An extremely efficient solid state heat pump / generator will spell the death of the internal / combustion engine. Thermoelectric generators have reached their limit because of the highly thermally conductive type of thermoelectric materials used. We have not explored superconductive ceramic thermocouple materials for this use, which would provide a higher degree of thermal insulation between source and sink, while generating reasonable current. We have seen other startups like Quenco making great claims. The question then becomes: where can I buy a small sample to test in my lab? I can do this for Peltier type devices at around 15$ and it will work as a heat pump or generator of electricity if the process is reversed. Unfortunately they lack efficiency, but can be tested in the lab. The first step in any revolutionary breakthrough science it becomes incumbent on the claimant to supply engineering samples of the proposed device to the interested scientific and engineering firms. This was done for the vacuum tube, rectifier diode, transistor, tunnel diode etc. Quenco , if they are real should be selling small samples of their devices at a reasonable price to interested parties for proof of concept and general interest in designing such a breakthrough into products. When this is not done I become suspicious. Their website says they will be supplying larger and delicate devices to interested parties. If you have the time and money attending their conference should be interesting. From their website, which is sorely lacking any real information outside of fees. Quenco is thus a realisation of Maxwell's Demon and so, according to current thinking, violates the 2nd Law.
The White paper to be released will explain in detail how.
Only an independently tested device will settle the argument.
Also see this thread: http://www.overunityresearch.com/index.php?topic=48.0
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"Secrecy, secret societies and secret groups have always been repugnant to a free and open society"......John F Kennedy
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