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The following outlines new research that indicates a real possibility in converting appreciable usable ambient energy to electricity by means of a specific type of magnetic material. My research is not based on the pen and paper mathematical approach. Rather, the path I prefer is computer simulation software algorithms & functions, which utilizes fundamental mathematical physics equations such as the one used at Off-Axis Field Calculator (http://www.netdenizen.com/emagnet/offaxis/iloopcalculator.htm). The following outlines such research.

Temperature is referred to as ambient temperature, not added heat.

Applied H-field is the magnetic field from the coils current.

B-field is the magnetic field from the magnetic material itself.

A vast amount of energy exchanges occur within most types of ferromagnetic material. Lets view what occurs within ferromagnetic material. Such material contains atoms with unpaired electrons. The iron atom for example has four unpaired electrons. Most of the magnetic field in such magnetic material comes from unpaired electrons. Below is a picture representing a simple atom, which points out two sources of magnetic fields.

Two sources of magnetic field in an atom:

The blue circle represents the electron orbit. Such an orbit causes a magnetic field, noted by the blue arrow. There is another magnetic field caused by electron spin, not electron orbit. We can view the electron itself spinning like a top. The magnetic field caused by electron spin is drawn by the green arrow. The magnetic field caused by electron spin (green arrow) is far stronger than electron orbit (blue arrow).

Ferromagnetic atoms want to align in the same direction. Such a force is caused by the exchange interaction (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exchange_interaction). The below image shows perfectly aligned atoms.

Low PME (Potential Magnetic Energy).

The above atoms are perfectly aligned-- pointing in the same direction. As far as alignment is concerned, the above atoms contain appreciably low PME. It requires energy to force such atoms out of alignment. The below image shows semi-aligned atoms.

High PME (Potential Magnetic Energy).

The above atoms are not repelling, but they are not fully aligned. Therefore, the above atoms have high PME. Such potential energy would be released if the above atoms were allowed to fully align.

The following two scaled down and compressed simulation snapshots were taken just for this web page to demonstrate a point. These simulations ran under low grid resolution-- very few magnetic dipole moments. Normally such simulations run in higher resolutions of at least 128 x 128 magnetic dipole moments.

Simulation screenshot of appreciably degaussed core-- High PME

Simulation screenshot of a saturated core-- Low PME

Each colored square represents the direction each magnetic dipole moment is aligned. The black line also shows the direction the dipole is aligned.

In reference to the top snapshot, although the dipole moments in totality want to fully align magnetically thus forming a closed magnetic loop, they will not because each dipole is locked to a nearby small domain. For some magnetic materials it requires a small H-field to encourage the domains to form one large closed loop, a saturated core. For certain magnetic materials, KE (Kinetic Energy) is released when such a core changes from the degaussed state to nearly saturated. When the reverse process occurs (changing from near saturation to being degaussed) the cores temperature drops because it requires energy to break the total magnetic alignment of such saturation-- MCE.

Four domains

The above image is a nice representation of a closed loop domain system-- four domains. Each domain is composed of many atoms, often well over a million. The arrows show the magnetic field direction of each domain. Between each domain is a domain wall. All the atoms within the domain wall contain considerable PME. Furthermore, an appreciable amount of the atoms near domain walls contain PME.

Image of real domains

Real domains are not perfectly organized and have appreciable PME.

Saturated core

Certain types of longitudinally annealed saturated cores and PM's (Permanent Magnets) have less PME than a degaussed core at room temperature. Therefore, energy is released when such a core changes from degaussed state to saturation. Such energy is normally absorbed by the lattice, which heats up the core. MCE (magnetocaloric effect) is when a core heats up when magnetized and cools down when demagnetized.

A longitudinally annealed saturated core or PM wants to remain saturated. At very low temperatures such cores remain close to saturation. At room temperature such cores remain less saturated. Consider an applied H-field nearly saturating a core. Such a cores B-field will begin to decrease when the H-field is removed. Such an effect is mainly caused by temperature and grains unaligned with the net field. Temperature is caused by vibrating particles. Lets say an atom is knocked out of magnetic alignment. The net magnetic field and exchange force try to realign the atom. Most of the time such atoms realign, but if a group of atoms are simultaneously knocked out of alignment (an avalanche) near another domain then such atoms may flip and lock to the new domain.

The ferromagnetic atom does not flip instantly in zero seconds. Such a flip may take a few nanoseconds. IBM's experiments showed that each atom takes nanoseconds to flip. Usually the atom precesses as it rotates 180 degrees. Such a rotating magnetic dipole moment generates an electromagnetic pulse. Nearly all of such pulse energy is absorbed by surrounding lattice. The atom flips, which causes more atoms to flip, and so on. This is a magnetic avalanche. Such an avalanche is detectable with a coil.

Review:

Certain types of magnetic materials while degaussed contains PME. Such potential energy is released as a magnetic pulse. The magnetic material easily absorbs the energy. Material becomes slightly hotter. Temperature begins to slowly (relative to the speed of atomic vibrations) flip groups of atoms (an avalanche) when the applied field is removed. Such a process requires energy, and the materials temperature drops.

The above completes the full magnetocaloric effect process.

Magnetic Viscosity

For years I have referred to such a process as "Magnetic Momentum." Prior to that I referred to such a process as "Magnetic lag." Magnetic viscosity is caused by various effects, some of which I'll discuss below.

I'll discuss three levels of MM (Magnetic Momentum) :

1. At the atomic level. A flipping/rotating atom has momentum. Even if the field were completely removed such a rotating atom would continue to rotate due to momentum. Such a flip typically occurs in a few nanoseconds.

2. At the avalanche level. An avalanche also has momentum. Even if the field was completely removed such an avalanche would continue. Avalanches are significantly slower than atomic flips.

3. Core momentum (varies with material type, size, and shape). One avalanche increases the magnetic field, thereby causing other avalanches. Such an effect has magnetic momentum. Core momentum is significantly slower than an avalanche.

Proposed method of capturing ambient energy by means of magnetic material

Written mathematics or simulation software algorithms & functions are best at conceptually understanding such a method, but for now the following text should suffice.

Above we learned why certain types of magnetic materials at room temperature contain some PME. Also we learned why a fully saturated core contains the least amount of PME. Consider two magnetic dipole moments not completely aligned, and therefore contain some PME. Such potential energy is released by aligning the dipole moments. So energy is released as the dipoles rotate to full alignment. On a macro scale such an event is seen with two PM's (Permanent Magnets). Place two PM's on swivels somewhat near each other. Then force the two PM's out of magnetic alignment. Then let go. The two PM's will accelerate angularly, thus gaining KE. You could capture some of such energy by means of a coil.

Now lets get a little more detailed and analyze real longitudinally annealed magnetic cores and PM's. Each Iron atom contains four unpaired electrons. Each electron is a dipole moment. It's the entire atom that flips, as the unpaired electrons are locked to the entire atom. There are various forces tugging at the atom in certain directions. One is the exchange interaction, which wants all atoms to be aligned in the same direction. Another force is magnetocrystalline anisotropy, which wants the atoms to align along a certain vector. Magnetocrystalline anisotropy varies from grain to grain. A grain is a relatively large group of atoms with the same anisotropy. Grains are separated by amorphous atoms. Amorphous atoms, are relatively randomly oriented atoms. Most of the ferromagnetic atoms in longitudinally annealed cores and PM's prefer the closed loop core to be saturated. A degaussed core contains PME. Energy is released when such a degaussed core becomes saturated. Normally it requires energy to saturate such material, but I am proposing a method that could gain such PME in certain types of materials, and therefore gain energy when magnetizing such a core. First lets analyze two main fundamental forces at work in such a core.

1. The applied H-field.

2. Temperature.

The applied H-field works toward a saturated core. Temperature has an opposite effect, in that it prefers a core closer to being degaussed. Lets analyze how temperature effects the core. Consider an appreciably saturated longitudinally annealed core. Now quickly remove the applied field. The cores net B-field will decay at a relatively slow rate determined by temperature among other various effects, but we'll focus on temperature. In the above section titled "Saturated longitudinally annealed core" we learned such a longitudinally annealed core prefers saturation, but it's ambient temperature that eventually causes a percentage of atoms to flip and align to smaller closed loop domain systems. In certain longitudinally cores, PM's, certain Superparamagnetic cores, and cores above Curie temperature such an event requires energy, which is why such material drops in temperature when the applied H-field is decreased-- later half of MCE process. Although not all atoms require energy to flip. Grain orientation in some groups of atoms are not align with the net longitudinal/circumferential alignment. Such grain orientations are a rarity in such material.

So temperature is a major force working to bring the core closer to being degaussed. There is an interesting aspect about such a force in that for the most part it's an angular force. Temperature has no preference to a particular rotational direction. For example, temperature may cause some atoms to flip clockwise or counter-clockwise or any rotational direction. Therefore, temperature is unbiased in that it does not care what direction it rotates an atom. So for the most part, temperature is not an aid or hindrance toward avalanches so far as the atomic rotation aspect, but there is an effect called temperature decay rate, as we'll learn below.

The above temperature unbiased effect allows for an interesting method of capturing ambient energy, but only in certain types of magnetic materials. For example, lets say temperature decays a particular cores B-field to a minimum by the following equation:

(1 - e^(-time / 1E-6 seconds)) * 100%

"time" is in seconds.

So in 0.1 us temperature decays the core 9.5%. In 10 us temperature nearly decays the entire core to the minimum. Minimum would be Br (remanence). Therefore, the applied H-field should quickly pulse the core. Otherwise the applied H-field will combat the temperature decay effect. On the other hand, the core material needs to be efficient enough to handle such a pulse without wasting too much energy. Timing is critical and depends on core material, shape, and size.

So now our applied H-field pulse just began. This causes atoms to flip (MM Level 1), which sets off magnetic avalanches (MM Level 2). Refer to the above section titled "Magnetic Viscosity" regarding the three levels of MM (Magnetic Momentum). At some point our circuit must switch from pulse to absorbing PME. Recall that the magnetic core wants to be saturated, but temperature is the main cause of preventing such full saturation. Energy is released as dipole moment alignment increase. Flipping dipoles and avalanches causes electromagnetic pulses. It's up to the coil to inflict as much drag as possible, thereby robbing PME away from lattice and eddy currents.

Examples:

Mechanical motor version:

The above crude animation merely describes the fundamental process of a mechanical version. Both the blue and green objects are permanent magnets and merely represent the direction such magnets point, as indicated by the black arrows. The goal is to quickly pulse the top magnet, which will then cause avalanches. The pulse duration is critical and depends on magnetic viscosity, size, and shape. In reality, such pulses would probably last no longer than a few dozen micro seconds. At the correct time, when the avalanches are committed and in full swing, the blue magnet applies an opposite field to remove as much PME as possible. Remember, the core wants to become fully saturated. This is akin to PM's on swivels angularly accelerating to fully align, thus gaining KE. It's temperature that slowly causes disorder (thus removing energy from ambient temperature), thus destroying the net magnetization by a certain amount. Therefore, the theory predicts the timing is critical.

Possible question: Would longitudinally annealed nanocrysalline & amorphous material work better for the top PM?

Solid state version:

The above crude animation merely describes the fundamental process of a solid-state version. The yellow object represents a toroid magnetic core. The blue and red lines represent a coil. First the coil is quickly pulsed-- noted when the coil turns red. Then the coil switches to a near short to collect as much PME as possible-- noted when the coil turns blue. The solid-state version is an equivalent of the mechanical motor version and thus operates under the same principles. Again, timing is critical.

According to theory, both versions rely entirely on certain type of magnetic material that *must* possess appreciably less PME while near saturation as compared to degaussed. Future experiments will test the following materials:

• No-field annealed Metglas Powerlite (http://www.metglas.com/products/page5_1_6_2_1.asp) core.

• Longitudinally annealed Metglas MAGAMP (http://www.metglas.com/products/page5_1_6_4_1_b.asp) core.

• Longitudinally/circumferentially annealed Finemet FT-3H (http://www.hitachi-metals.co.jp/e/prod/prod02/pdf/hl-fm10-d.pdf) core.

• No-field annealed Finemet FT-3M (http://www.hitachi-metals.co.jp/e/prod/prod02/pdf/hl-fm10-d.pdf) core.

• Alnico 5, 6, and 8 PM's.

• Ceramic 5 and 8.

• NdFeB - various strengths.

• SmCo - various strengths.

Requirements

• Such a method requires a specific type of magnetic material where there's more PME while degaussed as compared to near saturation.

• The coil must capture enough PME from the avalanches to overcome all losses.

• Precise coil timing.

• High-speed coil current switching.

Added June 30th, 2007

Considerations

• Obviously material type, core shape & size. Material should be longitudinally annealed, or grain oriented, or uniaxial anisotropic, but by how much?

• Magnetic viscosity.

• Materials change in temperature per change in magnetic field at room temperature. My unverified experiments place Alnico at PaulLowrance1/500th C/T, and Metglas Powerlite cores at PaulLowrance1/10000th C/T.
• Most avalanches occurs at half Bsat.

• The largest, and thus longest occurring avalanches typically at half Bsat

• Pulse duration must match the core, and depends on average avalanche duration.

• Load resistance relative to total windings. To high of resistance can't collect enough PME. Too low of resistance may retard an appreciable amount of avalanches.

• Using a PM is an accurate and simple method of magnetizing the core to half Bsat.

• Materials permeability.

• Materials saturation.

• Materials coercivity.

• Last, but not least, Eddy currents.

• (More to come).

Paul Lowrance

Please refer to http://groups.google.com/group/energymover for discussions related to MEMM & MCE research.

Please post comments and such at Directory:MEMM_comments