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Nanostructured half-Heuslers for thermoelectric waste heat recovery

用于热电废热回收的纳米结构半赫斯勒

基本信息

批准号：
EP/N01717X/1
负责人：
Jan-Willem Bos
金额：
$ 46.52万
依托单位：
Heriot-Watt University
依托单位国家：
英国
项目类别：
Research Grant
财政年份：
2016
资助国家：
英国
起止时间：
2016 至无数据
项目状态：
已结题

来源：
https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=EP%2FN01717X%2F1
关键词：
Nanostructured half Heuslers thermoelectric waste

项目摘要

Thermoelectric materials convert waste heat into useful electric power. Even inefficient thermoelectric power generation recovery can have a substantial impact on UK and global energy consumption because more than half of primary energy is ultimately wasted as heat. So far, thermoelectric generators (TEGs) have been restricted to niche applications, such as powering the Voyager space probes, where durable, reliable and low-maintenance power generation is essential. However, the market for thermoelectric energy harvesters is projected to approach $1bn within a decade.* Potential applications for TEGs include scavenging heat from car exhausts, producing combined heat and power units for use in remote, off-grid locations, and replacing batteries in wearable microelectronic devices. A major limitation has been to develop cheap, efficient TEGs that do not rely on toxic or scarce resources. For example, the most efficient thermoelectric material for automobile heat recovery is currently a compound of toxic lead and scarce tellurium. In this project, we aim to develop a viable, non-toxic alternative to lead telluride TEGs, using 'Heusler alloys', which combine abundant elements such as titanium, nickel and tin. They also meet the majority of industrial requirements for thermoelectric power generation, having good thermal and mechanical stability, mechanical strength and ease of processing. However, a TEG's thermal conductivity is also critical and optimising the thermal conductivity of Heusler alloys has been problematic. We aim to capitalise on our recent advances in Heusler alloy synthesis and nanostructuring, which currently represents the only UK efforts in this fast-growing field.The ultimate aim of this proposal is to develop new means of controlling the thermal conductivity of Heusler alloys in order to build a TEG prototype of comparable performance to existing lead telluride devices. Our insight is that there are a variety of alloy phases and intentional defects that can be used to introduce structural texture on the nanoscale, thereby reducing the thermal conductivity. What is exciting is that many of these structures have not previously been studied. A critical aspect is the size and distribution of the texturing, which should be long enough to avoid reducing the material's electrical conductivity but short enough to impede the flow of heat. We will investigate the optimum length-scales for texturing by performing a systematic study of the impact of processing conditions on the HA nanoscale structure. We will use world-leading electron microscopy, neutron scattering facilities and theoretical modelling to probe the atomic-scale structure and dynamics of the new materials in order to optimise the synthesis parameters. We will then use this technical know-how in collaboration with our industrial partner European Thermodynamics Ltd. to build prototype TEG modules. This collaborative project, involving three academic institutions, national facilities and a UK small business, has substantial potential for impact, with notable prospects for making a contribution to lowering the UK's carbon footprint. It also provides excellent opportunities for knowledge transfer to a vibrant new industry and for high-quality training.* H. Zervos, "Thermoelectric Energy Harvesting 2014-2024: Devices, Applications, Opportunities," 2014

热电材料将废热转化为有用的电能。即使是效率低下的热电发电回收也会对英国和全球的能源消费产生重大影响，因为超过一半的一次能源最终被浪费为热量。到目前为止，热电发电机（TEG）仅限于利基应用，例如为旅行者号太空探测器提供动力，其中耐用，可靠和低维护的发电至关重要。然而，热电能量采集器的市场预计将在十年内接近10亿美元。TEG的潜在应用包括从汽车尾气中清除热量，生产用于偏远、离网位置的热电联产装置，以及更换可穿戴微电子设备中的电池。一个主要的限制是开发廉价，有效的TEG，不依赖于有毒或稀缺的资源。例如，目前用于汽车热回收的最有效的热电材料是有毒铅和稀缺碲的化合物。在这个项目中，我们的目标是开发一种可行的，无毒的替代碲化铅TEG，使用“赫斯勒合金”，其中联合收割机丰富的元素，如钛，镍和锡。它们还满足热电发电的大多数工业要求，具有良好的热稳定性和机械稳定性，机械强度和易于加工。然而，TEG的导热性也是至关重要的，并且优化Heusler合金的导热性一直存在问题。我们的目标是利用我们最近在Heusler合金合成和纳米结构方面的进展，这是目前英国在这个快速发展的领域中唯一的努力。这项提案的最终目标是开发控制Heusler合金热导率的新方法，以建立一个与现有碲化铅设备性能相当的TEG原型。我们的见解是，有各种各样的合金相和故意的缺陷，可以用来引入纳米级的结构纹理，从而降低热导率。令人兴奋的是，这些结构中有许多以前从未被研究过。一个关键的方面是纹理的大小和分布，纹理应该足够长以避免降低材料的导电性，但又足够短以阻止热量的流动。我们将通过对HA纳米级结构的加工条件的影响进行系统的研究来调查纹理化的最佳长度尺度。我们将使用世界领先的电子显微镜，中子散射设施和理论建模来探测新材料的原子尺度结构和动力学，以优化合成参数。然后，我们将利用这些技术知识与我们的工业合作伙伴European Thermodynamics Ltd.合作，构建原型TEG模块。这一合作项目涉及三个学术机构、国家设施和一家英国小企业，具有巨大的影响潜力，为降低英国的碳足迹做出贡献的前景显著。它还为知识转移到充满活力的新行业和高质量的培训提供了极好的机会。H. Zervos，“热电能源收集2014-2024：设备、应用、机遇”，2014年