Media

Dr Tony Shien-Ping Feng of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) and his team invented a Direct Thermal Charging Cell (DTCC) which can effectively convert low grade heat (lower than 100°C) to electricity, creating a huge potential to reduce greenhouse effects by capturing exhaust heat and cutting down primary energy wastage.

The new invention has recently been published in the prestigious journal Nature Communications and featured in its Editors’ Highlights webpage. HKU’s Technology Transfer Office has filed patents for the invention.

Low grade heat is abundantly available in industrial processes, as well as in the environment, living things, solar-thermal and geothermal energy. Over 60% of the world’s primary energy input is wasted as heat, a majority of this loss is regarded as low-grade heat.

The newly designed DTCC is a game-changing electrochemical technology representing a breakthrough both at theoretical and technical levels. It can convert low-grade heat to electricity efficiently and has potential applications in HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system to recycle low-grade heat from the compressor and condenser into electricity for use in electrical devices. It can harvest solar thermal energy to power smart devices and iphones, and harness body heat to power wearable electronic devices or medical devices for monitoring body health conditions.

Dr Feng will meet the media on November 5, 2019 (Tuesday) to introduce the innovation and demonstrate its various applications.

Details of the media conference:

Date: November 5, 2019 (Tuesday)
Time: 10:30am
Venue: Room 501, Haking Wong Building, HKU

Media enquiries:
Ms Celia Lee, Faculty of Engineering, HKU (Tel: 3917 8519; Email: leecelia@hku.hk)
Miss Bonnie Tsang, Faculty of Engineering, HKU (Tel: 3917 1924; Email: bonniepy@hku.hk)