Thermoelectrics: Waste Heat Conversion

Technology

Ran He

Zhifeng Ren Lab

Department of Physics and
Texas Center for Superconductivity
University of Houston
Houston, Texas 77204

Email: zren@uh.edu

July 22, 2016

Zhifeng Ren · University of Houston, Department of Physics and TcSUH 1

 Why waste heat conversion?

Zhifeng Ren · University of Houston, Department of Physics and TcSUH 2

 Thermoelectric effects and techniques
Seebeck effect

Peltier effect

Pros: solid state, maintenance free, reliable, eco-friendly

Cons: relatively low efficiency

Suitable for add-on, remote and unique applications

Zhifeng Ren · University of Houston, Department of Physics and TcSUH 3

 Thermoelectrics in Dr. Ren’s group

• More than 10 years research experience in thermoelectric

materials
• One of the leading research groups on thermoelectrics in the
world
• Introduced many new concepts to improve the thermoelectric
performance
• Developed unique technics solutions for large scale
compacting

Zhifeng Ren · University of Houston, Department of Physics and TcSUH 4

 Material breaking through:
the concept of nano bulk structure

Bulk ingot Mechanical alloying

Nano powder DC hot pressing

Since the 1950s

Nano bulk
The throughput can reach
multiple tons per year. Ren’s group, Science 320, 634 (2008)

Zhifeng Ren · University of Houston, Department of Physics and TcSUH 5

High-temp unicouple performance

Leg Size 1.8*1.8*2 mm

Brazing Temp 800 C

Temperature 600-100 C

Power Density ~6.0 W/cm2

Power ~6.25 W/cm2

(Simulation)
Reliability <1% over 1000 cycles

Unicouple Reliability (100-600 C)

• Experiment power data matches with

simulation data in <5%
• Excellent long term cycling reliability
• Confirming our bonding technique is robust

Zhifeng Ren · University of Houston, Department of Physics and TcSUH

High-temp Module Architectures

TG8-1.0 TG16-1.0 TG8-1.0

Parts

Brazing

Building

Process flow
Blocks
Soldering

Raw
Modules
Welding
Packaged
Modules

 We provides two baseline module solutions for TEG applications.

 All processes are compatible with existing manufacturing techniques
Zhifeng Ren · University of Houston, Department of Physics and TcSUH
High-temp generator performance

Assembled TEG
1200

1000

800

TEG tested forIover

nlet five hours
Power (W)

600 • Ma nifol
400 • Maximum d
TEGpower output of ~1150 W measured
Cold
200
Out Plat
let M e
0
300 350 400 450 500 550 600 a ni f o
Exhaust Temperature (°C)
ld

TEG Thermal Image

Zhifeng Ren · University of Houston, Department of Physics and TcSUH
8
 What can we do for Calpine?
• Thermoelectric technique can be compatible with all
of the Calpine power plants (the natural gas, the
geothermal and the cogeneration plants;

• It helps increasing the power generation efficiency

and decreasing the environmental impact;

• It does not require operators and maintenances.

Zhifeng Ren · University of Houston, Department of Physics and TcSUH 9

 Acknowledgment
• Dr. Bed Poudel, Dr. Yucheng Lan, Dr. Yi Ma, Dr. Xiaowei Wang, Dr. Giri Joshi,
Dr. Bo Yu, Dr. Qinyong Zhang, Dr. Qian Zhang, Dr. Jian Yang, Dr. Qing Jie, Dr.
Xiao Yan, Dr. Shuo Chen, Dr. Huaizhou Zhao, Dr. Jiehe Sui, Dr. Chuanfei
Guo, Dr. Siya Huang, and many others.

• Gang Chen, Millie Dresselhaus, and their group members

• DOE, AF, NSF, etc.

• Your attention

Zhifeng Ren · University of Houston, Department of Physics and TcSUH 10