Renewable Energy Technologies and Energy Conversion Devices
新能源技术和能量转换器件
 
LIU Fude (刘富德), Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering
The University of Hong Kong
 
Abstract
 
Renewable energy is the key to creating a clean energy future for the world. Renewable energy technologies are supposed to change our energy pattern dramatically. Energy conversion deviceplay important roles in realizing the big transition from non-renewables to renewables. In this talk, we first address the energy picturefrom a fresh and broad perspective. We thencheck different energy conversion paths from solar energy to electrical energy, and show a simple picture of energy conversion. Finally,we do the comparison between different energy conversion cells, including solar, thermoelectric, electrochemical, and photoelectrochemical (PEC) cells by exploring the working principles of each kind of these cells. It is shown that the working principles behind these cells are quite similar, following a simple energy conversion picture. The big goal of this talk is to explore the big picture of energy, the close connections between different energy conversion cells and the essence behind.
 
Keywords: Renewable energy; Energy conversion; Photovoltaics; Thermoelectric; Battery; Fuel cell; Photoelectrochemical cell