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Implementing Demons and Ratchets entropy Article Implementing Demons and Ratchets Peter M. Orem * and Frank M. Orem ThermaWatts, LLC, Renton, WA 98057, USA; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +1-503-635-2607 Academic Editor: Kevin H. Knuth Received: 30 November 2016; Accepted: 6 January 2017; Published: 14 January 2017 Abstract: Experimental results show that ratchets may be implemented in semiconductor and chemical systems, bypassing the second law and opening up huge gains in energy production. This paper summarizes or describes experiments and results on systems that effect demons and ratchets operating in chemical or electrical domains. One creates temperature differences that can be harvested by a heat engine. A second produces light with only heat input. A third produces harvestable electrical potential directly. These systems share creating particles in one location, destroying them in another and moving them between locations by diffusion (Brownian motion). All absorb ambient heat as they produce other energy forms. None requires an external hot and cold side. The economic and social impacts of these conversions of ambient heat to work are, of course, well-understood and huge. The experimental results beg for serious work on the chance that they are valid. Keywords: second law; thermodynamics; direct conversion; epicatalysis; semiconductor; LED; Brownian ratchet; Maxwell’s demon; ambient heat; energy 1. Introduction This paper is intended to assist understanding possible second law exceptions, so that readers might be moved to examine them carefully. The second law of thermodynamics was first expressed more than 190 years ago to show that there is an upper limit to the efficiency of a heat engine, which converts heat to mechanical energy or other work. Simply put, such conversion always suffers inefficiency. The second law has been thoroughly tested, restated and confirmed many times since then [1]. Scientists have shifted away from the notion of “laws” to ideas about “models” to explain and predict behaviors, because laws imply completeness, whereas models acknowledge their incompleteness. This gives freedom to expand our range of thinking, including that on the second law. A small set of researchers has made the transition to models as they develop experiments that point to new energy possibilities. They seem to be driven by the potentially huge value to humanity for finding such possibilities [2]. We present below three cases of systems that may be demonstrating demons and ratchets. These were chosen because: 1. They are supported by test results; 2. We believe they are conceptually clean and easily explained; and 3. They may have commercial application. We believe that if any one of these demonstrations is valid (we believe all are), it opens up a range of practical methods for turning ambient heat directly into electrical energy. This matters because such direct conversion can be perfectly sustainable, since it does not require fuels or otherwise cause environmental damage. Entropy 2017, 19, 34; doi:10.3390/e19010034 www.mdpi.com/journal/entropy Entropy 2017, 19, 34 2 of 19 Entropy 2017, 19, 34 2 of 19 The cases are: • The Epicatalysis: cases are: Tests demonstrate that opposing catalysts can create a temperature differential needed for a heat engine heat • Epicatalysis: Tests demonstrate that opposing catalysts can create a temperature differential • LEDs: Emission measurements show that unbiased light emitting diodes (LED’s) emit a needed for a heat engine heat. • LEDs:small Emission amount measurements of light. show that unbiased light emitting diodes (LED’s) emit a small •amount Doped of light.semiconductor structure: A sandwich-like structure of semiconductors presents a • Dopedpersistent, semiconductor harvestable structure: voltage. We A sandwich-likecall this an ambient structure thermal of semiconductorselectric converter presents (ATEC). a persistent, harvestable voltage. We call this an ambient thermal electric converter (ATEC). The demonstration systems have two features in common: particles are created and destroyed, and Thethese demonstration actions take place systems at different have two locations. features in common: particles are created and destroyed, and theseFigure actions 1 shows take the place general at different concept locations. for a cycle that would create an exception to the second law. Z representsFigure1 shows some potential the general or conceptwork function. for a cycle It co thatuld would be gravity, create electric an exception potential to the or secondsome other law. Zfunction. represents N represents some potential the number or work of function.particles in It the could system. be gravity, electric potential or some other function.The flow N represents is as follows: the number of particles in the system. The flow is as follows: • The bottom line represents the creation of particles at Location 1. • •The Some bottom particles line represents move across the creation the potential of particles to Lo atcation Location 2, driven 1. by thermal energy through • Some particles move across the potential to Location 2, driven by thermal energy through diffusion. diffusion. This creation process fills the role of Maxwell’s demon. This creation process fills the role of Maxwell’s demon. • Some of those particles are then destroyed • Some of those particles are then destroyed. • • RemainingRemaining particles particles return return to Location to Location 1. 1. FigureFigure 1.1. AA cyclecycle thatthat wouldwould createcreate aa secondsecond lawlaw exception.exception. TheThe changingchanging numbernumber ofof particlesparticles fillsfills thethe rolerole ofof aa BrownianBrownian ratchet.ratchet. ThereThere isis muchmuch flexibilityflexibility inin implementingimplementing thisthis cycle,cycle, asas describeddescribed below.below. The The directional directional bias bias is is essential. essential. TheThe overalloverall cyclecycle convertsconverts thermalthermal energyenergy intointo somesome otherother formform ofof energyenergy andand thenthen preventsprevents thethe reversereverse transitiontransition by by removing removing the the particles particles involved. involved. Cheating Cheating the laws the oflaws physics of physics once is notonce enough; is not weenough; have towe do have it twice: to do bothit twice: Maxwell’s both Maxwell’s demon and demon a Brownian and a Brownian ratchet are ratchet required. are required. TheThe generalgeneral conceptconcept thatthat capturescaptures thethe objectionobjection to the cyclecycle of FigureFigure1 1 is is “detailed “detailed balance”. balance”. TheThe principleprinciple of of detailed detailed balance balance says says that that both both paths paths between between 1 and 1 and 2 should 2 should be in be equilibrium. in equilibrium. In that In regard,that regard, the principle the principle of detailed of detailed balance balance is the mostis the narrowly most narrowly focused focused reason whyreason such why cycles such should cycles notshould work. not In work. other In words, other thewords, principle the principle of detailed of detailed balance balance is a corollary is a corollary to the second to the law.second law. Note:Note: this paper only summarizes the methodsmethods andand resultsresults ofof epicatalysis,epicatalysis, partpart ofof thethe LEDLED emissionsemissions experimentsexperiments andand thethe dopeddoped semiconductorsemiconductor structure (ATEC) toto permitpermit thethe readerreader toto seesee thethe similaritiessimilarities ofof thethe systemssystems withoutwithout gettinggetting lostlost inin thethe details.details. Thus,Thus, thethe readerreader isis encouragedencouraged toto examineexamine thethe SupplementalSupplemental MaterialsMaterials andand referencesreferences forfor furtherfurther depthdepth of of understanding. understanding. 2. Materials and Methods Entropy 2017, 19, 34 3 of 19 2.Entropy MaterialsEntropy 2017 2017, 19, and19, 34, 34 Methods 3 3of of 19 19 TheTheThe subsectionssubsections subsections belowbelow below describe describe the thethe setup setupsetup and and processes processes we we we used used used to to totest test test the the the hypotheses hypotheses hypotheses that that that certaincertaincertain systems systems systems convert convert convert heat heat heat to to workto work work without without without a colda acold cold side. side. side. We We intendWe intend intend that that thethat the information the information information in this in in thissection this andsectionsection our “A andand Report ourour on“A“A Testing ReportReport of onon ThermaWatts TestingTesting ofof PrototypeThermaWattsThermaWatts Ambient PrototypePrototype Thermal AmbientAmbient Electric ThermalThermal Converter ElectricElectric Devices” document,ConverterConverter accessibleDevices” Devices” document, throughdocument, the accessible accessible Supplementary through through Materials, the the Supplementary Supplementary are sufficient Materials, Materials, for replication are are sufficient sufficient of our for workfor byreplicationreplication others. of of our our work work by by others. others. 2.1.2.1.2.1. 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