On-demand thermal power amplification enabled by active heat Q-switching
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Thermal energy storage buffers intermittent heat sources, but delivering short bursts on demand requires control over both retention and release. Here, we show that counter-flow heat oscillators provide this control through an actively switchable thermal quality factor, Q . Matched flows sustain internal heat recirculation and energy accumulation; flow detuning or reduced interchannel coupling releases stored energy rapidly. Experiments in a water-based device demonstrate approximately 5-fold enhancement of one channel's outlet power relative to its pre-switch steady output, in agreement with a transient thermofluidic model. The model predicts approximately 20-fold peak amplification relative to input power for liquid-metal systems, with stacked oscillators further extending the accessible energy-power range. These results establish Q -switching as a means of controlling when accumulated thermal energy is delivered, linking resonant heat transport to programmable thermal output.
Source: Cell Reports Physical Science
Institution: Rice University
Language: English
Subfield: Civil and Structural Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $5,620
OpenAlex ID: W7214016084