Scientists at the University of Houston have developed a novel thermal-management concept that behaves a bit like an electrical thermal diode, allowing heat to flow easily in only one direction and blocking it in the reverse direction. Soon, laptops, phones, electric vehicles (EVs), and other devices that use batteries to function might have this selective control over heat.
The concept is developed and titled 'thermal rectification' by Bo Zhao, an award-winning and internationally recognised assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at the Cullen College of Engineering, and his doctoral student, Sina Jafari Ghalekohneh. Zhao expects his heat-regulating technology to be a game changer for devices ranging from cell phones to satellites.
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| Bo Zhao, assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, University of Houston |
The primary purpose of Zhao's thermal rectification is to give engineers a new way to steer heat out of hot components and keep it from flowing back in. In theory, it helps electronic components keep hot spots under control, potentially extending battery life and preventing overheating.
Traditionally, heat moves in all directions, which is a problem inside devices where hotspots form like battery packs or processors. In this type of situation, problems like excessive temperatures, reduced performance, and faster battery wear often occur in the devices. But with the new thermal diode design, heat is pushed forward, blocking reverse flow, making it regulate temperatures inside devices.
Components of thermal rectification
The new thermal diode uses semiconductor materials placed under a magnetic field to create a structure where heat preferentially flows one way. This is similar in principle to how an electrical diode ensures current flows one way. Before this innovation, heat accelerated battery degradation, often limiting the battery life and device reliability.
It's also important to know that this new approach to thermal management is also applicable to enhance heat dissipation in satellites and other space systems that rely on radiation to shed excess heat, just like the ones Elon Musk's SpaceX is proposing to build in space.
The thermal management approach could also help manage the high-performance AI systems where heat buildup is a serious design challenge. Heat control is one of the major reasons Elon Musk is proposing to build 1 million satellites that'll be rotating low in the Earth's orbit to power artificial intelligence computing and the applications that rely on them and global network traffic.
So far, this thermal diode concept has been demonstrated in theoretical models and simulations. Meaning, it’s only been proven on paper and in computer models. The real-world hardware prototypes are still under development. Researchers are also working on related devices like heat circulators, which could make heat move in controlled loops. This will be useful in advanced thermal systems.
