Elastocaloric work recovery
Squeezing and releasing a metal can move heat. Recovering the mechanical work must also reduce the electricity used by a complete cooler.
Thermal engineering
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Solar thermochemical heat storage
Sunlight can dry a salt that releases heat when it takes up water again. Can durable pellets do this reliably inside an outdoor reactor?
Superhot geothermal well integrity
Very hot geothermal wells have been drilled. Can their casing, cement and seals keep working together for a power plant’s lifetime?
Thermophotovoltaic efficiency
A hot surface can feed light to a cell that makes electricity. Can measured conversion exceed 50% while unused light returns to the heat source?
Roughness-induced hypersonic transition
A rough patch on a hypersonic heat shield can change a smooth boundary layer into turbulent flow and increase heating. How can engineers predict the onset and heat load from the actual roughness geometry and flight conditions?