Recycling thermal sources

Abstract

The invention is a thermal recycling system for converting lower quality thermal sources into higher quality thermal sources. In one embodiment, at least one photonic crystal radiator is combined with at least one substantially different radiator within a low loss thermal recycling cavity. Thermal recycling is based on the use of spectrum, polarization and temporal restrictions. These systems can be used in cooling, heating, and energy production.

1 . A thermal recycling system, consisting of:
 at least two radiators exhibiting substantially different radiative properties;   a low loss coupling means between said at least two radiators; and   a means of extracting energy from at least one of the at least two radiators.   
     
     
         2 . The thermal recycling system of  claim 1  wherein said at least one of said radiators emits and/or absorbs over a substantially narrower wavelength range than the other said radiator. 
     
     
         3 . The thermal recycling system of  claim 1  wherein at least one of said radiators emits and/or absorbs a substantially single polarization state. 
     
     
         4 . The thermal recycling system of  claim 1  wherein at least one of said radiators has a substantially larger surface area than the other said radiator. 
     
     
         5 . The thermal recycling system of  claim 1  wherein at least one of said radiators has at least one of the following properties; spectrum of emission, spectrum of absorption, polarization of emission, polarization of emission, or surface area, which is substantially different than other said radiator. 
     
     
         6 . The thermal recycling system of  claim 1  wherein at least one said radiators consists of a photonic bandgap structure. 
     
     
         7 . The thermal recycling system of  claim 6  wherein said photonic bandgap structure exhibits a bandgap within the emission spectrum of a low temperature blackbody. 
     
     
         8 . The thermal recycling system of  claim 7  wherein said bandgap extends within a wavelength range between 1 and 1000 microns. 
     
     
         9 . The thermal recycling system of  claim 1  wherein said means of extracting energy consists of a liquid flowing through at least one of said radiators. 
     
     
         10 . The thermal recycling system of  claim 1  wherein said means of extracting energy consists of a thermoelectric element heated by at least one of said radiators. 
     
     
         11 . The thermal recycling system of  claim 1  wherein said low loss coupling means consists of an evacuated region with a pressure less than 760 torr. 
     
     
         12 . An article consisting of,
 an outer radiator coupled to a heat source;   an inner radiator coupled substantially radiatively to said outer radiator via a low loss coupling means wherein, said outer radiator has substantially larger surface area than said inner radiator and said radiators have substantially different radiative properties and the inner radiator contains a means of extracting energy.   
     
     
         13 . The article of  claim 12  wherein said article powers a portable device. 
     
     
         14 . The article of  claim 12  wherein said heat source is coupled to the outside of said outer radiator and energy is extracted from said inner radiator to form a waste heat recovery system. 
     
     
         15 . The article of  claim 12  wherein said heat source is the ambient environment. 
     
     
         16 . The article of  claim 12  wherein said heat source consist of at least one of the following: geothermal, solar heating, waste heat, or chemical reaction. 
     
     
         17 . The article of  claim 12  wherein said article is used to heat water. 
     
     
         18 . The article of  claim 12  wherein said article is used as a distributed power source. 
     
     
         19 . The article of  claim 12  further comprising at least one thermoelectric element which directly converts the temperature gradient between said outer radiator and said inner radiator into electricity.