A thermal rectifier
- 1 September 1970
- journal article
- Published by IOP Publishing in Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics
- Vol. 3 (9) , 1352-1358
- https://doi.org/10.1088/0022-3727/3/9/316
Abstract
A design for a thermal rectifier is proposed and investigated experimentally. It consists of a multilayer stack of thin disks, each having one roughened and one smooth surface. When assembled in the stack, the layers are so arranged that all the rough surfaces are facing in the same direction. The thermal resistance of the assembly was found to be dependent upon the direction of heat flow, i.e. from a rough to a smooth surface across the interfaces or vice versa. Surface oxidation of freshly cleaned layers led to an increase of this rectifying effect, whereas subsequent loading of the stack reduced the effect. For the brass stacks tested a greater resistance across each interface was experienced when the heat flow was from a smooth to a rough surface, whereas the reverse applied for the stainless steel stacks used.Keywords
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