Collaborative Research: NSF/DOE Thermoelectric Partnership: High-Performance Thermoelectric Devices Based on Abundant Silicide Materials for Vehicle Waste Heat Recovery

1048767Shi本项目旨在开发用于原型热电模块的新型热电材料，以促进汽车尾气系统中废热的低成本转化。智能优点：该建议解决了成功实施热电设备从汽车尾气中回收废热的四个关键要素。这些措施包括开发新的热电材料、系统级建模、散热器的开发以及降低材料-材料界面的热阻和电阻。感兴趣的热电材料是硅化物，其中p型和n型材料的晶格热导率将通过纳米结构降低，从而提高材料在废热回收方案中的效率。一旦开发出来，这种新材料将被整合到热电模块中，这些模块将安装在6.7升柴油发动机上，以测量系统在实际运行条件下的性能。将开发和利用系统一级的模型，以确定进一步增加和优化总体设计的机会。材料特性将在PIS机构和橡树岭国家实验室进行测量。更广泛的影响：新热电材料和模块设计的成功开发和实施将提高燃油经济性和减少排放。研究生将参与这项研究。关于热电余热回收的视频课程模块将通过互联网为K-12、本科生和研究生开发和传播。将向当地广大人口开展外联活动。

1048767ShiThis project seeks to develop novel thermoelectric materials for use in prototype thermoelectric modules to promote the cost-effective conversion of waste heat in vehicle exhaust systems.Intellectual Merit: This proposal addresses four elements that are critical for successful implementation of thermoelectric devices for waste heat recovery from vehicle exhaust. These include development of new thermoelectric materials, system-level modeling, heat sink development, and reduction of thermal and electric resistances at material-material interfaces. The thermoelectric materials of interest are silicides, in which the lattice thermal conductivity of both the p- and n-type material will be reduced through nanostructuring, hence increasing the efficacy with which the material will perform in waste heat recovery scenarios. Once developed, the new material will be incorporated into thermoelectric modules, and the modules will be installed on a 6.7 liter diesel engine to measure system performance under realistic operating conditions. A system-level model will be developed and utilized to identify opportunities to further increase and optimize the overall design. Material properties will be measured at the PIs institutions as well as at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.Broader Impact: The successful development and implementation of new thermoelectric materials and module designs will improve fuel economy and reduce emissions. Graduate students will be involved in the research. Video course modules specific to thermoelectric waste heat recovery will be developed and disseminated via the Internet for K-12, undergraduate, and graduate students. Outreach to a broad segment of the local population will be conducted.