92results about How to "Reduce thermal energy" patented technology

One embodiment of an cabinet according to the present invention comprises an inner cabinet having a plurality of inner walls that form an enclosure. A phase change material covers at least some of the plurality of inner walls. An outer cabinet is positioned around the inner cabinet and comprises a plurality of outer walls arranged such that there is a space between the inner and outer walls. A mechanism is included for drawing air from outside of the outer cabinet into the space between the inner and outer walls. The phase-change material is arranged to melt when exposed to heat energy to reduce heat transfer into the enclosure. The enclosure is particularly adapted for holding heat sensitive devices such as batteries with the cabinet controlling heat transfer during cyclic heat exposure.

Nanoelectromechanical systems utilizing nanometer-scale assemblies are provided that convert thermal energy into another form of energy that can be used to perform useful work at a macroscopic level. These systems may be used to, for example, produce useful quantities of electric or mechanical energy, heat or cool an external substance or propel an object in a controllable direction. In particular, the present invention includes nanometer-scale beams that reduce the velocity of working substance molecules that collide with this nanometer-scale beam by converting some of the kinetic energy of a colliding molecule into kinetic energy of the nanometer-scale beam. In embodiments that operate without a working substance, the thermal vibrations of the beam itself create the necessary beam motion. In some embodiments, an automatic switch is added to realize a regulator such that the nanometer-scale beams only deliver voltages that exceed a particular amount. Various devices including, piezoelectric, electromagnetic and electromotive force generators, are used to convert the kinetic energy of the nanometer-scale beam into electromagnetic, electric or thermal energy. Systems in which the output energy of millions of these devices is efficiently summed together are also disclosed as well as systems that include nanometer-scale transistors.