Patent ID: 7826214

Claim:
A method comprising: receiving thermal energy from heat generators at an exterior heat exchange surface of a heat exchange structure, the heat exchange structure comprising a plurality of elongated air ducts, the heat generators positioned along an elongated direction of the air ducts; transferring a portion of the thermal energy from the exterior heat exchange surface to interior heat exchange surfaces of the heat exchange structure, the interior heat exchange surfaces being in the air ducts; and dissipating heat from the interior heat exchange surfaces to air flowing in the air ducts to cause the heated air to rise due to buoyancy of the heated air; wherein dissipating heat from the interior heat exchange surfaces to air flowing in the air ducts further comprises: transferring thermal energy from the interior heat exchange surfaces to an air-impermeable first surface of a thin layer of ceramic material formed on the interior heat exchange surfaces of the heat exchange structure; transferring thermal energy through the thin layer of ceramic material from the air-impermeable first surface of the thin layer of ceramic material to a porous second surface of the thin layer of ceramic material; wherein the porous second surface is exposed to the air flowing in the air ducts; heating air molecules trapped in pores of the porous second surface of the thin layer of ceramic material; and transferring thermal energy from the thin layer of ceramic material to the air flowing in the air ducts by moving the air molecules from the pores of the porous second surface of the thin layer of ceramic material to the air flowing in the air ducts.