l has the capability of directly converting chemical energy into high voltage electrical energy, a process which man has not yet been able to reproduce for all his research or study. In fact, most of the DEC methods originated by man are characterized for their low voltage production. Perhaps man’s first attempts at direct conversion of energy were proposed by Humphrey Davis who theorized at the turn of the 19th century that the chemical energy given off when coal is oxidized might be turned directly into electricity. Certainly, Humphrey’s suggestion is inherent in the fuel cell method of DEC, but it was Thomas Johan Seebeck and Jean Peltier who would originate two different theories from research observations that would become instrumental in direct energy conversion methods. Seebeck found in 1822 that, “an electromagnetic force is generated between two junctions of dissimilar metals at different temperatures” . In 1834, Peltier discovered that, “a current flowing around a loop of two dissimilar metals warms up one end and cools the other end” .
Despite their discoveries that would become significant to direct energy conversion methods, both Seebeck and Peltier failed to understand the importance or significance of their discoveries. Around the time of Peltier’s discovery, Michael Faraday was making discoveries that would become significant to the process of magnetohydrodynamics and semiconductors. Edmond Becquerel would make important discoveries in the area of light used as a primary source of energy and Lord Kelvin would also add contributions important to the growing body of electrical theory, solar radiation and thermodynamics. Many other important scientific discoveries would be made until the 1950s, when some of the most significant thermodynamic discoveries became known:
Shortly after the end of World War II there were breakthroughs made in nearly all areas of direct energy conversion due to a serie...