New Mars Forums

tahanson43206

Moderator

Registered: 2018-04-27

Posts: 19,383

Brownian Movement Energy Capture

This topic is inspired by recent postings in a topic about sending a probe to Venus.

The atmosphere of Venus is rich with thermal energy near the surface.

An estimate is 462 degrees Centigrade/Celsius.

A nearby topic about energy capture from ocean waves includes images of machinery able to generate electrical power as waves advance and recede.

This topic introduces a thought experiment to challenge our members and readers.

Since the beginning of time, and right to the present day, the random movement of atoms/molecules has provided energy nourishment to individual molecules, and to collections of them, such as humans.

This topic is dedicated to the proposition that the random movement of a atom (or a molecule) can be captured by a tiny wave actuated energy absorber.

The output would be a flow of electrons from one end of this tiny structure, and return of equivalent electrons to the other end of the structure, to complete an electrical circuit.

(th)

tahanson43206

Moderator

Registered: 2018-04-27

Posts: 19,383

Re: Brownian Movement Energy Capture

Here is a link to a post by SpaceNut, showing a wave energy collector in action:

http://newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.php … 80#p203380

(th)

Calliban

Member

From: Northern England, UK

Registered: 2019-08-18

Posts: 3,793

Re: Brownian Movement Energy Capture

Brownian motion energy capture:
https://www.resonancescience.org/blog/G … -of-Energy

Presumably, such a device would have uses in providing small amounts of power, reliably, in high temperature environments.  It will compete with thermal photovoltaics.

I wonder if pacemakers could be powered in this way?

---

"Plan and prepare for every possibility, and you will never act. It is nobler to have courage as we stumble into half the things we fear than to analyse every possible obstacle and begin nothing. Great things are achieved by embracing great dangers."

tahanson43206

Moderator

Registered: 2018-04-27

Posts: 19,383

Re: Brownian Movement Energy Capture

For Calliban ...the computer used to prepare the daily calendar report is unable to follow the link you provided, but I'll follow it later today.

Thank you for finding what looks like a really interesting report!

In the context of the proposed ALON balloon to float near the surface of Venus, a small energy flow may be enough to power radio transmissions from the surface to satellites orbiting above.

Update from Chromebook a bit later ...

Thank you (again) for this ** very ** promising report!

I was disappointed to see one of my heros, Richard Feynman, quoted as having made an error of prediction:

As it is said in this article: "The idea of harvesting energy from graphene is controversial because it refutes physicist Richard Feynman's well-known assertion that the thermal motion of atoms, known as Brownian motion, cannot do work. Thibado's team found that at room temperature the thermal motion of graphene does in fact induce an alternating current (AC) in a circuit, an achievement thought to be impossible."

First of all, the quote needs to be verified.

It is obvious that Brownian Movement does the "work" of heating the Universe by direct jostling of nearby atoms and molecules.

Assuming the quote is true, then Feynman would have been guilty of failing to reach for the technique needed to capture the movement of individual atoms/molecules, and to transform that movement into useful electron motion.

It would appear that the scientists involved in this work were free of whatever mental block prevented Feynman (if the quote is true) from understanding where to focus effort.

I like the nice coincidence that graphene (made of Carbon atoms) is the focus of the reported work.

Venus has ** lots ** of Carbon, and it needs to be separated from CO2 to make graphene.

However, we need Oxygen anyway to resupply the interior of a probe per the discussion in the balloon probe on Venus topic.

In short, this discovery by Calliban looks to be encouraging.

(th)

SpaceNut

Administrator

From: New Hampshire

Registered: 2004-07-22

Posts: 29,431

Re: Brownian Movement Energy Capture

Basically, the single layer graphene oscillates as temperature changes on a layer of carbon atoms in a way, that allows diode arranged in half wave rectifier allows for DC voltage to be created. That said the amplitude of the oscilation is the current that is being created since Carbon is a resistive material the volt is the points of connection that are a distance apart.