Next Generation Solar Panels Illustration
Researchers have created a device that is capable of turning infrared heat into electricity through the use of a power-generation device called a ‘thermos radiative diode’.
Australian researchers have created a device that can produce power from heat radiation using a similar mechanism to night-vision goggles.
Following a significant advancement in thermal capture technology, the sun’s immense energy may soon be captured even in the dead of night. During the day, solar radiation greatly warms the earth’s crust, but when the sun sets, that heat is lost into the icy depths of space.
Researchers from the University of New South Wales’s School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering have now successfully tested a device that can convert infrared heat into electrical power. The team, which included individuals from the ARC Center of Excellence in Exciton Science, used a power-generation tool called a “thermos radiative diode,” which is comparable to the technology found in night-vision goggles. The study was published in ACS Photonics on May 9th.
Exciton Science Associate Investigator Nicholas Elkins Dukes, the leader of the research team, said: In the late 18th and early 19th century it was discovered that the efficiency of steam engines depended on the temperature difference across the engine, and the field of thermodynamics was born.
Infrared Image, Sydney Opera House
An infrared image of the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbor Bridge. Credit: UNSW Sydney
“The same principles apply to solar power – the sun provides the hot source and a relatively cool solar panel on the Earth’s surface provides a cold absorber. This allows electricity to be produced. However, when we think about the infrared emission from the Earth into outer space, it is now the Earth that is the comparatively warm body, with the vast void of space being extremely cold. ”
“By the same principles of thermodynamics, it is possible to generate electricity from this temperature difference too: the emission of infrared light into space.”
Norwegian researcher Rune Strand berg first explored the theoretical possibility of such a device, and researchers at Stanford University are investigating alternative approaches to capturing thermal energy at night.
The amount of energy produced through this new test is small (roughly equivalent to 0.001% of a solar cell), but the proof of concept is significant.
“We usually think of the emission of light as something that consumes power, but in the mid-infrared, where we are all glowing with radiant energy, we have shown that it is possible to extract electrical power,” Nicholas said.
“We do not yet have the miracle material that will make the thermal radiative diode an everyday reality, but we made a proof of principle and are eager to see how much we can improve on this result in the coming years.”
Turning Solar Power Into Electricity
Visible sunlight is composed of invisible particles called photons. These have energy, but zero rest mass. When the photons collide with other particles, their energy is converted to other forms depending on the kind of atoms they touch. Most collisions create only heat.
But electricity can also be produced when the photons make electrons, in the atoms so agitated that they break away and move about freely.2 The n-type silicon electrons seek out the ones in p-type silicon to replace their missing electrons and the flow between the two types produced.
The remarkable properties of semiconductors like silicon makes it possible to sustain the electrical imbalances. This means a steady supply of electricity as long as photons hit the solar panels. The current is collected by wires and carried throughout the system.
4 Factors That Impact Solar Electricity Production
Households should consider four major factors, during and after the installation of their residential solar systems.
1. Shade. Shaded solar panels won’t produce the same amount of energy as those in direct sunlight.3 If your roof is sun-deprived by building, solar may not be your best choice.
2. Seasonality. Like the weather, solar energy production varies day-by-day and month-to-month. A cloudy, winter day4 won’t be as productive as a sunny, summer one. But it’s important to focus on the year-round picture. For example, snow can sometimes reflect light and improve PV performance. So in reality, a cold month will only become a solar antagonist if slush covers the panels.
3. Tilt. Unlike a pinball machine, solar panels can benefit from a good tilting. The direction your home is facing, its location,5 and even your roof’s pitch, have a significant effect on how well a residential solar system works. Ideally, solar panels should be at the same angle as the latitude where they’re mounted. Pitches between 30 degrees to 45 degrees usually work well in most scenarios.
4. Azimuth. The solar azimuth angle6 is the compass direction from where the sunlight is coming. At noon, the sun’s light comes from the south in the Northern Hemisphere and from the north in the Southern Hemisphere. The wrong azimuth angle could reduce the energy output of a solar home panel by up to 35%. An azimuth of zero (facing the equator) is usually the best choice.
The team is now excited to move to the next research phase in creating and refining their own devices to harness the power of the night, and welcome potential industry partners.
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