Ah, well then... you could use thermocouples, thermionic converters, Sterling engines, steam engines... Thermionic converters, at the last time I looked into the matter, were the most efficient method of obtaining low-wattage DC electricity. That would be ideal for powering a laptop for sure; running a desktop unit would take an inverter in the circuit, as far as I know, unless you bypass the power supply and feed directly into the low-voltage system.Pengwuino said:I assume the guy meant heat -> electrical energy because he was using the end result to power a computer.
There are 2 kinds of solar panels. Photovoltaic cells are based upon light, not heat. Photons knock electrons for a loop, and electricity results. The kind of solar panel that you would use to heat a home or run a generator is based upon heating up the working fluid (usually water) and either using the heat directly (to warm your house) or using it secondarily to run a piston or turbine setup that turns a generator.Mariko said:what about solor panels or something like that?
It wasn't totally useless; you were contributing to global warming! (As one who, today, has to wear a sweater and jacket to work, I'm all for it.) All coal, gas, oil, nuclear, and solar power generating stations use heat to create electricity. It's inefficient, for sure (nuclear is the best), but certainly not difficult.jackle said:ysics department from the air conditioning on a hot day, all of it totally useless).
A heat to energy converter works by utilizing the principles of thermoelectricity. It contains two dissimilar materials, such as semiconductors, that are connected in a circuit. When one side of the materials is heated, it creates a temperature difference which generates an electric current.
A heat to energy converter can be used with a variety of heat sources, including waste heat from industrial processes, geothermal heat, solar heat, and even body heat. Essentially, any source of heat can be used to power a heat to energy converter.
One of the main advantages of using a heat to energy converter is its ability to harness waste heat that would otherwise be lost. This can lead to energy savings and a more efficient use of resources. Additionally, heat to energy converters are silent, have no moving parts, and do not emit any pollutants.
The efficiency of a heat to energy converter can vary depending on the specific materials and design used. Generally, these converters have an efficiency of around 5-8%, but with advancements in technology, some high-performance models can reach efficiencies of up to 15-20%.
Heat to energy converters have a wide range of potential applications, including generating electricity from waste heat in industrial processes, powering small devices such as sensors and wearable technology, and even potentially providing a sustainable energy source for homes and buildings. They can also be used in remote or off-grid locations where traditional power sources may not be available.