The electrochemical cell produces electricity from waste energy
Would you like a gadget capable of producing electricity from the heat of the surrounding air? For a long time many athletes dream of thermoelectric batteries .
We were one step closer to them - at MIT we created an electrochemical cell that uses the difference between temperatures to convert heat into electricity.
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This cell needs to heat up to 100 degrees to charge the battery. Similar devices require temperatures in the region of 300 degrees. At a temperature of 60 degrees, a cell made of Berlin blue nanoparticles collects energy, and its subsequent cooling to 15 degrees allows the energy to be discharged, that is, to charge the battery.
The amount of heat energy is converted depending on temperature and Carnot limit. The Carnot limit is the maximum absolute amount of thermal energy that can be converted into useful electrical energy.
It remains to reduce the upper limit to 10-30 degrees and the need for a difference of 3-5 degrees - and we will be able to charge phones always and everywhere.
It’s too early to talk about industrial scale at the moment. So far in this regard, the use of solar energy is more efficient - the market already has enough players so that there is no need to use such a source.
Another obstacle is the load on the battery, which will also have to withstand temperature fluctuations.
It remains to wait until someone uses this idea, improve it, present the project on Kickstarter and collect enough money.
Of course, the difference in temperatures for charging batteries is already used, and there are such projects in the mass market. For example, a PowerPot pot. This kettle allows you not only to charge your smartphone in the forest, but also helps to prepare a freshly caught hare. Not like a microwave with Jamie Oliver’s brains , of course, but not bad either. Bowler uses the Peltier element .
We were one step closer to them - at MIT we created an electrochemical cell that uses the difference between temperatures to convert heat into electricity.
')
This cell needs to heat up to 100 degrees to charge the battery. Similar devices require temperatures in the region of 300 degrees. At a temperature of 60 degrees, a cell made of Berlin blue nanoparticles collects energy, and its subsequent cooling to 15 degrees allows the energy to be discharged, that is, to charge the battery.
The amount of heat energy is converted depending on temperature and Carnot limit. The Carnot limit is the maximum absolute amount of thermal energy that can be converted into useful electrical energy.
It remains to reduce the upper limit to 10-30 degrees and the need for a difference of 3-5 degrees - and we will be able to charge phones always and everywhere.
When will they apply?
It’s too early to talk about industrial scale at the moment. So far in this regard, the use of solar energy is more efficient - the market already has enough players so that there is no need to use such a source.
Another obstacle is the load on the battery, which will also have to withstand temperature fluctuations.
It remains to wait until someone uses this idea, improve it, present the project on Kickstarter and collect enough money.
Where else use temperature difference?
Of course, the difference in temperatures for charging batteries is already used, and there are such projects in the mass market. For example, a PowerPot pot. This kettle allows you not only to charge your smartphone in the forest, but also helps to prepare a freshly caught hare. Not like a microwave with Jamie Oliver’s brains , of course, but not bad either. Bowler uses the Peltier element .
Source: https://habr.com/ru/post/363163/
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