TechWatch

While scientists race to develop a technology, probably nuclear-based, that can slake our energy thirst without a huge environmental cost, it would be folly to wait that long to tackle carbon emissions.

A new trick could reduce the energy needed for many industrial processes and make solar thermal energy much cheaper.

 

Steam is a key ingredient in a wide range of industrial and commercial processes—including electricity generation, water purification, alcohol distillation, and medical equipment sterilization.

 

Generating that steam, however, typically requires vast amounts of energy to heat and eventually boil water or another fluid. Now researchers at Rice University have found a shortcut. Using light-absorbing nanoparticles suspended in water, the group was able to turn the water molecules surrounding the nanoparticles into steam while scarcely raising the temperature of the remaining water. The trick could dramatically reduce the cost of many steam-reliant processes.

Suite à la publication de notre article sur le laser MegaJoule, des lecteurs nous ont réclamé des précisions sur le concept de Z-Machine. Nous avons demandé à Jean-Pierre PETIT, ancien directeur de recherche au CNRS, de nous présenter cette troisième voie en matière de fusion nucléaire…