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#1 2023-09-02 09:27:52

Void
Member
Registered: 2011-12-29
Posts: 7,830

Thermophotovoltaic Cells and associated devices.

I thought I would start this here on its own.  I have inserted it elsewhere, but there is other traffic that needs to get though I feel I agree.

But this is really a good one.  I think Spacenut at one time posed about heated glass.  This seems to be about utilizing heated Carbon, as a device associated with Thermophotovoltaic Cells.  Of course, standard heat engines can also be associated.

I am rather interested in this for both the Earth and Moon.  The Moon has clockwork solar, and so it is likely that a calculation can be done down to hours or minutes how much storage is needed.

While the Moon lacks Carbon, I feel it will be possible to import Carbon, as it will be very valuable.  Looking at Japan for instance it imports lots of Hydrocarbons, but that does not stop the practice from being of benefit to humans.

This is a sort of Geostorage, but we have a topic for that.

Done

Says efficiency is low: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermopho … conversion

Says 40% efficiency: https://www.pv-magazine.com/2023/01/25/ … aic-cells/

As an associable device I also consider some types of Photosynthesis.

Prior Posting:

Quote:

I also consider photosynthesis as an associated device:

https://elifesciences.org/articles/50871

Leads to a question, could we create plants that can run on longer waves of light?  They can already use red and blue, I believe.
There is also a pigment that uses green, but I believe that makes for a visible purple color for humans.  Might it be possible to have plants that use all or other types of light other than Blue and Red.

Purple Plants? https://www.livescience.com/1398-early- … fy%20color.

Converting infrared to visible light seems like it might be possible: https://physicsworld.com/a/quantum-dot- … ble-light/

I have to get into other things today, but I think the start is good.  In space a Carbon storage might provide heat, electricity, and maybe photosynthesis.  Such a solution for clockwork solar situations with inconvenient day/night cycles may be made to work out, I would hope.

Done

Last edited by Void (2023-09-02 09:48:43)


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#2 2023-09-02 10:03:03

tahanson43206
Moderator
Registered: 2018-04-27
Posts: 19,437

Re: Thermophotovoltaic Cells and associated devices.

For Void re new topic ...

Thank you for posting the link to the Wikipedia article on this topic!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermopho … conversion

It is being actively maintained (apparently) and it is chock full of detailed information.

The explanation of the quantum level that allows electrons to be freed to flow in an external circuit is well written (from my perspective).

Comparison with simple solid state thermoelectric devices is interesting.

Best wishes for success with this topic.

If you (or anyone) feels inspired to investigate further, and to write something for the forum, I'd appreciate a comparison of the possible application of this technology if the low temperature is 77 Kelvin, and the high temperature is on the order of 273 Kelvin.  Apparently thermoelectric circuits do not do well in that temperature range.

Reminder for the record: heat to electricity: Seebeck
Electricity to heat: Peltier

(th)

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#3 2023-09-02 10:42:26

Void
Member
Registered: 2011-12-29
Posts: 7,830

Re: Thermophotovoltaic Cells and associated devices.

Thank you for your contribution of dialog.  I will see if I can understand the marginal use of the device.  However, CO2 being a usable fluid, I think we might think heat engine in some situations.

Just now it occurred to me what a paradox this is.  While we have endured the emergence of cult like hatred for Carbon and Industrial process, Carbon comes to rescue us from CO2.

I think we need to consider how to channel the primitive urges of youth to more productive processes.  We need to acknowledge that such people need fulfillment, but of course it is good that they must struggle a bit to get where they need to go.  A butterfly must struggle to inflate its wings.

I know you think I am off topic, but if the anti-industrials had succeeded in destroying western industrial process, then I feel a darker future would be the end of it.

As it is though, to get lots of Carbon it might be mined, or extracted from atmosphere.

Do you see how funny that is?  We might stop burning Carbon, (Not entirely), and use it as a part of machines.

How funny would it be if extracting Carbon from the atmosphere could be profitable?

But we have to be careful, or the hairshirt perverts will bend reality in directions it should not be forced to go.

Done.


.

Last edited by Void (2023-09-02 10:47:45)


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