Advanced Thermoelectric Materials for Energy Harvesting Applications

Saim Memon

doi:10.5772/intechopen.77430

Abstract

Electrical energy consumption is negatively affecting our environment and contributing to climate change. Therefore the research and industrial communities are working hard to minimize energy consumption using promising energy-efficient and renewable energy technologies. We know that it is possible to convert heat energy into electrical energy using thermoelectric devices; this heat energy can be from the sun or from an electro-mechanical device. However, thermoelectric devices traditionally suffer from lower efficiencies of energy conversion. This book, Advanced Thermoelectric Materials for Energy Harvesting Applications, is a researchintensive textbook consisting of eight chapters organized into three sections. Section 1 consists of Chapters 2, 3, and 4, which cover advanced thermoelectric materials and the topics of organic/inorganic thermoelectric materials, quantum theory of the Seebeck coefficient for the advancement of thermoelectric superconducting material, and the limits of Bismuth Telluride-based thermoelectric materials. Section 2, containing Chapters 5 and 6, evaluates behaviors and performance of thermoelectric devices. Section 3, containing Chapters 7 and 8, focuses on energy harvesting applications of thermoelectric devices. This book will be of interest to a wide range of individuals, such as scientists, engineers, researchers, and undergraduate and postgraduate students in the field of advanced thermoelectric materials.

Highlights

Due to a cumulative trepidation of global carbon dioxide emissions and balancing the global electricity supply, an advancement into progressive technologies such as thermoelectrics has appeared to be promising [1]
The prototype had a voltage of 17.2 V, compared with the theoretical prediction of 18.4 V, which was the average of the 18.1 V predicted for aluminum and 18.8 V predicted for copper
It may be noted that the output current and voltage increase according to the temperature difference between the sides of the thermoelectric generator

Summary

Introduction

Due to a cumulative trepidation of global carbon dioxide emissions and balancing the global electricity supply, an advancement into progressive technologies such as thermoelectrics has appeared to be promising [1]. Over the past three decades, there has been an increasing significance of advancing the thermoelectric materials for energy harvesting applications [2] such as of passive cooling and utilizing the waste heat into useful electrical power, with Seebeck effect, from the automotive exhausts, combined heating and power devices, radiators [3], geothermal steam, electric vehicles and smart grids [4]. The book establishes sustainable energy development goals of harnessing the waste heat energy from appliances, machines and devices and conversion to useful electrical power to a range of applications. The bulk material property called the Seebeck coefficient (α), governs thermoelectric behavior. This relationship can be expressed as: ∇V 1⁄4 α∇T. In TEGs, multiple thermocouples called thermoelectric modules (TEMs) are connected in series to generate higher voltages

Methods

Results

Conclusion