Thermowave power using graphene or carbon nanotubes could enable pulsed power from liquid fuel without emissions

Scientists from MIT say they’ve figured out the underlying physics of a new type of energy generation which could one day make it possible to generate electricity directly from liquid fuels using a process called a Thermopower Wave.

There’s no heavy pollution, no noisy engine, and intermediary energy state, although the technology is still very much in the experimental stage.

Eventually, it is hoped that nanowire thermowave generators could be built with thousands of nanowires joined together to continually generate pulses of energy from liquid fuels, using conventional electrical circuits to smooth out the power and use it to drive a electrical gadgets, devices and even electric cars

In the case of a transportation fuel, refuelling would take place in a similar way to a gasoline vehicle — but without the harmful emissions associated with internal combustion engines, while increased energy density would make it possible to have a far greater range vehicle than with current battery technologies.

Nextbigfuture first covered Thermopower wave in 2010.

They have improved efficiency by 10,000 times since 2010 but are still only at 0.1% efficiency. They need to get to 20% efficiency or so to have significant impact and past 50% or so to beat regular current engines (25-60%).

Strano says they could be useful in some niche applications, where a sudden burst of power is needed. And Strano says that the further improvements in efficiency mean broader applications could soon be feasible.

ACS Nano – Excess Thermopower and the Theory of Thermopower Waves

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