Performance Optimized Thermoelectric Generation System

To address the MDA need for developing innovative methods for efficient conversion of waste heat in the third stage of a solid rocket motor to electrical power, Luminit, LLC proposes to develop a new innovative Performance Optimized Thermoelectric Generator (POTEG) system. This proposed technology is based on an integrated system of highly efficient nanostructured flexible thermoelectric generators and thermal switches. The POTEG system will be lightweight (<5kg) and capable of supplying>300W of electricity to the power management system while removing heat from the insulation for at least 5 minutes and converting it to electricity. 4-10 kg of battery weight in the overall missile will be reduced by converting from thermal batteries to rechargeable batteries with this POTEG heat recovery system. In Phase I, Luminit will demonstrate the feasibility of POTEG by developing and testing a conceptual prototype of POTEG for waste heat recovery. In Phase II, Luminit plans to further refine the system design and build an integrated scalable engineering prototype capable of operating in a micro-gravity environment and survive the high-g environment of launch (40 g peak to peak at frequencies under 150 Hz).