SBIR Phase I: Direct Energy Conversion Technology to Convert Smelter Waste Heat to Electricity

这个小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第一阶段项目将指导热能到电能转换技术(DTEC)生产热二极管，以捕获电解冶炼厂的废热，并将其转化为额外的电力供冶炼厂使用，从而提高能源效率。研究目标是在PbTe化合物上开发ENECO热敏二极管技术的最基本元素，表征它们的性能，并评估在400-600oC的温度下以超过20%的绝对效率生产PbTe热敏二极管的可能性，正如数值模拟所预测的那样。研究内容包括：在p型和n型单晶衬底上通过薄膜沉积建立p*/n/p和n*/p/n结构，制备和表征前驱体材料，表征结构的DTEC性能，并优化结构以获得最大的转换效率。从这种技术衍生出的商业产品预计将使用普通的半导体制造技术来制造，成本低廉。这项新技术可能会在余热回收、一次热能的高效转换以及目前不经济的部门的固态冷却方面打开广泛的新市场机会。从社会的角度来看，这项新技术的广泛使用可以帮助减少环境排放总量，节约能源。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will direct thermal-energy-to-electrical-energy conversion technology (DTEC) to produce Thermal Diodes to capture waste heat from electrolytic smelters and to convert it into additional electricity for use by the smelter, thereby improving energy efficiency. The research objective is to develop the most fundamental elements of ENECO's Thermal Diode technology on PbTe compounds, to characterize their performance and to assess the possibility that PbTe Thermal Diodes can be produced with an absolute efficiency in excess of 20% at temperatures of 400-600oC as predicted from numerical modeling. The research requires building p*/n/p and n*/p/n structures by thin film deposition on ptype and n-type single crystal substrates, production and characterization of the precursor materials, characterizing the DTEC performance of the structures, and optimizing structures for maximum conversion efficiency. Commercial products derived from this technology are expected to be inexpensive to manufacture using common semiconductor fabrication techniques. This new technology could open extensive new market opportunities in the recovery of waste heat, efficient conversion of primary heat, and solid state cooling in sectors where it is at present uneconomical. From a societal perspective, widespread use of this new technology could help to reduce total environmental emissions and conserve energy.