Researchers from Sandia National Laboratories have developed a tiny silicon-based device that can harness what was previously called waste heat and turn it into DC power. It is a solid-state device with no moving parts to jam, bend or break, and doesn’t have to directly touch the heat source, which can cause thermal stress. It is also the size of a small finger nail !

Paul Davids, a physicist and the principal investigator for the study says, “We have developed a new method for essentially recovering energy from waste heat. Car engines produce a lot of heat and that heat is just waste, right? So imagine if you could convert that engine heat into electrical power for a hybrid car. This is the first step in that direction, but much more work needs to be done.”

What a useful invention that could recoup heat losses from engines and any other devices. This could have many applications, including millions of vehicles powered by internal combustion engines throughout the world, saving power and therefore lowering emissions !

For more info: http://revolution-green.com/infrared-rectenna-generating-electrical-power-waste-heat/

Hope you have a good month

All the best

Mike

Quotation corner:

“My dog used to chase people on a bike a lot. It got so bad, finally I had to take his bike away”

– Annonymous

“Go to Heaven for the climate, Hell for the company.”

– Mark Twain

ps  If you have enjoyed the blog please forward to those who might be interested, many thanks in advance, Mike