The quantum fridge
Researchers find that even gases without thermalization can be cooled by removing high-energy particles through electromagnetic fields, and this effect is made possible by quantum mechanical waves.
Thermal Energy
Articles tagged with Thermal Energy
Cool roofs in China offer enhanced benefits during heat waves
A new Berkeley Lab study found that cool roofs in Guangzhou, China, can lower average urban midday temperatures by 1.2 degrees Celsius during heat waves, a 50% increase over typical summer conditions. This reduction in temperature also decreases the intensity of the urban heat island effect.
SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·DateDec 22, 2015
UTA engineer to build device to capture lost heat energy
A University of Texas at Arlington engineer is co-leading a team to develop tools that can convert temperature changes into electrical energy. The goal is to create energy-harvesting microdevices for sensing systems and other applications, which could have a widespread impact on meeting the global energy challenge.
MIT mathematicians identify limits to heat flow at the nanoscale
MIT mathematicians have developed a formula to calculate the maximum amount of heat exchanged between two objects separated by distances shorter than the width of a single hair. The formula uses material properties and separation distance as parameters, allowing for optimization of devices such as thermophotovoltaics.
Storage advance may boost solar thermal energy potential
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.
Stanford scientists help discover Pacific bluefin tunas' favorite feeding spots
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.
Hinode, IRIS, and ATERUI cooperate on 70-year-old solar mystery
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.
Novel nanostructures for efficient long-range energy transport
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.
NYU wireless researchers call for reformed safety standards for wireless devices
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.
Engineers win grant to make smart clothes for personalized cooling and heating
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.
Superconductivity breakthroughs
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.
First direct observation of carbon dioxide's increasing greenhouse effect at the Earth's surface
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.
Stanford faculty awarded seed grants for innovative energy research
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.
Heat-conducting plastic developed at U-Michigan
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.
Paraffins to cut energy consumption in homes
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.
Changing temperature powers sensors in hard-to-reach places
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.
UC Riverside to lead new Energy Frontier Research Center project
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.
NREL finds up to 6-cent per kilowatt-hour extra value with concentrated solar power
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.
Surface physics: Leaving the islands
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.
Nanoscale heat flow predictions
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.
Thermoelectric generator on glass fabric for wearable electronic devices
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.
SourceThe Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)·JournalEnergy & Environmental Science·DateApr 10, 2014
Rainbow-catching waveguide could revolutionize energy technologies
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.
NREL report finds similar value in 2 CSP technologies
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.
Sensor system improves air quality while making building ventilation more energy efficient
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.
Exposure to cold temperatures can help boost weight loss
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.
Solar-power device would use heat to enhance efficiency
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.
Geoengineering approaches to reduce climate change unlikely to succeed
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.
Novel LEDs pave the way to cheaper displays
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.
DOE rooftop challenge winners offer energy, cost savings
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.
Weatherizing homes to uniform standard can achieve $33 billion in annual energy savings
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.
Astronomers find clues to decades-long coronal heating mystery
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.
UC Berkeley, Berkeley Lab announce Kavli Energy NanoSciences Institute
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.
Study finds rattling ions limit heat flow in materials used to reduce carbon emissions
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.
Ionic liquid breakthrough in thermal electrical energy
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.
Surviving fasting in the cold
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.
Nano-thermometer enables first atomic-scale heat transfer measurements
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.
Nano-engineering boosts efficiency of materials that convert waste heat to electrical energy
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.
Effort to achieve more energy-efficient computing earns science foundation's support
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.
Cold cities less sustainable than warm cities, research suggests
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.
Hydrothermal liquefaction -- the most promising path to a sustainable bio-oil production
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.
Study finds energy use in cities has global climate effects
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.
Concentrated solar power with thermal energy storage can help utilities' bottom line, study shows
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.
A temperature below absolute zero
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.
Mercyhurst University study probes impact of climate change on ectotherms
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.
Hotter might be better at energy-intensive data centers
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.
Colorful science sheds light on solar heating
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.
Ancient effect harnessed to produce electricity from waste heat
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.
New compound could become 'cool blue' for energy efficiency in buildings
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.
Research maps the city's heat
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.
Save big on heating, cooling costs with efficiency controls
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.
Making motors more energy efficient
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.
$5.5 million gift aids search for alternative energy
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.
Columbia engineers map energy use in NYC buildings
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.
Cheap beads offer alternative solar-heating storage
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.
SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Renewable Energy Technology·DateDec 2, 2011
Drexel expert: Efficiency metrics for energy storage devices need standardization
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.
Point defects in super-chilled diamonds may offer stable candidates for quantum computing bits
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.
Microwave ovens a key to energy production from wasted heat
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.
SDO spots extra energy in the sun's corona
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.
Why animals don't have infrared vision
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.
Study: Reasonable quantities of red pepper may help curb appetite
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.