NSF/DOE Thermoelectrics Partnership: Thermoelectrics for Automotive Waste Heat Recovery

[48616]该项目旨在发展基础知识和新技术，以加速高效和经济地收集汽车排气系统中的废热。智力价值：要解决的科学问题包括热电材料的开发，先进的系统级热管理和设计，散热器设计，新型热界面材料的开发，以及材料和系统评估的先进计量。将要研究的热电材料包括目前由公司合作伙伴通用汽车公司正在研究的填充晶圆石，以及普渡大学将开发的纳米线基材料、纳米晶陶瓷化合物和金属/导体超晶格。将进行系统级热建模，以最大限度地提高热电材料的温差，从而提高废热转化为电能的效率。为了提高能量转换效率，新型耐用的纳米级热界面材料将被开发出来。性质将使用普渡大学的光声方法和激光热反射方法，并使用橡树岭国家实验室的设备进行测量。更广泛的影响：普渡大学和通用汽车的研究人员之间的合作将加速新技术的开发，这将促进废热在汽车应用中的高效和经济的热电转换为电能。成功的开发和最终的实施将提高燃油经济性和减少排放。研究成果将通过传统方式传播，也将通过普渡大学？美国的nanoHUB和thermalHUB门户网站。该研究将为研究生提供跨学科的研究经验，以及通过在行业实习的行业经验。该研究将与本科和研究生课程相结合，并作为本科设计项目的基础。已经计划向高中学生，包括来自代表性不足群体的学生开展外展活动。

1048616XuThis project seeks to develop both fundamental understanding and new technology to accelerate the efficient and cost-effective harvesting of waste heat in automotive exhaust systems. Intellectual Merit: Scientific issues to be addressed include thermoelectric materials development, advanced systems-level thermal management and design, heat sink design, development of novel thermal interface materials, and advanced metrology for material and system assessment. Thermoelectric materials to be investigated include filled-skutterudites that are currently being investigated by the corporate partner, General Motors, as well as nanowire-based materials, nanocrystalline ceramic compounds, and metal/conductor superlattices to be developed at Purdue. Systems-level thermal modeling will be conducted to maximize the temperature difference across the thermoelectric material, thereby increasing the efficiency with which waste heat can be converted to electric power. Novel durable nanoscale thermal interface materials will be developed to minimize thermal resistances in order to promote high energy conversion efficiency.. Properties will be measured using a photoacoustic method and a laser thermal reflectance method at Purdue in conjunction with use of facilities at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory.Broader Impact: The collaboration between researchers at Purdue and General Motors will accelerate the development of new technology that will promote the efficient and cost-effective thermoelectric conversion of waste heat to electric power in vehicle applications. Successful development and ultimate implementation will improve fuel economy and reduce emissions. The research results will be disseminated by traditional means, as well as through Purdue?s nanoHUB and thermalHUB web portals. The research will provide graduate students with interdisciplinary research experiences, as well as industrial experience through internships in industry. The research will be integrated with undergraduate and graduate courses and serve as the basis for undergraduate design projects. Outreach activities to high school students, including students from underrepresented groups, have been planned.