RICE UNIVERSITY, TEXAS, USA. Scientists used nanoparticles that convert solar energy directly into steam. This solar steam process is super efficient that it can even produce steam from icy cold water. This new technology has an energy efficiency of 24% which is better compared to photovoltaic solar panels that has an overall energy efficiency of 15%.
Director of LANP (Laboratory for Nanophotonics) Naomi Halas is the lead scientist of the project. This is their team’s new approach to solar thermal power. Solar steam is efficient due to the light-capturing nanoparticles that convert sunlight into heat. The particles heat up quickly and instantly vaporize water and create steam once they are submerged in water and exposed to sunlight. As the technology is being refined, the overall energy efficiency of the solar steam will be increased.
Currently, steam is one of the world’s most-used industrial fluids. It is used to sterilize surgical instruments and medical waste. It is used to purify water and prepare food. Also, it produces 90% of electricity worldwide. Since most industrial steam is produced in large boilers, the solar steam technology allows steam to be more economical on a smaller scale.
What used to be heating water on the macro scale will turn into heating at the nanoscale. The particles are very small that they only require extremely small surface area to dispel heat. Steam will be generated locally at the particle’s surface due to the intense heating. Solar steam will immensely benefit developing nations.
| Invention | Solar Steam |
|---|---|
| Organization | Rice University, Texas, USA |
| Researcher | Naomi Halas & Oara Neumann |
| Field(s) | Nanotechnology, Solar Steam, Nanophotonics, Renewable Energy, Green Energy, Solar Energy, Steam Energy, Engineering |
| Further Information | Rice Unconventional Wisdom |
