• New alloy discovered that converts heat directly into electricity
    212 replies, posted
[release] [b]University of Minnesota engineering researchers in the College of Science and Engineering have recently discovered a new alloy material that converts heat directly into electricity. This revolutionary energy conversion method is in the early stages of development, but it could have wide-sweeping impact on creating environmentally friendly electricity from waste heat sources. [/b] Researchers say the material could potentially be used to capture waste heat from a car's exhaust that would heat the material and produce electricity for charging the battery in a hybrid car. Other possible future uses include capturing rejected heat from industrial and power plants or temperature differences in the ocean to create electricity. The research team is looking into possible commercialization of the technology. "This research is very promising because it presents an entirely new method for energy conversion that's never been done before," said University of Minnesota aerospace engineering and mechanics professor Richard James, who led the research team."It's also the ultimate 'green' way to create electricity because it uses waste heat to create electricity with no carbon dioxide." To create the material, the research team combined elements at the atomic level to create a new multiferroic alloy, Ni45Co5Mn40Sn10. Multiferroic materials combine unusual elastic, magnetic and electric properties. The alloy Ni45Co5Mn40Sn10 achieves multiferroism by undergoing a highly reversible phase transformation where one solid turns into another solid. During this phase transformation the alloy undergoes changes in its magnetic properties that are exploited in the energy conversion device. During a small-scale demonstration in a University of Minnesota lab, the new material created by the researchers begins as a non-magnetic material, then suddenly becomes strongly magnetic when the temperature is raised a small amount. When this happens, the material absorbs heat and spontaneously produces electricity in a surrounding coil. Some of this heat energy is lost in a process called hysteresis. A critical discovery of the team is a systematic way to minimize hysteresis in phase transformations. The team's research was recently published in the first issue of the new scientific journal Advanced Energy Materials. n addition to Professor James, other members of the research team include University of Minnesota aerospace engineering and mechanics post-doctoral researchers Vijay Srivastava and Kanwal Bhatti, and Ph.D. student Yintao Song. The team is also working with University of Minnesota chemical engineering and materials science professor Christopher Leighton to create a thin film of the material that could be used, for example, to convert some of the waste heat from computers into electricity. "This research crosses all boundaries of science and engineering," James said. "It includes engineering, physics, materials, chemistry, mathematics and more. It has required all of us within the university's College of Science and Engineering to work together to think in new ways." [/release] [release] The material becoming magnetic after inception of heat [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWCz2lP7WcU[/media] [/release] [url=http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-06-source-green-electricity.html]Source[/url]
So...like solar panels? Only with heat?
My mind is blown.
Holy fuck.
:science:
Awesome now lets get to working with with.
Also could be used for anything, not just the "green" (ugh hate that word) stuff. NPPs right now work by heating up water that spins a fan basically, using this would simplify (also with the water method I'd imagine quite a lot of heat energy to be lost).
I can already see this new alloy being used in so many fields, this has me electrified in anticipation! :science:
Also inb4 the Senate/Congress votes against anything using this.
Holy shit, that's fucking revolutionary.
As a welder, this is cool shit.
Quick! Hide it before the oil companies hire hitmen!
Now let's stick it in a volcano and be done with this energy crisis.
[QUOTE=kevinseven;30640677]Also inb4 the Senate/Congress votes against anything using this.[/QUOTE] Because Congress votes on disallowing the use of new alloys?
Use to gather geo-thermal energy, no more need for tearing up the ground for oil.
[QUOTE=J!NX;30640705]As a welder, this is cool shit.[/QUOTE] Think of how efficient you could make a simple MIG now.
[QUOTE=acds;30640639]Also could be used for anything, not just the "green" (ugh hate that word) stuff. NPPs right now work by heating up water that spins a fan basically, using this would simplify (also with the water method I'd imagine quite a lot of heat energy to be lost).[/QUOTE] That's a good point actually, if this stuff proves efficient enough (hell, even slightly more efficient than turbines), we're all set for cleaner energy. A lot of it is wasted in turbines from various resistances.
Shit this is like, a really gigantic breakthrough.
Mass produce this stuff, I have my wallet ready!
Any chance this could reduce greenhouse gases?
[QUOTE=ThatHippyMan;30640752]Think of how efficient you could make a simple MIG now.[/QUOTE] MIG is easy as hell, and made even cheaper with this. What I really want to see though is a wood or fuel stove, assisted by its own heat, or maybe even making power. Convert wood into electricity. [QUOTE=JohnnyMo1;30640761]Shit this is like, a really gigantic breakthrough.[/QUOTE] inb4 republicans ban it
[QUOTE=Wormy;30640805]This is a great discovery for man kind, but i hope the person/people that managed to find out how to do this gets security. They could get murdered, easily.[/QUOTE] Why the fuck would someone murder somebody for this.
[QUOTE=Zeddy;30640736]Because Congress votes on disallowing the use of new alloys?[/QUOTE] Becuase lobbyist who are afraid of this cutting into their profit margins. Coal, crude, solar, you name it. If this is effective, they will either adopt it or block it.
Let's just hope it actually gets to mass production, something most of the cool science stuff we see never do.
[QUOTE=J!NX;30640836]MIG is easy as hell, and made even cheaper with this. [/quote] Oh, I know. I love my Lincoln Electric <3
What the fuck is with everyone going "Is gun git keeled by Congress/Oil Companies/Republicans/Jeff Bridges/New York Mets."
[QUOTE=Leonmyster;30640793]Any chance this could reduce greenhouse gases?[/QUOTE] Do you really have to ask? Assuming it's efficient enough, it could completely replace the need for the burning of fossil fuels. However, it will take years for it to catch on and replace it.
Could this alloy be used to get energy our own body heat?
INFINATE POWER IS WITHIN OUR REACH!
[QUOTE=JohnnyMo1;30640839]Why the fuck would someone murder somebody for this.[/QUOTE] Welcome to whatever new world this is. Try to watch out for the snipers and ninjas and check all your foods for poison before eating.
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