Harvesting renewable energy from Earth's mid-infrared emissions.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 24591604.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1073/pnas.1402036111 and PMC identifier 3964088.
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Abstract
It is possible to harvest energy from Earth's thermal infrared emission into outer space. We calculate the thermodynamic limit for the amount of power available, and as a case study, we plot how this limit varies daily and seasonally in a location in Oklahoma. We discuss two possible ways to make such an emissive energy harvester (EEH): A thermal EEH (analogous to solar thermal power generation) and an optoelectronic EEH (analogous to photovoltaic power generation). For the latter, we propose using an infrared-frequency rectifying antenna, and we discuss its operating principles, efficiency limits, system design considerations, and possible technological implementations.
Medical subject headings
- Earth, Planet
- Infrared Rays
- Models, Theoretical
- Renewable Energy