Download PDF
From Nanoantennas to Deep Space Satellites, Electron Emission Enables Efficient Power Generation
Technology Category
- Analytics & Modeling - Predictive Analytics
- Analytics & Modeling - Real Time Analytics
- Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Data Visualization
Applicable Industries
- Aerospace
- Healthcare & Hospitals
Applicable Functions
- Product Research & Development
- Quality Assurance
Use Cases
- Predictive Maintenance
- Remote Asset Management
- Remote Patient Monitoring
Services
- Software Design & Engineering Services
- System Integration
The Challenge
Deep space and the human body present unique challenges for designing devices that can operate safely, reliably, and efficiently. Equipment used in extreme environments such as aqueous conditions, severe temperatures, and high pressure levels often struggle with stable and efficient power generation. The search for better power efficiency in devices like deep-space satellites and medical equipment has identified electron emission as a potential method for power generation. Electron emission occurs when a metal surface or electrode is subjected to an electrostatic field, heat, or incoming light, causing electrons to escape the metal and be collected for usable electricity. The Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) and the European Space Agency (ESA) are collaborating to develop systems based on electron emission for solar power collection on deep-space satellites. Researchers at IIT are also applying similar concepts to power nanoantennas for studying electrical signals in the brain.
About The Customer
The Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) is a leading research institution in Italy, known for its cutting-edge work in various scientific and technological fields. Collaborating with the European Space Agency (ESA), IIT is focused on developing innovative solutions for extreme-environment technology and biomedical applications. The institute employs a multidisciplinary approach, leveraging expertise in physics, engineering, and biomedical sciences to tackle complex challenges. IIT's research spans a wide range of applications, from deep-space satellites to medical devices, aiming to improve power efficiency and functionality in harsh conditions. The institute's work is characterized by its use of advanced numerical simulations and modeling techniques to optimize device performance and ensure reliability.
The Solution
The solution involves using COMSOL Multiphysics® software to study and optimize Photon-enhanced Thermionic Emission (PETE) solar cells for deep-space satellites. PETE cells combine photovoltaics with thermionic emission to boost power generation. The team at IIT, led by Zilio, used numerical simulations to analyze different PETE cell designs, focusing on maximizing charge buildup at the anode and minimizing the space charge cloud that interferes with electron flow. They tested various configurations, including a nanocone array cathode and a positively-charged mesh gate, to enhance electron emission and improve efficiency. The simulations allowed them to determine the optimal gate voltage, pitch size, and anode-cathode distance for the best performance. Additionally, the team applied similar techniques to study electron photoemission in nanoantennas for biomedical applications. These antennas, made of dielectric nanotubes coated with gold or silver, are designed to operate in aqueous environments like the human brain. The simulations helped the team understand the electric field levels, electron density, and trajectories, enabling them to choose an operating range that minimizes the risk of ionization and antenna failure.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
Related Case Studies.
Case Study
Airbus Soars with Wearable Technology
Building an Airbus aircraft involves complex manufacturing processes consisting of thousands of moving parts. Speed and accuracy are critical to business and competitive advantage. Improvements in both would have high impact on Airbus’ bottom line. Airbus wanted to help operators reduce the complexity of assembling cabin seats and decrease the time required to complete this task.
Case Study
Aircraft Predictive Maintenance and Workflow Optimization
First, aircraft manufacturer have trouble monitoring the health of aircraft systems with health prognostics and deliver predictive maintenance insights. Second, aircraft manufacturer wants a solution that can provide an in-context advisory and align job assignments to match technician experience and expertise.
Case Study
Hospital Inventory Management
The hospital supply chain team is responsible for ensuring that the right medical supplies are readily available to clinicians when and where needed, and to do so in the most efficient manner possible. However, many of the systems and processes in use at the cancer center for supply chain management were not best suited to support these goals. Barcoding technology, a commonly used method for inventory management of medical supplies, is labor intensive, time consuming, does not provide real-time visibility into inventory levels and can be prone to error. Consequently, the lack of accurate and real-time visibility into inventory levels across multiple supply rooms in multiple hospital facilities creates additional inefficiency in the system causing over-ordering, hoarding, and wasted supplies. Other sources of waste and cost were also identified as candidates for improvement. Existing systems and processes did not provide adequate security for high-cost inventory within the hospital, which was another driver of cost. A lack of visibility into expiration dates for supplies resulted in supplies being wasted due to past expiry dates. Storage of supplies was also a key consideration given the location of the cancer center’s facilities in a dense urban setting, where space is always at a premium. In order to address the challenges outlined above, the hospital sought a solution that would provide real-time inventory information with high levels of accuracy, reduce the level of manual effort required and enable data driven decision making to ensure that the right supplies were readily available to clinicians in the right location at the right time.
Case Study
Aerospace & Defense Case Study Airbus
For the development of its new wide-body aircraft, Airbus needed to ensure quality and consistency across all internal and external stakeholders. Airbus had many challenges including a very aggressive development schedule and the need to ramp up production quickly to satisfy their delivery commitments. The lack of communication extended design time and introduced errors that drove up costs.
Case Study
Gas Pipeline Monitoring System for Hospitals
This system integrator focuses on providing centralized gas pipeline monitoring systems for hospitals. The service they provide makes it possible for hospitals to reduce both maintenance and labor costs. Since hospitals may not have an existing network suitable for this type of system, GPRS communication provides an easy and ready-to-use solution for remote, distributed monitoring systems System Requirements - GPRS communication - Seamless connection with SCADA software - Simple, front-end control capability - Expandable I/O channels - Combine AI, DI, and DO channels