NSF/DOE Thermoelectrics Partnership: Automotive Thermoelectric Modules with Scalable Thermo- and Electro-Mechanical Interfaces

[48776 . goodson]该项目涉及斯坦福大学、南佛罗里达大学和罗伯特·博世有限责任公司的研究人员，研究与使用热电回收汽车废热有关的各种主题。这些主题包括新的界面材料和设计，可以容纳非常大的热机械应变，高温热电材料是有效的，可以可靠地配合散热器和电极，实用计量评估的性能和耐久性，以及先进的材料和热管理概念的系统级集成。智力优势：将进行界面材料，热电材料和与车辆应用中热电收集废热相关的传热的基础研究。本文将开发一种用于实现碳纳米管薄膜作为热界面材料的新型带。这种方法将减少电和热界面阻力，并增强界面的耐久性，因为它们在应用程序中固有的热循环。实验将被设计来确定界面（和相邻）材料的微尺度特征，以及这些特征如何随着热循环而演变。从实验中获得的知识最终将用于设计界面，以提高性能和增加耐用性。通过实验和建模来量化角方矿中填充分数、掺杂、晶粒尺寸和夹杂物浓度的影响，从而改进热电材料。基础和新的计量方法将与国家标准与技术研究所合作开发，并结合第一性原理建模，将能够调整热电和界面材料的相关特性。将采用基础和系统级相结合的方法，将有关热电和界面材料性能的知识与先进的热管理概念相结合，如但不限于多相蒸汽冷却，热电废热收集。更广泛的影响：该项目直接解决与车辆应用中废热收集相关的基本问题。此外，该研究将与教育和推广相结合，包括一项新的针对热电能量收集应用的大学设计竞赛，以促进教学和学习，并使更广泛的社区参与能源技术活动。研究发现将被纳入斯坦福大学和南佛罗里达大学的本科和研究生课程。其他活动包括但不限于为高中学生和教师提供研究经验，目标是有大量来自代表性不足群体的学生的高中。

1048796GoodsonThis project involves researchers at Stanford University, The University of South Florida, and Robert Bosch LLC and addresses various topics relevant to vehicle waste heat recovery using thermoelectrics. These topics include novel interface materials and designs that can accommodate very large thermomechanical strains, high temperature thermoelectric materials that are efficient and can be reliably mated to heat sinks and electrodes, practical metrology for assessment of performance and durability, and systems-level integration of advanced materials and thermal management concepts.Intellectual Merit: Fundamental investigations of interface materials, thermoelectric materials, and heat transfer relevant to thermoelectric harvesting of waste heat in vehicle applications will be conducted. A new tape design for implementing carbon nanotube films as thermal interface materials will be developed. This approach will reduce both electrical and thermal interface resistances, and enhance the durability of the interfaces as they undergo thermal cycling inherent in the application. Experiments will be designed to determine the microscale characteristics of interface (and adjoining) materials and how these characteristics evolve in response to thermal cycling. The knowledge acquired from the experiments will ultimately be used to design interfaces in a manner that will improve performance and increase durability. The influence of filling fraction, doping, grain size, and inclusion concentration in skutterudites will be quantified through experimentation and modeling, leading to improved thermoelectric materials. Fundamental and new metrology methods will be developed in partnership with the National Institute of Standards and Technology and, in conjunction with first principles modeling, will enable tuning of the relevant properties of both thermoelectric and interface materials. A combined fundamental and systems-level approach will be employed to integrate the knowledge pertaining to thermoelectric and interface material performance with advanced thermal management concepts such as but not limited to multiphase vapor cooling, to thermoelectric waste heat harvesting. Broader Impacts: The project directly addresses fundamental issues associated with waste heat harvesting in vehicle applications. In addition, the research will be integrated with education and outreach including a new collegiate design competition specific to thermoelectric energy harvesting applications to promote teaching and learning and engage the broader community in energy technology activities. Research discoveries will be integrated in undergraduate and graduate classes at both Stanford and The University of South Florida. Additional activities include but are not limited to development of research experiences for both high school students and teachers, targeting high schools with large numbers of students from underrepresented groups.