DOE PAGES title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information
  1. Micromotion-synchronized pulsed Doppler cooling of trapped ions

    Here we propose and demonstrate a new method for Doppler cooling trapped-ion crystals where the distribution of micromotion amplitudes may be large and uneven. The technique uses pulses of Doppler cooling light synchronized with the trap RF that selectively target ions when their velocity is near a node, leading to more uniform cooling across a crystal by a single tone of cooling light. We lay out a theoretical framework that describes where this technique is practical, and provide a simple experimental demonstration.
  2. COMPASS-U Global Heat Balance Calculations

    COMPASS-U is a medium size, high magnetic field experimental tokamak (R = 0.9 m, Bt = 5 T, and Ip = 2 MA), built at the Institute of Plasma Physics, Czech Academy of Sciences (IPP-CAS). This global heat balance calculation for COMPASS-U was done at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL). Based on our previous experience of building global thermal model for National Spherical Torus Experiment-Upgrade (NSTX-U) at PPPL, this 2-D global thermal model geometry represents a typical cross section of COMPASS-U machine. The model includes thermal radiation, conduction, and convection among components and also between the machine and outer environment.more » Helium gas heating/cooling was modeled with fluid element and surface element. This model was used to calculate component temperatures and heat distribution during heat up, cryogenic cool down, normal operation, and fault operation scenarios. Definition of 14 main thermal scenarios was provided by IPP-CAS. First nine are normal operation scenarios. Scenarios #10–#14 are fault scenarios. Results of thermal scenario #5 will be given and discussed in this article, including peak temperatures, temperature ratcheting, energy distribution, and required cooling power.« less
  3. Improved Limit on Tensor Currents in the Weak Interaction from Li 8 β Decay

    Here, the electroweak interaction in the standard model is described by a pure vector-axial-vector structure, though any Lorentz-invariant component could contribute. In this Letter, we present the most precise measurement of tensor currents in the low-energy regime by examining the $$β-\bar{ν}$$ correlation of trapped 8Li ions with the Beta-decay Paul Trap. We find $$a_{β\barν}$$ = - 0.3325 ± 0.0013stat ± 0.0019syst at 1σ for the case of coupling to right-handed neutrinos (CT = -C$$^{'}_{T}$$), which is consistent with the standard model prediction.
  4. A first and second law analysis of a thermoresponsive polymer desiccant dehumidification and cooling cycle

    Herein, we present a theoretical description for a new desiccant air conditioning cycle that uses thermoresponsive polymers instead of traditional desiccants. We use a combined first and second law analysis to demonstrate that this new cycle has three major advantages relative to the traditional case: (i) it can regenerate at lower temperatures, (ii) it can harvest liquid water and (iii) it has significantly higher coefficients of performance (COPs). For example, this new cycle can achieve a COP of 5.1 when regenerated at 95 degrees C, whereas the traditional desiccant cycle is limited to a COP of ~ 1. The fundamentalmore » origins of these advantages can be traced to the method of regeneration. The traditional desiccant cycle regenerates by flowing hot air over the desiccant, which provides a medium for gaseous water desorption. However, this also generates entropy and places a minimum temperature constraint on the hot air. In contrast, the thermoresponsive polymer cycle regenerates through a polymer phase transition. The polymer absorbs water vapor in humid air, and then it expels liquid water when raised above its transition temperature. This regeneration method generates liquid water that can be harvested and relaxes constraints on entropy generation and minimum temperature. The minimum regeneration temperature of the thermoresponsive cycle is only limited by the transition temperature of the polymer, which can be tuned through materials science. Due to its liquid water harvesting capability, the new cycle potentially eliminates water consumption when used with evaporative cooling, or it can be directly used for atmospheric water harvesting.« less
  5. Light Management in Bifacial Photovoltaics with Spectrally Selective Mirrors

    Spectrally-selective mirrors that simultaneously provide above-bandgap anti-reflection and sub-bandgap light rejection are tested for their ability to provide passive cooling to partially sub-bandgap transparent bifacial photovoltaics. The optical and thermal benefits of both idealized and real, low-complexity spectrally-selective mirrors on single-axis tracking, bifacial PERC arrays under realistic conditions are tested via rigorous finite element simulations. Four- and six-layer mirror designs increased carrier generation beyond what traditional antireflection coatings can provide without the associated cell heating. Here, idealized mirrors were found to provide up to 2.4 °C of cooling when included on both air/glass interfaces of the bifacial module.
  6. Near-field photonic cooling through control of the chemical potential of photons

    Photonic cooling of matter has enabled both access to unexplored states of matter, such as Bose–Einstein condensates, and novel approaches to solid-state refrigeration. Critical to these photonic cooling approaches is the use of low-entropy coherent radiation from lasers, which makes the cooling process thermodynamically feasible. Recent theoretical work has suggested that photonic solid-state cooling may be accomplished by tuning the chemical potential of photons without using coherent laser radiation, but such cooling has not been experimentally realized. Here we report an experimental demonstration of photonic cooling without laser light using a custom-fabricated nanocalorimetric device and a photodiode. Here, we showmore » that when they are in each other’s near-field—that is, when the size of the vacuum gap between the planar surfaces of the calorimetric device and a reverse-biased photodiode is reduced to tens of nanometres—solid-state cooling of the calorimetric device can be accomplished via a combination of photon tunnelling, which enhances the transport of photons across nanoscale gaps, and suppression of photon emission from the photodiode due to a change in the chemical potential of the photons under an applied reverse bias. This demonstration of active nanophotonic cooling—without the use of coherent laser radiation—lays the experimental foundation for systematic exploration of nanoscale photonics and optoelectronics for solid-state refrigeration and on-chip device cooling.« less
  7. Performance Evaluation of a Respirator Vortex Cooling Device

    The United States Department of Energy's Savannah River Site (SRS) in Aiken, South Carolina, is dedicated to promoting site-level, risk-based inspection practices to maintain a safe and productive work environment. Protective suits are worn by personnel working in contaminated environments. These suits require that cooling be applied to keep the interior temperature within safe and comfortable limits. A vortex tube, also known as the Ranque-Hilsch vortex tube (RHVT), can provide the necessary cooling. As mechanical devices void of moving components, vortex tubes separate a compressed gas into hot and cold streams—the air emerging from the “hot” end reaching a temperaturemore » of 433.2 K and the air emerging from the “cold” end reaching a temperature of 241.5 K (Hilsch, 1946, “Die Expansion Von Gasen Im Zentrifugalfeld Als Kälteprozeß,” Z. Für Naturforsch., 1, pp. 208–214). Routing the cold stream of the vortex tube to the user's protective suit facilitates the required cooling. Vortex tubes currently in use at SRS are preset, through modification solely by and within the SRS respiratory equipment facility (REF), to provide a temperature reduction between 22.2 and 25.0 K. When a new model of vortex tube capable of user adjustment during operation recently became available, prototype testing was conducted for product comparison. Ultimately, it was identified that similar cooling performance between the old and new models is achievable. Production units were acquired to be subjected to complete product analysis at SRS utilizing a statistical test plan. Finally, the statistical test plan, data, thermodynamic calculations, and conclusions were reviewed to determine acceptability for site use.« less
  8. Experimental Characterization and Modeling of Thermal Contact Resistance of Electric Machine Stator-to-Cooling Jacket Interface Under Interference Fit Loading

    Cooling of electric machines is a key to increasing power density and improving reliability. This paper focuses on the design of a machine using a cooling jacket wrapped around the stator. The thermal contact resistance (TCR) between the electric machine stator and cooling jacket is a significant factor in overall performance and is not well characterized. This interface is typically an interference fit subject to compressive pressure exceeding 5 MPa. An experimental investigation of this interface was carried out using a thermal transmittance setup using pressures between 5 and 10 MPa. Furthermore, the results were compared to currently available modelsmore » for contact resistance, and one model was adapted for prediction of TCR in future motor designs.« less
  9. Low Power Thermal Tuning in Resonant Vertical Junction Silicon Modulators Through Substrate Removal

    We report on thermally tunable modulators, with efficiencies up to 2.16 nm/mW. Efficient performance was accomplished through integrated heater design and Si substrate removal, where the heavily N+ doped Si heater element is integrated into the body of the microdisk. For comparison, modulators with an external heater design were also tested with small diameter Si substrate removed. The external heavily doped N+Si heater bars were fabricated outside the diameter of the microdisk. Efficiency for external heater design was 0.68 nm/mW with substrate removed. Both types of thermal modulators were experimentally tested and simulated for a complete understanding of the Simore » substrate's influence on heat dissipation with both types benefiting significantly from substrate removal. Agreement between simulation and experimental results was greater than 80% in all instances.« less
  10. Spectrally Selective Mirrors with Combined Optical and Thermal Benefit for Photovoltaic Module Thermal Management

    Waste heat generated during daytime operation of a solar module will raise its temperature and reduce cell efficiency. In addition to thermalization and carrier recombination, one major source of excess heat in modules is the parasitic absorption of light with sub-bandgap energy. Parasitic absorption can be prevented if sub-bandgap radiation is reflected away from the module. We report on the design considerations and projected changes to module energy yield for photonic reflectors capable of reflecting a portion of sub-bandgap radiation while maintaining or improving transmission of light with energy greater than the semiconductor bandgap. Using a previously developed, self-consistent opto-electro-thermalmore » finite-element simulation, we calculate the total additional energy generated by a module, including various photonic reflectors, and decompose these benefits into thermal and optical effects. We show that the greatest total energy yield improvement comes from photonic mirrors designed for the outside of the glass, but that mirrors placed between the glass and the encapsulant can have significant thermal benefit. We then show that optimal photonic mirror design requires consideration of all angles of incidence, despite unequal amounts of radiation arriving at each angle. We find that optimized photonic mirrors will be omnidirectional in the sense that they have beneficial performance, regardless of the angle of incidence of radiation. By fulfilling these criteria, photonic mirrors can be used at different geographic locations or different tilt angles than their original optimization conditions with only marginal changes in performance. We show designs that improve energy output in Golden, Colorado by 3.7% over a full year. This work demonstrates the importance of considering real-world irradiance and weather conditions when designing optical structures for solar applications.« less
...

Search for:
All Records
Subject
radiative cooling

Refine by:
Article Type
Availability
Journal
Creator / Author
Publication Date
Research Organization