Light-powered magnetic levitation could create 'new class' of solar energy

Light-powered magnetic levitation could create 'new class' of solar energy

www.rawstory.com

In a breakthrough that could one day revolutionize transportation and electricity generation, scientists at the University in Kanagawa in Japan demonstrated this month a disc that spins at over 200 rotations per minute when placed over a magnet in direct sunlight, saying the discovery could help create a wholly “new class” of solar energy.

(visit the link for the full news article)


Related News Links:
phys.org

From the original source;
Magnetically levitating graphite can be moved with laser
(phys.org)

(Phys.org)—Magnetic levitation has been demonstrated for a variety of objects, from trains to frogs, but so far no one has developed a practical maglev-based actuator that converts some external source of energy into motion. Now in a new study, researchers for the first time have used a laser to control the motion of a magnetically levitating graphite disk. By changing the disk's temperature, the laser can change the disk's levitation height and move it in a controlled direction, which has the potential to be scaled up and used as a light-driven human transportation system. Laser light or sunlight can also cause the levitating disk to rotate at over 200 rpm, which could lead to a new type of light energy conversion system.

I can imagine in a controlled environment, like a factory setting or shipping center (think of Amazon's massive fulfillment centers) a maglev sled using a laser light to guide it would require virtually no energy for movement on it's rounds.

The experiment also demonstrated the disk would spin just using sunlight - could we one day see massive disks hovering over a field of magnets using sunlight to cause it to spin, would it generate enough torque to drive machinery?



Demonstrations of a diamagnetic graphite disk being moved in a linear direction and rotated by a laser, and rotated by sunlight. A large enough graphite disk could potentially be used as a new type of light-driven human transportation system. Video credit: Masayuki Kobayashi and Jiro Abe

Rotation also occurs when the set-up is exposed to sunlight. By converting solar energy into rotational energy, the disk can reach a rotational speed of more than 200 rpm, which could make it useful for applications such as optically driven turbines.

Of course a 'Crookes radiometer' can spin just using sunlight, but there's no useful torque to be gained from this device for driving machinery. (There are multiple theories over the cause of this effect, more than a hundred years after it's first demonstration.)



I think this experiment shows a great deal of potential, but also how little we still grasp magnetism.

www.rawstory.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

Thats an awesome breakthrough, and a good find by the OP. It's potential seems great.

And i can see the inventor being black vanned soon enough.

Rare earth magnets are expensive. This would be much more expensive that normal solar panels. Normal panels also have no moving parts, much more reliable.

I wonder if this would actually work out cheaper over the long run than solar panels? There's zero maintenance compared to solar panels (ie: dust, dirt and water doesn't affect the operation of the device), there's virtual no wear and tear caused by friction, and rare earth magnets to my understanding will last many lifetimes before they lose their charge.

The only thing I can see holding this back is the amount of torque that the rotating disc can generate. It needs to be high enough to overcome the inertia/friction of whatever is attached to the disc to convert rotational energy into electricity.

Nice find, looks pretty cool.

Originally posted by Mnemicrsl
Thats an awesome breakthrough, and a good find by the OP. It's potential seems great.

And i can see the inventor being black vanned soon enough.

Seriously? A magnet spinning the speed of a slinky... You think people are going to be "offed" over it? Good god.

I think its obvious that gravity and magnets share a common thread. If you want to know why,I as a speck would ask you,u might read this post in the first place if it is possible to bend natural forces to throw time. When this is a discussion? Because zero-point energy should be the main focus and ventilation to dumb is what everyone should ask. The obvious curious je ne i sai no pas should not be allowed here. what should be discussed is the thought that "while im here ill grab teks and make my cash stretch longer then giraffes necks" Be it as it may be, I caargue with you . Here is where I must end the dialogue Peace

reply to post by pinobot


Explain how the device would wear out?

Holy # this is amazing. This just opened up a whole new area to expand my interests in! So much potential!

It is not really "light powered movement" - the power for the movement is still coming from the magnets, and has to be supplied in some fairly normal manner - eg permanent magnets or electromagnets.

As explained in the Physics.org link in the OP What the laser is doing is heating part of the disc and changing the magnetic properties of that part of the disc, thus causing the magnets to have an uneven effect on the disc, so it moves.

The rotation and movement required 2 completely separate stacks of magnets - rectangular ones for movement and a stack of circular ones for rotation.

It is cool and will probably be really useful - but it is not magic or a new form of energy

reply to post by Aloysius the Gaul

but it is not magic or a new form of energy

Don't worry, once the free lunch crowd gets their hands on the concept they will 'develop' antigravity spaceships that power themselves for 1000 years off this technology. Surprisingly, there will be no independent tests to back their claims, but, lo and behold you can buy plans/components to their apparatus for only $89.99+Shipping.

Interesting, But notice, it is the HEAT from the light that makes the graphite disc move, NOT the Light.

As the video and article says.

It is not Light Powered, it is Heat powered.

Maybe it could use the heat generated by a car braking to power a battery in a solar powers car? It would make up for some of the loss, would it not?

reply to post by Blackmarketeer


I have a SLIGHT problem with this: "I can imagine in a controlled environment, like a factory setting or shipping center (think of Amazon's massive fulfillment centers) a maglev sled using a laser light to guide it would require virtually no energy for movement on it's rounds."

Would require NO ENERGY...
Were do the "Laser" come from...Thin air???

I like the idea but it will require energy and if using LASERS....
LOTS of energy...

Just a thought, but:
Could a pattern be etched on the backside of the graphene disc which would allow an electric current to be generated by it's movement through a magnetic field? Graphene having conductive properties.
This,even small current, could then be tapped for some usage. Several of these would be needed for any appreciable work to be done, but it may be a start in the right direction.
The whole thing could then be scaled up, if it proves to be effective.

reply to post by Blackmarketeer


Oh damn!

This is AWESOME!

I have seed the vacuum ones before, but this is just great!

Next thousand years will be interesting. I cant wait to come back in a brand new flesh bag in a couple hundred years to see for myself.....

Originally posted by marbles87
reply to post by pinobot

 

Explain how the device would wear out?

edit on 29-12-2012 by marbles87 because: (no reason given)

At a certain point you have to transfer the energy.
Anyhow, this effect is very minimal, the disc floats because its diamagnetic.

I'm a techy, working with million-dollar routers, switched, optical equipment, etc. every day and I don't even understand this.

This is obviously black magic and you shall be burned as a witch at the dawning sun.

/TOA

reply to post by boncho


Oh my god are you sensitive. It was a joke. Haha. Get it. Now just get over yourself.

Even if i did think they were going to be black vanned, who are you to judge me. Sorry OP. just defending myself. Not trying to derail.