Ratcheting heat flux against a thermal bias

Thermal diode: rectification of heat flux.

By coupling two nonlinear one dimensional lattices, we demonstrate a thermal diode model that works in a wide range of system parameters. We provide numerical and analytical evidence for the underlying mechanism which allows heat flux in one direction while the system acts like an insulator when the temperature gradient is reversed. The possible experimental realization in nanoscale systems is ...

Heat flux concentration through polymeric thermal lenses

Heat flux manipulation with engineered thermal materials.

Utilizing a multilayered composite approach, we have designed and constructed a new class of artificial materials for thermal conduction. We show that an engineered material can be utilized to control the diffusive heat flow in ways inconceivable with naturally occurring materials. By shielding, concentrating, and inverting heat current, we experimentally demonstrate the unique potential and th...

Thermal response of a flat heat pipe sandwich structure to a localized heat flux

The temperature distribution across a flat heat pipe sandwich structure, subjected to an intense localized thermal flux has been investigated both experimentally and computationally. The aluminum sandwich structure consisted of a pair of aluminum alloy face sheets, a truncated square honeycomb (cruciform) core, a nickel metal foam wick and distilled water as the working fluid. Heat was applied ...

Heat flux and entropy produced by thermal fluctuations.

We report an experimental and theoretical analysis of the energy exchanged between two conductors kept at different temperature and coupled by the electric thermal noise. Experimentally we determine, as functions of the temperature difference, the heat flux, the out-of-equilibrium variance, and a conservation law for the fluctuating entropy, which we justify theoretically. The system is ruled b...