Thermally driven electrokinetic energy conversion with liquid water microjets

Journal Article · 31 October 2015 · Chemical Physics Letters

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cplett.2015.10.027 · OSTI ID:1439181

Lam, Royce K. ^[1]; Gamlieli, Zach ^[2]; Harris, Stephen J. ^[3]; Saykally, Richard J. ^[1]

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1. Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States). Dept. of Chemistry; Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States). Chemical Sciences Division
2. Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States). Dept. of Chemistry
3. Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States). Material Sciences Division

One goal of current energy research is to design systems and devices that can efficiently exploit waste heat and utilize solar or geothermal heat energy for electrical power generation. We demonstrate a novel technique exploiting water's large coefficient of thermal expansion, wherein modest thermal gradients produce the requisite high pressure for driving fast-flowing liquid water microjets, which can effect the direct conversion of the kinetic energy into electricity and gaseous hydrogen. Waste heat in thermoelectric generating plants and combustion engines, as well as solar and geothermal energy could be used to drive these systems.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES) (SC-22)
• Grant/Contract Number: AC02-05CH11231
• OSTI ID: 1439181
• Journal Information: Chemical Physics Letters, Journal Name: Chemical Physics Letters Journal Issue: C Vol. 640; ISSN 0009-2614
• Publisher: ElsevierCopyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY