The Prototyping of a Low Temperature Thermoelectric Energy Conservation System of Automotive Waste Heat

Overview

Waste heat, a byproduct of energy conversions, is an overlooked catalyst of excessive energy consumption, global warming, and pollution. It constitutes 60% of potential energy in fuel, yet remains widely ignored and unused. The purpose of this project was to develop a device to utilize this waste in order to convert it to usable electric energy for a hybrid vehicle. It was proposed to create a device employing the Seebeck effect to produce electricity due to a temperature gradient. The Seebeck effect converts a temperature gradient to electric charge. The developed design consisted of a copper pipe that was surrounded with a lattice of solder coated copper plates. On these plates were a grid of bismuth telluride semiconductors alternating in P and N type doping creating a series of thermoelectric Seebeck uni-couples. These thermal couples were integrated in a series circuit using another lattice of solder covered copper plates. To magnify the temperature gradient and maintain solder solidity, another layer of epoxy was used to bond heat sinks to the cool side of the device. A heat gun was then used to simulate a car’s exhaust source. An IR thermometer and multi-meter measured that 0.408 volts were produced at 105 degrees Celsius. It was calculated that if the device were manufactured without fault, the total increase in efficiency would be 5%. Despite the seemingly small energy conservation, it must be accounted for that this is 100% clean derivation of energy from waste; any increase in efficiency of automobiles can be equivalent to billions of dollars of savings, conservation of billions of gallons of gas, and reductions in millions of tons of carbon emissions annually. Additionally, this device was intended as proof of concept because higher-grade materials alongside machined construction could produce superior results. Future design plans include compounding thermoelectric tiers to further capture wasted heat, implementation of higher quality materials to operate past current peak operating temperature, and maximization of the heat gradient with coolant. This procures application to global energy conservation in any process emitting heat. Military vehicles in remote areas with limited resources could be enabled to go further on less fuel. Third-world-country electricity generation could be permitted in woodstove smoke stacks. Finally, reduced carbon emissions have a direct correlation to reduced risk of lung cancer and other health risks.

Competition history

• AJAS 2018 Category not listed

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