent report from PNNL estimates that US commercial building owners could save an average of 38% on their heating and cooling bills by installing a handful of energy efficiency controls. The estimated savings range from 28% to 67% depending on local climate and energy prices.
A UC Riverside researcher has received a $385,000 grant to evaluate the efficiency of HVAC motors in buildings through on-site testing and a new motor testing facility. The study aims to measure energy use under actual operating conditions and assess software used by architects and engineers designing HVAC systems.
Scientists at the University of Missouri will use the donation to create the Sidney Kimmel Institute for Nuclear Renaissance, studying fundamental physics of unknown energy producing reactions. The goal is to discover a new, clean alternative form of energy with potential uses depending on the extracted energy and process consistency.
A new study by Columbia Engineering estimates average annual energy use for every building in NYC, providing an interactive web map that shows energy type, purpose, and quantity. This information will enable building owners to compare their consumption with the average and explore possibilities of sharing resources and infrastructure.
Researchers have developed a cheap material to store solar-heated energy, releasing it slowly at night to keep homes warm without fossil fuels. The phase change material blends paraffin wax and stearic acid, which can be stored in small spherical capsules.
Energy storage device efficiency metrics need standardization, according to Drexel University researcher Dr. Yury Gogotsi. The current Ragone plot method may not provide a complete picture of device capability, and other metrics such as cycle lifetime, energy efficiency, and self-discharge must also be reported.
Scientists have discovered a common defect in diamonds that may be suitable for use in quantum computers. The nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center's energy level properties were studied using cryogenic temperatures.
Researchers at Oregon State University have discovered a way to produce 'skutterudites' using microwave technology, cutting production time from days to minutes and opening doors to efficient thermoelectric energy generation. This breakthrough has huge potential for applications in industries and devices that waste heat.
Scientists with NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) have tracked Alfvén waves carrying more energy than previously thought, which could drive the intense heating of the corona and solar winds. The study confirms that these waves may be part of a mechanism supplying a huge reservoir of energy at the sun's surface.
Researchers discovered that light-capturing pigment molecules can be triggered by heat, producing false alarms. The study found that red-sensing pigment triggers false alarms most frequently.
Research from Purdue University found that consuming red pepper can manage appetite and burn more calories after a meal, especially for individuals who do not consume the spice regularly. Red pepper consumption increased core body temperature and reduced hunger for fatty, salty, and sweet foods in non-regular consumers.
Researchers at MIT have successfully stored energy in carbon nanotubes using a thermopower process, which converts chemical energy into electricity. This breakthrough could lead to the development of more efficient power generation and storage systems.
Researchers detected a massive star's supernova in 2007, which appeared as a hot dust cloud instead of the typical explosion. The astronomers suspect this was more common early in the universe and may be related to the brightest star system in our galaxy.
The device uses piezoelectric material and carbon nanotube films to harness light and thermal energy, allowing small electronic devices to operate autonomously. The technology has the potential to impact wireless sensory networks and enable perpetual micro/nano devices.
Scientists have discovered a powerful new catalyst that can significantly boost fuel cell efficiency, paving the way for 'personalized energy systems' that generate clean electricity 24/7. This technology could free homes and businesses from dependence on traditional power sources.