High Efficiency, Cost Effective Thermoelectric Materials/Devices for Industrial Process Refrigeration and Waste Heat Recovery

Opportunities exists to develop high-efficiency thermoelectric (TE) devices for the cost-effective exploitation of industrial waste heat (e.g., in manufacturing process) and for industrial process refrigeration. The key to the development of such high-efficiency TE devices is to develop a TE material with a high ZT value. High-efficiency ZT devices can recycle waste heat, increase energy efficiency, and reduce unfavorable pollutant and vapor emission. This project will: (1) develop a low-cost scalable approach for producing a novel class of high-ZT thermoelectric nanocomposites; and (2) build/characterize high-efficiency, cost-effective TE devices that can be applied to industrial process refrigeration and waste heat recovery. Phase I research will involve material design, processing development, characterization, and protoyping, with the objective of identifying the underlying technical issues that govern fabrication and performance. Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee: The development of high-ZT nanocrystalline TE materials should enable the cost-effective production of high-efficiency TE devices to replace conventional mechanical cooling, and eliminate the use of refrigerants that provide a net contribution to global warming. Potential applications include space cooling in buildings and vehicles; refrigeration for residential and commercial; and industrial waste heat recovery and process refrigeration.