Light from Darkness
2019-09-12 22:51:25.950837+00 by Dan Lyke 2 comments
Joule — Generating Light from Darkness Aaswath P. Raman, Wei Li, Shanhui Fan
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joule.2019.08.009
... In this paper, we experimentally demonstrate a simple, low-cost way of generating electricity at night based on a thermoelectric module that generates enough electricity to passively power a light emitting diode (LED) at night. This system is entirely passive, i.e., with no active power input, and is constructed in a low-cost modular fashion. We characterize the system’s performance under a clear night sky under varying loads. We then show that the system’s performance can be effectively modeled using knowledge of the thermoelectric module’s properties, the air temperature, and the atmospheric properties in the mid-infrared window where the sky is transparent. Finally, we show that the electricity generated is enough to power a LED—thus, we generate light from darkness.
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