4 ms·
Some of it, yes. But they tend to have low efficiency, thermally-dependent efficiency, and the need for a temperature differential. They operate in response to
by glimcat 13y ago
Some of it, yes.
But they tend to have low efficiency, thermally-dependent efficiency, and the need for a temperature differential. They operate in response to a temperature gradient, not just heat.
Using Wikipedia for a quick-and-dirty figure, you can expect efficiencies to peak around 5-8%. And you can't just stack infinite thermocouples until system efficiency reaches 99.99% because of the thermal gradient issue.
- bjelkeman-again 13y agoXenesys is a Japanese company that specialises in building these type of systems. http://www.xenesys.com/english/products/dtec.html http://www.xenesys.com/english/products/dtec.html
- ForHackernews 13y agoTemperature differential should be easy to come by in interstellar space.
- samatman 13y agoSadly, what you need is heat differential. Icy vacuum is next to useless here. Hence the large radiators...
- glimcat 13y agoYou need mass that's at a lower temperature. Vacuum is an insulator.
- mcguire 13y agoEver used a Thermos vacuum bottle?[1] [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vacuum_flask http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vacuum_flask
- jimktrains2 13y agoI thought there were infrared photovoltaic cells, but they aren't as common as the visible light ones.