Mechanical Facts

Subject:

Most efficient thermoelectric harvester

Researchers innovated a stretchable thermoelectric generator with a skin-attachable gasket, enhancing
energy production through "mechanical metamaterials."

From :

Ali Hassan

Reg. No.:
2021-ME-521

Society:
American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Chapter Narowal University:

University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore (NWL)

Study abstract:

Wearable thermoelectric generators (WTEGs) have relied on soft encapsulation materials

typically used for the structural support of thermoelectric legs. Heat loss through the filler and
low heat transfer via the mismatched contact with the skin causes a small temperature gradient
between the human body (hot side) and the natural environment (cold side). Instead of using
soft encapsulation materials, a partially air-filled deformable gasket is purposed for leg support,
achieving the thermal isolation of thermoelectric legs by preventing parasitic heat transfer. The
WTEG comprising the deformable gasket exhibits a 30% larger temperature gradient than that
with conventional encapsulant structures filled with soft materials. Additionally, the deformable
gasket shows an auxetic metastructure owing to its negative Poisson's ratio, reversibly
responding to changes in their environment, which is suitable for skin-like stretchable wearable
devices. The band type of WTEG with the optimized leg geometry and fill factor shows a power
output of 2 uW cm−2 for eight pairs of thermocouples, a record-high value among the
stretchable TEGs obtained indoors at room temperature (23 °C) without wind. This approach
paves the way for the efficient conversion of thermal energy into electrical energy and broadens
potential applications for self-powered wearable electronics.

University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore (NWL)

Most efficient thermoelectric harvester
Engineers have developed cutting-edge technology that may considerably increase the
flexibility and efficiency of thermoelectric generators to unprecedented levels. This
breakthrough has the potential to revolutionize the area of energy generation by leveraging
the power of "mechanical metamaterials." These materials belong to a distinct category and
thus are not present in nature. They are manufactured by carefully organizing their internal
structures.

Researchers from the Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI) have developed a
flexible, skin-attachable gasket for stretchable thermoelectric generators.

As per the official release, this development could possibly increase the efficiency of a
thermoelectric generator to the “world's highest level.”

Stretchable, highly efficient thermoelectric generator gasket

A thermoelectric generator is a device that converts heat energy into electrical power using the
Seebeck effect. The Seebeck effect is a voltage differential caused by a temperature variation
between two dissimilar electrical conductors or semiconductors. In a thermoelectric generator,
this voltage difference is used to generate an electric current, thus producing electrical power.
The team's major goal was to develop a thermoelectric generator with better efficiency and
stretchability, ideal for use on curved surfaces such as skin or hot water pipes. Conventional
thermoelectric generators rely heavily on stiff ceramic printed circuit boards, which makes
adaption to curved surfaces difficult.

Interestingly, the scientists increased the stretchability of thermoelectric generators by a

remarkable 35 percent by adding a deformable gasket with a metastructure.The use of a
metastructure improves the thermoelectric generator's structural stability, allowing it to easily
adapt to diverse geometries and demonstrate exceptional stretchability.

Furthermore, the efficient insulation provided by the gasket's partial air gap reduces heat loss,
increasing the thermoelectric generator's efficiency. When compared to currently existing
flexible thermoelectric generators, this results in a staggering 30 percent increase in
temperature differential.

Dr Hyekyoung Choi of KERI stated: "Researchers in the team not only have the know-how to
develop high-performance thermoelectric materials but also have modularization technology
dedicated to energy harvesting and technology related to stable self-powered devices."

University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore (NWL)

Choi added: "With such convergence research, we were able to create synergy and consider
everything from core technology development, and testing to real-life applications."

Mechanical metamaterials
Mechanical metamaterials are a class of materials engineered to exhibit unique mechanical
properties that are not found in nature. These materials derive their properties from their
geometric design rather than their composition, and they often consist of repeating unit cells
arranged in specific patterns. The goal is to create materials with extraordinary mechanical
characteristics, such as negative Poisson's ratio (auxetic behavior), tunable elasticity, or high
strength-to-weight ratios.

Key characteristics and concepts related to mechanical metamaterials include:

Auxetic Behavior: Some mechanical metamaterials exhibit auxetic behavior, meaning they have
a negative Poisson's ratio. Unlike most materials that contract in one direction when stretched,
auxetic materials expand in the transverse direction. This can be useful in applications such as
impact protection and energy absorption.

Tunable Mechanical Properties: Mechanical metamaterials can be designed to have tunable

mechanical properties. By adjusting the geometry of the unit cells or the arrangement of the
material, it's possible to control properties like stiffness, elasticity, and damping.

Negative Stiffness Materials: These materials have a negative effective stiffness, which means
they can oscillate or deform in response to an applied force without experiencing an opposing
force. This property can be exploited for shock absorption or vibration isolation.

Lattice Structures: Many mechanical metamaterials rely on lattice structures, where the
arrangement of beams or struts in a specific pattern determines the overall mechanical
behavior of the material. Common lattice structures include hexagonal, square, or triangular
configurations.

Applications of mechanical metamaterials span various fields, including aerospace engineering,

robotics, medical devices, and infrastructure. They offer the potential for creating lightweight
yet strong structures, adaptive materials, and innovative solutions to engineering challenges.
Researchers continue to explore and develop new designs to unlock the full potential of
mechanical metamaterials in diverse applications.

University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore (NWL)

 Figure 1: Mechanical Metamaterial

Reference:
For more information: https://techxplore.com/news/2023-11-stretchable-efficient-
wearable-thermoelectric-energy.html

University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore (NWL)