THERMOELECTRIC POWER HARVESTING SYSTEMS
Impact/Purpose:
The objective of the proposed project is to demonstrate that the system level efficiency of a thermoelectric power harvesting system can be improved by careful design of the thermal pathways connecting the device to the source and the sink.
Description:
Energy production based on fossil fuels negatively impacts the environment and is not sustainable. Recent advances in the area of nanotechnology have lead to improved performance of direct energy conversion devices such as thermoelectric generators. However, these efforts have focused on improving the performance of the device. The next step is to optimize on a system level by considering both the device and its connection to available sources and sinks. Development of robust, economically viable thermoelectric power harvesting systems can significantly reduce the consumption of fossil fuels, and increase the overall efficiency of renewable power production systems such as solar thermal and geothermal power plants.
Record Details:
Record Type:PROJECT(
ABSTRACT
)
Start Date:08/15/2009
Completion Date:08/14/2010
Record ID:
249419
Keywords:
CLEAN ENERGY, CONSERVATION, POLLUTION PREVENTION, GREENHOUSE GAS
REDUCTION, EMISSION CONTROL, THERMOELECTRIC GENERATORS, NANOTECHNOLOGY, WASTE HEAT RECOVERY, ENERGY HARVESTING,
Related Organizations:
Role
:OWNER
Organization Name
:BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY
Mailing Address
:Main Campus
Citation
:Provo
State
:UT
Zip Code
:84602
Project Information:
Approach
:The student team will design and build a test rig in which thermoelectric generators are flexibly connected to their sources and sinks via a variety of thermal paths. Analysis of the test rig will reveal the optimal thermal connections. Measurements of the power generated under these optimal operating conditions will be compared to measurements obtain under conditions slightly departing from optimal.
Cost
:$10,000.00
Research Component
:Nanotechnology
Approach
:The student team will design and build a test rig in which thermoelectric generators are flexibly connected to their sources and sinks via a variety of thermal paths. Analysis of the test rig will reveal the optimal thermal connections. Measurements of the power generated under these optimal operating conditions will be compared to measurements obtain under conditions slightly departing from optimal.
Cost
:$10,000.00
Research Component
:P3 Challenge Area - Energy
Approach
:The student team will design and build a test rig in which thermoelectric generators are flexibly connected to their sources and sinks via a variety of thermal paths. Analysis of the test rig will reveal the optimal thermal connections. Measurements of the power generated under these optimal operating conditions will be compared to measurements obtain under conditions slightly departing from optimal.
Cost
:$10,000.00
Research Component
:Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development
Project IDs:
ID Code
:SU834328
Project type
:EPA Grant