current and future trends in the commercialization of thermoelectric generating technologies brian...
TRANSCRIPT
Current and Future Trends in the Commercialization of Thermoelectric
Generating Technologies
Brian Henry
Overview• Why TEG
• Current status– Technology– Commercial applications
• Future outlook– Review of technology– Road to improved performance– Complementary technologies
Why TEG?Advantages
– All solid state– Low noise and vibration– Extremely reliable and rugged– Easily controlled with electronics– No harmful refrigerants/working fluids– Ability to miniaturize
• Potentially a HUGE market– Who will make it happen?– Who will reap the financial rewards?
Current Technology
• High reliability• Remote location• High cost
Current Applications
• < $50 million industry
• Remote, highly reliable, low power requirements– Pipeline monitoring, E&P, Telecom
• Space power production
• Wearable devices
• Industrial heat recovery
• Remote heat recovery
Remote Power
• One of the largest current markets for TEG
• Manufacturers rely on other programs for technology development
• Probably not the companies who will lead the “TEG revolution”
Wearable Devices• Seiko owns watch patent-6,407,965• Expect Seiko to continue to design small
wearable applications (as well as competitors)
Remote Heat Recovery
Current Applications
• Highly constrained by:– Efficiency– Cost of module– Cost of other components
• Only 281 results from US patent search under “thermoelectric generator” (11/04 -01/75)
Promising Advancements
• Enhanced Materials• Quantum Wells
– Nano dots– 1-D Nano wires– 2-D super lattice
structures
• Segmented TEM’s
Future Markets
• Auto Industry– Vehicular heat recovery (coolant/Exhaust)– Alternator replacement– Value/Need enhanced by hybrid designs
• Solar/Geo/Waste power generation• Remote “mesh” sensor networks• Prime generation/Waste heat recovery• New wearable power production• Battery replacement
Auto Industry
Auto Industry
• Expected to be largest TEG market in next 10 years
• Initial use in heavy trucks
• Multiple hurdles:– Impact on weight, performance, cost– ZT performance not only concern
“Heat sink technology developments and system design may be as important and possibly more important than the material developments”-Hylan B. Lyon Ph.D., CFO, Marlow Industries
Micro devices
Waste Heat Recovery
• Does not utilize all of the benefits of TEGS– However, alternatives
perform poorly at low delta-T
• Requires very large scale inexpensive systems 500 watt waste heat TEG
(used on back of incinerator)
Co-Generation
Portable water heater/pump Combined NG heater and electrical generator for residential use
Battery Alternative
• DARPA is working on battery replacement system (diesel fired) for ground troops
Swedish made charger prototype
Summary
• Significant improvements in materials• Research and funding momentum• Expect ~2.0 ZT, high volume production, <
$0.3/watt for TE modules by 2010
Other opportunities/hurdles:• Need for improvements in other parts of system
– Heat exchangers, electronic controllers, packaging, design systems…
– Will be critical to cost effectiveness of TEG’s
Snapshot of Players
Corporate• Hi-Z
• Marlow
• Tellurex
• Amerigon
• Eneco
• GM
• Ford
• BMW
• Seiko
• Delphi
• Nyserda
Research• DOE• DARPA (DSO)• Oak Ridge National Laboratories (ORNL)• Research Triangle Institute• MIT’s Lincoln Labs• Jet Propulsion Laboratories
• California Institute of Technology• Michigan State• Clemson University• RTI• PNNL• Berkeley• Stanford• University of Texas• UCSC• Harvard• Purdue