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Device generates light from the cold night sky
Tech Xplore ^ | 12 Sept 2019 | Cell Press

Posted on 09/12/2019 12:58:37 PM PDT by DUMBGRUNT

"Remarkably, the device is able to generate electricity at night, when solar cells don't work,"

"Beyond lighting, we believe this could be a broadly enabling approach to power generation suitable for remote locations, and anywhere where power generation at night is needed

The device developed by Raman and Stanford University scientists Wei Li and Shanhui Fan sidesteps the limitations of solar power by taking advantage of radiative cooling, in which a sky-facing surface passes its heat to the atmosphere as thermal radiation, losing some heat to space and reaching a cooler temperature than the surrounding air. This phenomenon explains how frost forms on grass during above-freezing nights, and the same principle can be used to generate electricity, harnessing temperature differences to produce renewable electricity at night, when lighting demand peaks.

Raman and colleagues tested their low-cost thermoelectric generator on a rooftop in Stanford, California, under a clear December sky.

(Excerpt) Read more at techxplore.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Science
KEYWORDS: energy; nonsolarcell; science; technology; thermoelectric
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To: mdmathis6

Contrast: solar panels average (all factors considered) 10 watts per square meter.
And I’ve spent all summer struggling with running a laptop off a 1m^2 panel, as an experiment.


21 posted on 09/12/2019 6:40:12 PM PDT by ctdonath2 (Specialization is for insects.)
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To: DUMBGRUNT

Nothing sucks worse than a cold tesla


22 posted on 09/12/2019 8:31:31 PM PDT by TexasTransplant (Damn the Torpedoes! Full Speed Ahead!)
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To: fieldmarshaldj; AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Arthur Wildfire! March; Berosus; Bockscar; ...
Thanks fieldmarshaldj.
Raman and colleagues tested their low-cost thermoelectric generator on a rooftop in Stanford, California, under a clear December sky.
Best part is, the soup is shelf-stable.

23 posted on 09/13/2019 1:03:23 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
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To: mdmathis6
"25 milliwatts per second over one hour is what 90watt/hrs which will power a laptop"

Your math is way off. Even if the output stayed continuous for an hour at 25 milliwatts, the energy would be 0.025 Watt-hours, not 90. That wouldn't even keep the laptop LED lit.

Also, it must be kept in mind, that like solar panels, the device requires a clear sky to operate. It doesn't function if there are clouds.

24 posted on 09/13/2019 4:52:32 AM PDT by norwaypinesavage (Calm down and enjoy the ride, great things are happening for our country)
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To: DUMBGRUNT
Can't any imbalance searching for equilibrium be milked for energy?
25 posted on 09/13/2019 8:10:10 AM PDT by GOPJ (I saw a movie about governments and weaponless people - - Schindler's List...freeper Chickensoup)
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To: DUMBGRUNT

You can use a potato to create electricity.


26 posted on 09/13/2019 8:57:02 AM PDT by minnesota_bound
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To: minnesota_bound

Yes, but pounding nails into potatoes ruins them for french fries!


27 posted on 09/13/2019 9:07:01 AM PDT by DUMBGRUNT ("The enemy has overrun us. We are blowing up everything. Vive la France!"Dien Bien Phu last message.)
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