The Thermal Diode

[NumLock21]

Researchers at university of Nebraska-Lincoln may have solved the problem to overheating. Instead of cooling it like everyone else, why not take it their own advantage, and they did just that, by creating a diode. Call the "thermal diode", it gets its power from heat, where it harness it from off by the electronics it releases. Currently the diode can operate of up to 330 degrees Celsius and could potentially work at temps of up to 700 degrss Celsius. The thermal diode could be used for space exploration to research of the Earth's core and many more. It might also one day be used in Thermal Computers, where the diode can harness heat released by the components and turn that back into power for your system. 

Quote

. “If you think about it, whatever you do with electricity you should (also) be able to do with heat, because they are similar in many ways,” Ndao said. “In principle, they are both energy carriers. If you could control heat, you could use it to do computing and avoid the problem of overheating.”

 

 

http://vrzone.com/articles/new-diode-allows-computing-high-temperatures/125674.html

 

Detail research article

https://www.nature.com/articles/srep44901

[2FA]

I'm really huge into electronics anymore but I love seeing these new kinds of components.

[BloodyWaters]

I want one. 

[79wjd]

4 minutes ago, huilun02 said:

Seems counter intuitive. Deliberately creating 300 degrees C just to power a few diodes?

You can't use it a method of cooling either, as it does nothing at rtp.

The CPU produces heat and the diode utilizes the heat?

[NumLock21]

8 minutes ago, huilun02 said:

Seems counter intuitive. Deliberately creating 300 degrees C just to power a few diodes?

You can't use it a method of cooling either, as it does nothing at rtp.

No, it able to work at 330c, not that it needs 330c to operate.

[Trixanity]

Thermal computers using the heat it creates to power itself sounds like troll physics (infinite energy).

[Coaxialgamer]

11 minutes ago, Trixanity said:

Thermal computers using the heat it creates to power itself sounds like troll physics (infinite energy).

Except this wouldn't be 100% efficient of course, you'll still lose a significant amount of energy to the outside. 

[FPSwithaWacomTablet]

4 minutes ago, Coaxialgamer said:

Except this wouldn't be 100% efficient of course, you'll still lose a significant amount of energy to the outside. 

This is still feasible. This is simply called "scavenging", similar to how turbochargers use the exhaust gases of a car that would otherwise be wasted in a naturally-aspirated car, or regenerative braking of most F1 cars such as the KERS devices. It is merely a way of making the most out of what is already there.

[Dylanc1500]

58 minutes ago, Trixanity said:

Thermal computers using the heat it creates to power itself sounds like troll physics (infinite energy).

Sort of, except it would be taking the excess heat from the electric motor and putting that wasted energy back into the circuit. It would still be mainly ran by out side sources, but it would with harnessing that wasted energy back into your system. It could mean more efficient systems needing less draw from your wall.

 

Basically, not infinite energy but less wasted energy.

[Dylanc1500]

14 minutes ago, vinyldash303 said:

I don't know. I'm not sure I buy it yet.

I honestly don't know how well it works. It is theoretically possible. Just like people use their heat pumps to heat their water as well as their house.

[Taf the Ghost]

What's the conversation rate running at?  That's always the issues with these types of tech.  Relatedly, Fusion Energy is just 20 years away! /s

[RadiatingLight]

1 hour ago, Trixanity said:

Thermal computers using the heat it creates to power itself sounds like troll physics (infinite energy).

No.

because no laws of thermodynamics are being broken.

making calculations doesn't use up energy, so in principle there's no reason why there can't be a 100% efficient computer as far as I know.

[tlink]

2 hours ago, huilun02 said:

Seems counter intuitive. Deliberately creating 300 degrees C just to power a few diodes?

You can't use it a method of cooling either, as it does nothing at rtp.

ofcourse its a methode of cooling, you can't use the thermal energy without taking away heat.

[Mira Yurizaki]

Semiconductors start exhibiting thermal runaway at about 170C. Meaning after this point, the current channel in the transistors is basically wide open, which causes more heat to generate (higher current = higher heat), and you have a positive feedback cycle. If the minimum operating temperature is 300C, you're not going to power a computer or even reduce its mains power consumption without blowing up the hardware.

 

This would be more useful for say... attaching one to an engine block and having it power the electronics in the car so the alternator doesn't have to work as hard.

 

EDIT: I did not see the "up to" qualifier. Welp.

[NumLock21]

1 hour ago, Coaxialgamer said:

Except this wouldn't be 100% efficient of course, you'll still lose a significant amount of energy to the outside. 

Not with the thermal diode. The diode attached to the fan captures power, from the wind produced by the windmill, and the other diode attached to the windmill, gets its power from the wind produced by the fan.

 

[Guest]

2 hours ago, NumLock21 said:

Researchers at university of Nebraska-Lincoln may have solved the problem to overheating. Instead of cooling it like everyone else, why not take it their own advantage, and they did just that, by creating a diode. Call the "thermal diode", it gets its power from heat, where it harness it from off by the electronics it releases. Currently the diode can operate of up to 330 degrees Celsius and could potentially work at temps of up to 700 degrss Celsius. The thermal diode could be used for space exploration to research of the Earth's core and many more. It might also one day be used in Thermal Computers, where the diode can harness heat released by the components and turn that back into power for your system. 

 

 

http://vrzone.com/articles/new-diode-allows-computing-high-temperatures/125674.html

 

Detail research article

https://www.nature.com/articles/srep44901

Where is AMD fan?

[NumLock21]

2 minutes ago, deXxterlab97 said:

Where is AMD fan?

Wat?

[Guest]

1 minute ago, NumLock21 said:

Wat?

not really in a mood

you know all those AMD products that heat up so this project could be beneficial to them

[NumLock21]

4 minutes ago, deXxterlab97 said:

not really in a mood

you know all those AMD products that heat up so this project could be beneficial to them

Netburst vs Bulldozer

 

[VerticalDiscussions]

24 hours later, mobo is still at 90°C.

 

Thanks, got 1st degree burns on my hands while trying to remove a component.

[SpaceGhostC2C]

[sof006]

Infinite power? Problem science? 

[Doobeedoo]

Interesting. I remember reading about such like components that generate heat also use it to advantage to certain degree to as power also.

[Belgarathian]

Would be really good on the back of a solar panel.... 

[Dabombinable]

Who thought it was related to the blue diodes found sticking out of old motherboards?