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

现代传感器、电子设备、通信设备和生物医学设备的耗电量迅速下降，为使用低等级能源（如废热、人的运动或热量、声音和振动）供电的便携式自主系统开辟了新的可能性。废热是低品位能源的主要来源，是许多化石燃料驱动的能量转换系统固有的低效率的结果。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量转换和热能储存技术来利用低等级能源的机会，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，这些行业的市场总额为9500亿美元[参考文献]。提出的研究计划将特别关注热电和热声直接能量转换和潜热热能储存技术。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，环保优势和高可靠性而闻名。这两种系统都可以在发电或制冷模式下运行，并且可以很容易地与热能储存系统或低等级能源集成。具体任务包括开发新材料（例如，热电体纳米复合材料、磁性纳米流体和生物基纳米相变材料）、拓扑（例如，梯度形态泡沫和异质堆叠）、系统（例如，柔性热电系统、磁性热声系统、热电池、热电容器）、能量传输模型和可靠的实验数据。拟议的项目也将产生原型阵列，例如，可持续空调，食品冰箱，便携式药物冷却器，大气水采集器，热声发电机/冰箱，封装热电池和半主动/被动BTMS。世界人口的迅速增长给我们的自然资源带来了巨大的环境压力和需求。利用丰富的低品位能源，通过创新的能源转换、能源储存和热管理技术，有可能解决这些挑战。拟议的研究计划将产生科学/工程知识，集成流程和设计工具，其中新兴的纳米材料/复合材料被采用。它还将为培养学术界和工业界急需的学生/研究员提供良好的平台，并将使分拆公司产生收入和创造就业机会。零温室气体排放的热电和热声系统将对我们的环境造成更小的破坏性影响，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.