A circuit for cooling is disclosed. The circuit uses a pulse generator in combination with a conductor. A cooling effect of the circuit on the conductor can be used and can be used in conjunction with a Carnot or Stirling engine. A resultant energy applied to a load is larger than the energy supplied by the pulse generator due to the absorption of external energy by the conductor.

A circuit for cooling is disclosed. The circuit uses a pulse generator in combination with a conductor. A cooling effect of the circuit on the conductor can be used and can be used in conjunction with a Carnot or Stirling engine. A resultant energy applied to a load is larger than the energy supplied by the pulse generator due to the absorption of external energy by the conductor.

In a step of pressing a laminate, the laminate is first pressed while being heated to a temperature lower than a melting point of a thermoplastic resin so as to elastically deform the thermoplastic resin and apply a pressure in a direction perpendicular to a laminating direction to thereby allow first and second conductive pastes to tightly adhere to front and rear surface patterns. Next, the laminate is pressed while being heated to a temperature equal to or higher than the melting point of the thermoplastic resin so as to fluidize the thermoplastic resin while allowing the thermoplastic resin to flow out from the laminate and apply a pressure in the direction perpendicular to the laminating direction to thereby allow the first and second conductive pastes are solid-sintered.

A bi-stable micro-electrical mechanical system (MEMS) heat harvester is provided. A bi-stable MEMS cantilever located between a hot temperature surface and a cold temperature surface, and is made up of a first MEMS material layer, having a first coefficient of thermal expansion. A second MEMS material layer is in contact with the first MEMS material layer, and has a second coefficient of thermal expansion less than the first coefficient of thermal expansion. A tensioner, made from a material having a tensile stress greater than the stress of the first or second MEMS materials, is connected to the cantilever. The heat harvester also includes a mechanical-to-electrical power converter, which may be a piezoelectric device or an electret device. The bi-stable MEMS cantilever may include a thermal expander having a coefficient of thermal expansion greater than the second coefficient of thermal expansion. The thermal expander is connected to the tensioner.

A bi-stable micro-electrical mechanical system (MEMS) heat harvester is provided. A bi-stable MEMS cantilever located between a hot temperature surface and a cold temperature surface, and is made up of a first MEMS material layer, having a first coefficient of thermal expansion. A second MEMS material layer is in contact with the first MEMS material layer, and has a second coefficient of thermal expansion less than the first coefficient of thermal expansion. A tensioner, made from a material having a tensile stress greater than the stress of the first or second MEMS materials, is connected to the cantilever. The heat harvester also includes a mechanical-to-electrical power converter, which may be a piezoelectric device or an electret device. The bi-stable MEMS cantilever may include a thermal expander having a coefficient of thermal expansion greater than the second coefficient of thermal expansion. The thermal expander is connected to the tensioner.

An energy generation device Including: a surface for supporting movement of a work material, and an energy converter. The surface is operable to induce movement of the work material relative to the surface. The energy converter is arranged to generate electrical energy based on the induced movement of the work material relative to the surface.

A device for converting energy of a fluid to electrical energy is disclosed. The device comprises a pressure vessel having an inlet port for a fluid. A pair of charge collecting electrodes is spaced apart from each other along a collection direction and disposed within the pressure vessel. An electric field generator is configured to generate an electric field in the pressure vessel along a field direction to separate charged species in the fluid. Other disclosed devices provide a current flow delay to encourage charge build up or illumination with electromagnetic radiation. Yet other devices are arranged for fluid flow rather than pressure. Also disclosed is a system comprising any one of the disclosed devices and related methods. The disclosure may find application, for example, in providing a source of energy for an electric vehicle.

A device for converting energy of a fluid to electrical energy is disclosed. The device comprises a pressure vessel having an inlet port for a fluid. A pair of charge collecting electrodes is spaced apart from each other along a collection direction and disposed within the pressure vessel. An electric field generator is configured to generate an electric field in the pressure vessel along a field direction to separate charged species in the fluid. Other disclosed devices provide a current flow delay to encourage charge build up or illumination with electromagnetic radiation. Yet other devices are arranged for fluid flow rather than pressure. Also disclosed is a system comprising any one of the disclosed devices and related methods. The disclosure may find application, for example, in providing a source of energy for an electric vehicle.

A circuit for generating electrical energy is disclosed. The circuit uses a pulse generator in combination with a conductor. Waste heat can be converted to usable energy due to a cooling effect of the circuit on the conductor. A resultant energy applied to a load is larger than the energy supplied by the pulse generator due to the absorption of external energy by the conductor.

A circuit for generating electrical energy is disclosed. The circuit uses a pulse generator in combination with a conductor. Waste heat can be converted to usable energy due to a cooling effect of the circuit on the conductor. A resultant energy applied to a load is larger than the energy supplied by the pulse generator due to the absorption of external energy by the conductor.