Collaborative Research: NSF/DOE Thermoelectric Partnership: High-Performance Thermoelectric Devices Based on Abundant Silicide Materials for Vehicle Waste Heat Recovery

[48625] [qh]该项目旨在开发新型热电材料，用于热电模块原型，以促进汽车排气系统中废热的经济有效转化。知识价值：该提案解决了成功实施热电装置以从汽车尾气中回收废热的四个关键要素。这些包括开发新的热电材料，系统级建模，散热器开发，以及减少材料-材料界面的热阻和电阻。感兴趣的热电材料是硅化物，其中p型和n型材料的晶格导热系数将通过纳米结构降低，从而提高材料在废热回收场景中的效率。一旦开发成功，该材料将被整合到热电模块中，并安装在6.7升柴油发动机上，以测量系统在实际运行条件下的性能。将开发一个系统级模型，并利用它来确定进一步增加和优化总体设计的机会。材料性能将在PIs机构以及橡树岭国家实验室进行测量。更广泛的影响：新的热电材料和模块设计的成功开发和实施将提高燃油经济性并减少排放。研究生将参与研究。将开发热电余热回收的视频课程模块，并通过互联网向K-12、本科生和研究生传播。将对广大当地人口进行外联。

1048625JinThis project seeks to develop novel thermoelectric materials for use in prototype thermoelectric modules to promote the cost-effective conversion of waste heat in vehicle exhaust systems.Intellectual Merit: This proposal addresses four elements that are critical for successful implementation of thermoelectric devices for waste heat recovery from vehicle exhaust. These include development of new thermoelectric materials, system-level modeling, heat sink development, and reduction of thermal and electric resistances at material-material interfaces. The thermoelectric materials of interest are silicides, in which the lattice thermal conductivity of both the p- and n-type material will be reduced through nanostructuring, hence increasing the efficacy with which the material will perform in waste heat recovery scenarios. Once developed, the new material will be incorporated into thermoelectric modules, and the modules will be installed on a 6.7 liter diesel engine to measure system performance under realistic operating conditions. A system-level model will be developed and utilized to identify opportunities to further increase and optimize the overall design. Material properties will be measured at the PIs institutions as well as at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.Broader Impact: The successful development and implementation of new thermoelectric materials and module designs will improve fuel economy and reduce emissions. Graduate students will be involved in the research. Video course modules specific to thermoelectric waste heat recovery will be developed and disseminated via the Internet for K-12, undergraduate, and graduate students. Outreach to a broad segment of the local population will be conducted.