How much energy can be stored using microwave energy storage?

In summary: This is not practical, but it works in principle. If you had a vacuum superconducting chamber with a peak electric field intensity of 2x the electron's rest mass, then you could create electron-positron pairs. Even if the chamber is broken, the microwave would just fly out. Unfortunately, I was not able to find any articles or research on this topic. Maybe someone else can help explore this further.
  • #1
Stanley514
411
2
I know there exist methods to store a microwave in a vacuum superconducting or dielectric chamber.From first sight it looks as promising energy storage device,more safe then a flywheel.Even if chamber will be broken microwave will just left and fly into space.
Unfortunately,I was not able to find any mentions on maximal amount
of energy that could be stored in this way.Maybe somebody could help
with approximate calculations?Or some clue on how could it be calculated?
 
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  • #2
This isn't practical but works in principle.

When the peak electric field intensity in the vacuum is greater than than twice the rest mass of the electron, you could end up creating particle pairs.

The safety is not so clear and has to do with how quickly energy is released. Suppose your microwave box had 10^15 Joules in it. What would happen if you hit it with a hammer? Hint: a U235 fission nuke might release 1/10th as much when it goes off.
 
  • #3
I think one of the problems could be that there is no pure vacuum and
even rare atoms will start to make some interruptions.I'm not going
to create new particles,but rather something similar or bit surpassing hydrocarbon fuels in energy density.Why do you think it is not practical?Maybe more practical than hydrogen storage researches?
Do you think we could create some similar resonances in intramolecular space?There is nothing between large molecules,it could be regarded as absolute "vacuum".
 
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  • #4
"When the peak electric field intensity in the vacuum is greater than than twice the rest mass of the electron, you could end up creating particle pairs."

Do you mean hypothetical Hawking radiation?
Somebody still needs to prove experimetally it does exist.
 
  • #5
Stanley514 said:
"When the peak electric field intensity in the vacuum is greater than than twice the rest mass of the electron, you could end up creating particle pairs."

Do you mean hypothetical Hawking radiation?
Somebody still needs to prove experimetally it does exist.

Not hypothetical Hawking radiation. This is the very real production of (non-virtual) electron-positron pairs. You may need a nucleus (or stray proton maybe) but it will happen if the fields get high enough.
 
  • #7
Will dielectric breakdown of vacuum prevent energy storage
at some point of electric field strenghts?Or there is no such issue?

In addition, there would generally be large amounts of pressure due to the fields
Could you calculate approximately how much it will limit energy density?
 

1. What is microwave energy storage?

Microwave energy storage is a method of storing energy in the form of microwaves. It involves converting electrical energy into microwaves and then storing them in a specially designed cavity. These microwaves can then be converted back into electrical energy when needed.

2. How does microwave energy storage work?

Microwave energy storage works by using a high-power microwave oscillator to produce microwaves. These microwaves are then directed into a cavity with reflective walls, which traps and stores the energy. When the stored energy is needed, the microwaves are released and converted back into electrical energy.

3. What are the advantages of microwave energy storage?

Microwave energy storage has several advantages over other forms of energy storage. These include high efficiency, fast response time, and the ability to store large amounts of energy in a relatively small space. It also has a longer lifespan compared to batteries and can be cycled more times without degradation.

4. What are the limitations of microwave energy storage?

One limitation of microwave energy storage is its high upfront cost. The technology is still in its early stages and is not yet widely available, making it more expensive than other forms of energy storage. It also requires a large and specialized infrastructure, which may not be feasible for smaller or remote areas.

5. How is microwave energy storage being used currently?

Currently, microwave energy storage is being used in a few pilot projects, mainly in the military and aerospace sectors. It is also being researched for potential use in renewable energy systems, such as solar and wind farms, to help stabilize the grid and store excess energy. However, more research and development are needed before it can be widely implemented as a mainstream energy storage solution.

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