Heat transfer devices based on thermodynamic cycling of a photonic crystal with coupled resonant defect cavities
US8261557B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 5, 2008 |
| Grant date | Sep 11, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 30, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02B30/00
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A heat transfer device exploits the properties of photonic crystal solids with resonant defect cavities to execute a thermodynamic cycle to accomplish the conversion between heat flow and useful energy. In a heat pump or refrigerator configuration, an actuator cyclically performs work on the photonic crystal to cycle the photonic crystal between a first state to permit the crystal to collect thermal energy from a cold region to heat the crystal and a second state to permit the photonic crystal to radiate electromagnetic energy to a hot region to cool the photonic crystal. A mechanism cycles the emission band of the photonic crystal for more efficient collection of heat energy and radiation of electromagnetic energy in the cycle.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.