Conformal High-power-density Half-Heusler Thermoelectric Modules: A Pathway towards Practical Power Generator
ORAL
Abstract
Thermoelectric generators (TEGs) exploiting Seebeck effect, provide a promising solution for waste heat recovery. Among large number of thermoelectric (TE) materials, half-Heusler (hH) alloys are leading candidates for medium to high temperature power generation applications. However, the fundamental challenge in this field has been the insufficient power output from the modules and rigid form factor of TE modules. This has restricted the transition of TEGs in practical applications for over three decades. Here, we successfully demonstrate high power conformal hH TE modules for high temperature application and their direct integration on flue gas platforms, such as cylindrical tube, to form large area flexible TEGs. This new conformal architecture design provides a breakthrough towards to medium/high temperature TEGs over the conventional BiTe- and polymer-based flexible TEGs design. Variable fill factor and greater flexibility due to conformal design results in higher device performance as compared to conventional rigid TEG devices. Modules with 72-couple hH legs exhibit device high-power-density of 3.13 W-cm-2 and a total output power of 56.6 W under temperature difference of 570 K. These results provide a promising pathway towards widespread utilization of thermoelectric technology into the waste heat recovery application and will have significant impact on the development of practical thermal to electrical converters.
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, Penn State University, The Pennsylvania State University
Authors
WENJIE LI
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, Penn State University, The Pennsylvania State University
Amin Nozariasbmarz
Pennsylvania State University, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
Ravi A Kishore
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Bed Poudel
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, Penn State University, The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
Shashank Priya
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, Penn State University, Penn State, The Pennsylvania University, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
