3 ms·
From what I can tell this is a peltier (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermoelectric_cooling https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermoelectric_cooling) block. The n
by KaiserPro 7y ago
From what I can tell this is a peltier (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermoelectric_cooling https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermoelectric_cooling) block.
The new(ish) bit is the fact that with a heatsink it can radiate heat from the earth into the atmosphere.
however its 25mw per m2, to put that in comparison, this photdiode here: https://www.sparkfun.com/products/9541 https://www.sparkfun.com/products/9541 looks like it can produce 11mw in full sun.
- jfengel 7y agoThe newish bit is that it's bypassing the atmosphere and radiating directly into space. They actually try to keep the atmosphere off of it with insulation, since the atmosphere warms it up to ambient temperature. The night sky is cold enough to freeze water (and has been used for thousands of years to make ice even in countries where the nighttime temperature is above freezing). There is a Peltier device at the core of it. That's old news. The new news is increasing the temperature differential that drives the device. None of that is new physics. It's just a first stab at trying to make one practical.