Enhanced photo-thermal energy conversion

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10038107-B2
Application number	US-201313785619-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 5, 2013
Priority date	Mar 5, 2013
Publication date	Jul 31, 2018
Grant date	Jul 31, 2018

Abstract

Semiconducting quantum dots are applied to a fluid. The quantum dots are configured to absorb visible or near infrared light and re-radiate infrared energy that excites a fundamental vibration frequency of the fluid.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of heating a fluid using quantum dots comprising:
applying mercury telluride (HgTe) semiconducting quantum dots to the fluid, the fluid including water;
illuminating the HgTe semiconducting quantum dots with visible or near infrared light to cause the HgTe semiconducting quantum dots to absorb the visible or near infrared light;
allowing the HgTe semiconducting quantum dots to re-radiate infrared energy that corresponds to a fundamental vibration frequency of the fluid, the HgTe semiconducting quantum dots re-radiating infrared energy at a wavelength of about 3 microns; and
using the infrared energy re-radiated by the HgTe semiconducting quantum dots to excite the fundamental vibration frequency of the fluid and heat the fluid.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying the HgTe semiconducting quantum dots includes adding the HgTe semiconducting quantum dots to the fluid such that the HgTe semiconducting quantum dots are suspended in the fluid.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying the HgTe semiconducting quantum dots to the fluid includes applying the HgTe semiconducting quantum dots to a containment system containing the fluid.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising extracting work from the heated fluid.

5. A method of heating water using quantum dots comprising:
applying mercury telluride (HgTe) semiconducting quantum dots to the water;
illuminating the HgTe semiconducting quantum dots with visible or near infrared light to cause the HgTe semiconducting quantum dots to absorb the visible or near infrared light;
allowing the HgTe semiconducting quantum dots to re-radiate infrared energy that corresponds to a fundamental vibration frequency of the water, the HgTe semiconducting quantum dots re-radiating infrared energy at a wavelength of about 3 microns;
using the infrared energy re-radiated by the HgTe semiconducting quantum dots to excite the fundamental vibration frequency of the water and heat the water; and
extracting work from the heated water.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Tanielian Minas H

Classifications

• Y10S977/774

  Exhibiting three-dimensional carrier confinement, e.g. quantum dots · CPC title

• F24S23/30

  with lenses · CPC title

• F24S80/20

  Working fluids specially adapted for solar heat collectors · CPC title

• F24S23/11

  Fluorescent material · CPC title

• B82Y99/00

  Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass · CPC title