Innovative Energy Conversion, Thermal Management and Storage Systems: From Material to Prototype Development

现代传感器、电子、通信和生物医学设备的功耗迅速下降，为便携式自主系统提供了新的可能性，这些系统由低级别能量供电，如废热、人体运动或热量，或声音和振动。废热是低级能源的主要来源，是许多化石燃料驱动的能源转换系统固有效率低下的结果。我的长期目标是通过开发包含新兴纳米材料/复合材料的创新直接能源转换和热能存储技术来利用低品位能源机会，并利用这些技术为移动电子、电动汽车和节能建筑行业开发创新的热管理解决方案，这些行业加在一起构成了9500亿美元的市场。访问数/每百万人：Reach for[拟议的研究计划将特别侧重于热电和热声直接能量转换和潜热储能技术。这些技术将用于开发电动汽车和自动驾驶汽车的电池热管理系统(BTMS)。热电和热声系统以其设计简单、环境优势和高可靠性而闻名。这两个系统既可以在发电模式下运行，也可以在制冷模式下运行，并且可以很容易地与热能存储系统或低品位能源集成。具体任务包括开发新材料(例如热电块状纳米复合材料、磁性纳米流体和生物基纳米相变材料)、拓扑结构(例如梯度形态泡沫和异质堆叠)、系统(例如柔性热电系统、磁热声系统、热电池、热电容器)、能量传输模型和可靠的实验数据。拟议的计划还将产生一系列原型，例如可持续空调、食品冰箱、便携式药物冷却器、大气水收集器、热声发电机/冰箱、封装式热电池和半主动/被动BTM。世界人口的快速增长给我们的自然资源带来了巨大的环境压力和需求。通过创新的能源转换、能源储存和热管理技术利用丰富的低品位能源，有可能应对这些挑战。拟议的研究计划将产生科学/工程知识、集成工艺和设计工具，其中使用了新兴的纳米材料/复合材料。它还将提供极好的平台来培训学术界和工业界非常需要的学生/研究员，并将使剥离出来的公司能够创造收入和创造就业机会。零温室气体排放、热电和热声系统将对我们的环境造成较小的破坏性影响，并将改善加拿大人的健康和安全。

The rapidly declining power usage of modern sensors, electronics, communications, and biomedical devices is opening new possibilities for portable autonomous systems that are powered by low-grade energy, such as waste heat, motion or heat from a person, or sound and vibrations. Waste heat, a key source of low-grade energy, is the consequence of the inherent inefficiencies of numerous fossil fuel driven energy conversion systems. My long-term goal is to exploit the low-grade energy opportunities by developing innovative direct energy conversion and thermal energy storage technologies incorporating emerging nano-materials/composites and use these technologies for developing innovative thermal management solutions for Mobile Electronic, Electric Vehicle, and Energy Efficient Building industries, which combined comprises a 950 billion dollar market [Ref. IBISWorld]. The proposed research program will specifically focus on the thermoelectric and thermoacoustic direct energy conversion and latent-heat thermal energy storage technologies. These technologies will be utilized for developing battery thermal management system (BTMS) for electric and autonomous vehicles. Thermoelectric and thermoacoustic systems are known for their design simplicity, environmental advantages, and high reliability. Both systems can be operated either in power-generation or refrigeration mode and can easily be integrated with thermal energy storage systems or low-grade energy sources. The specific tasks include the development of new materials (e.g., thermoelectric-bulk-nano-composites, magnetic-nanofluids, and bio-based nano-phase-change-materials), topology (e.g., graded-morphology-foam and heterogeneous-stacks), systems (e.g., flexible-thermoelectric system, magnetic-thermoacoustic system, thermal-battery, thermal-capacitor), energy transport models, and reliable experimental data. The proposed program will generate arrays of prototypes as well, e.g., sustainable air-conditioner, food-refrigerator, portable medicine cooler, atmospheric water-harvester, thermoacoustic power generator/refrigerator, encapsulated thermal-battery, and semi-active/passive BTMS. The world's rapid population growth puts tremendous environmental stress and demand on our natural resources. Utilization of abundant low-grade energy, through innovative energy conversion, energy storage, and thermal management technologies, has the potential to address such challenges. The proposed research program will generate scientific/engineering knowledge, integrated processes, and design tools, where emerging nano-materials/composites are employed. It will also provide excellent platforms to train students/fellows, who are in high demand in academia and industry, and will enable spin-off companies to generate revenue and create jobs. Zero greenhouse gas emission thermoelectric and thermoacoustic systems will have less damaging impacts on our environment and will improve the health and safety for Canadians.