What Wang and Miljkovic did was modify the central tube into a series of concentric tubes. A narrower tube would be put inside the first tube to house the thermoelectric material, and then an even more narrow tube would be placed at the center for the thermosiphon. The thermosiphon would passively transfer heat from the cold thermoelectric side, thereby alleviating the need to use cooling fluid, as is typical in current parabolic troughs. The heat carried of from the thermosiphon can then be used heat water for space heating, industrial processes or hot water needs.
While this research is a long way from being totally applicable, it does provide some nice ideas and a new technique for improving solar energy. Being able to generate both electricity and heat with one machine would make switching to solar energy more appealing, in that it would be easier to buy one machine over two, and likely less expensive.
SOURCE: MITNews, azocleantech.com
PHOTO By Dominick Reuter
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