Performance and Design Comparison of a Bulk Thermoelectric Cooler With a Hybrid Architecture

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret Antonik ◽  
Brendan T. O'Connor ◽  
Scott Ferguson
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
Electrical Current ◽  
Performance Outcomes ◽  
Polymer Materials ◽  
Plastic Substrate ◽  
Thermoelectric Device ◽  
Hybrid Architecture ◽  
Cost Information ◽  
Thermoelectric Coolers ◽  
Design Variables

This paper compares the economic viability and performance outcomes of two different thermoelectric device architectures to determine the advantages and appropriate use of each configuration. Hybrid thermoelectric coolers (TECs) employ thin-film thermoelectric materials sandwiched between a plastic substrate and form a corrugated structure. Roll-to-roll (R2R) manufacturing and low-cost polymer materials offer a cost advantage to the hybrid architecture at the sacrifice of performance capabilities while conventional bulk devices offer increased performance at a higher cost. Performance characteristics and cost information are developed for both hybrid and conventional bulk single-stage thermoelectric modules. The design variables include device geometry, electrical current input, and thermoelectric material type. The tradeoffs between cooling performance and cost will be explored, and the thermoelectric system configuration is analyzed for both hybrid and conventional bulk TECs.

Performance Comparison of a Bulk Thermoelectric Cooler With a Hybrid Device Architecture

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret Antonik ◽  
Scott M. Ferguson ◽  
Brendan T. O’Connor
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
Electrical Current ◽  
Performance Outcomes ◽  
Performance Comparison ◽  
Polymer Materials ◽  
Plastic Substrate ◽  
Thermoelectric Device ◽  
Hybrid Architecture ◽  
Thermoelectric Coolers ◽  
Trade Offs

This paper compares the economic viability and performance outcomes of two different thermoelectric device architectures to determine the advantages and appropriate use of each configuration. Hybrid thermoelectric coolers employ thin-film thermoelectric materials sandwiched between a plastic substrate and formed into a corrugated structure. Roll-to-roll manufacturing and low-cost polymer materials offer a cost advantage to the hybrid architecture at the sacrifice of performance capabilities while conventional bulk devices offer increased performance at a higher cost. Performance characteristics and cost information are developed for both hybrid and conventional bulk single-stage thermoelectric modules. The design variables include device geometry, electrical current input, and thermoelectric material type. The trade-offs between cooling performance and cost will be explored and the thermoelectric system configuration analyzed for both hybrid and conventional bulk thermoelectric coolers.

Flexible long range planning using low cost information

1991 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 151-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan De Dios Ortúzar ◽  
Luis G. Willumsen
Keyword(s):  
Long Range ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Cost Information ◽  
Long Range Planning

scholarly journals Hardware-in-the-loop simulation of wave energy converters based on dielectric elastomer generators

Meccanica ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 56 (5) ◽  
pp. 1223-1237
Author(s):  
Giacomo Moretti ◽  
Andrea Scialò ◽  
Giovanni Malara ◽  
Giovanni Gerardo Muscolo ◽  
Felice Arena ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wave Energy ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Test Site ◽  
Dielectric Elastomer ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Polymer Materials ◽  
Hardware In The Loop ◽  
Wave Energy Converters ◽  
Energy Converters

AbstractDielectric elastomer generators (DEGs) are soft electrostatic generators based on low-cost electroactive polymer materials. These devices have attracted the attention of the marine energy community as a promising solution to implement economically viable wave energy converters (WECs). This paper introduces a hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulation framework for a class of WECs that combines the concept of the oscillating water columns (OWCs) with the DEGs. The proposed HIL system replicates in a laboratory environment the realistic operating conditions of an OWC/DEG plant, while drastically reducing the experimental burden compared to wave tank or sea tests. The HIL simulator is driven by a closed-loop real-time hydrodynamic model that is based on a novel coupling criterion which allows rendering a realistic dynamic response for a diversity of scenarios, including large scale DEG plants, whose dimensions and topologies are largely different from those available in the HIL setup. A case study is also introduced, which simulates the application of DEGs on an OWC plant installed in a mild real sea laboratory test-site. Comparisons with available real sea-test data demonstrated the ability of the HIL setup to effectively replicate a realistic operating scenario. The insights gathered on the promising performance of the analysed OWC/DEG systems pave the way to pursue further sea trials in the future.

scholarly journals Power to Choose? An Analysis of Consumer Inertia in the Residential Electricity Market

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 192-226 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Hortaçsu ◽  
Seyed Ali Madanizadeh ◽  
Steven L. Puller
Keyword(s):  
Electricity Market ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Consumer Surplus ◽  
Retail Competition ◽  
Search Frictions ◽  
Cost Information ◽  
Household Level ◽  
Consumer Benefits ◽  
Level Data ◽  
Residential Electricity

Many jurisdictions around the world have deregulated utilities and opened retail markets to competition. However, inertial decision making can diminish consumer benefits of retail competition. Using household-level data from the Texas residential electricity market, we document evidence of consumer inertia. We estimate an econometric model of retail choice to measure two sources of inertia: search frictions/inattention and a brand advantage that consumers afford the incumbent. We find that households rarely search for alternative retailers, and when they do search, households attach a brand advantage to the incumbent. Counterfactual experiments show that low-cost information interventions can notably increase consumer surplus. (JEL D12, D83, L81, L94, L98, M31)

Technology Issues and the New ICTs

Leonardo ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 311-313 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberto Verzola
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Universal Access ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Appropriate Technology ◽  
Public Ownership ◽  
Information And Communications Technologies ◽  
Cost Information ◽  
Compulsory Licensing ◽  
Communications Technologies ◽  
Ict Infrastructure

The author provides examples of low-cost information and communications technologies (ICTs) and suggests five major strategies for their low-cost deployment in developing countries: (1) appropriate technology, (2) free/open software, (3) compulsory licensing, (4) pay-per-use public stations and (5) community/public ownership of ICT infrastructure. Aside from the problems of affordability and universal access, the author identifies the Internet's built-in biases for (1) English, (2) subsidizing globalization, (3) automation and (4) the technofix, and explores the implications of these biases. The challenge is not only to design affordable and accessible technologies or to redesign technologies to be consistent with our deeply held values, but also to make ourselves less technology dependent.

Localized Laser Sintering of Metal Nanoparticle Inks Printed with Aerosol Jet® Technology for Flexible Electronics

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 132-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Renn ◽  
Matthew Schrandt ◽  
Jaxon Renn ◽  
James Q. Feng
Keyword(s):  
Metal Nanoparticles ◽  
Flexible Electronics ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Damage Threshold ◽  
Laser Sintering ◽  
Heating Time ◽  
Metal Nanoparticle ◽  
Polymer Materials ◽  
Nanoparticle Inks ◽  
Short Heating Time

Direct-write methods, such as the Aerosol Jet® technology, have enabled fabrication of flexible multifunctional 3-D devices by printing electronic circuits on thermoplastic and thermoset polymer materials. Conductive traces printed by additive manufacturing typically start in the form of liquid metal nanoparticle inks. To produce functional circuits, the printed metal nanoparticle ink material must be postprocessed to form conductive metal by sintering at elevated temperature. Metal nanoparticles are widely used in conductive inks because they can be sintered at relatively low temperatures compared with the melting temperature of bulk metal. This is desirable for fabricating circuits on low-cost plastic substrates. To minimize thermal damage to the plastics, while effectively sintering the metal nanoparticle inks, we describe a laser sintering process that generates a localized heat-affected zone (HAZ) when scanning over a printed feature. For sintering metal nanoparticles that are reactive to oxygen, an inert or reducing gas shroud is applied around the laser spot to shield the HAZ from ambient oxygen. With the shroud gas-shielded laser, oxygen-sensitive nanoparticles, such as those made of copper and nickel, can be successfully sintered in open air. With very short heating time and small HAZ, the localized peak sintering temperature can be substantially higher than that of damage threshold for the underlying substrate, for effective metallization of nanoparticle inks. Here, we demonstrate capabilities for producing conductive tracks of silver, copper, and copper–nickel alloys on flexible films as well as fabricating functional thermocouples and strain gauge sensors, with printed metal nanoparticle inks sintered by shroud-gas-shielded laser.

scholarly journals Supply Contract Design with Asymmetric Corporate Social Responsibility Cost Information in Service Supply Chain

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 1408
Author(s):  
Weihua Liu ◽  
Wanying Wei ◽  
Xiaoyu Yan ◽  
Di Wang
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Supply Chain ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Service Cost ◽  
Strategic Choices ◽  
Cost Information ◽  
Service Supply Chain ◽  
Corporate Social

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has become the focus of the company’s daily operations and strategic choices. At present, the supply risk events caused by the CSR violations of service providers in the service supply chain are frequent, which highlight the importance of formulating appropriate contracts to constrain the CSR level of providers. In the context of asymmetric CSR cost information, this paper analyzes the optimal contract parameters of integrators when providing screening contracts or pooling contracts and compares their impact on profits and the CSR level. The information asymmetry belongs to classic principal-agent problem, and we will use the revelation principle to design the contracts and solve this problem. The results that different contracts have different effects on the CSR level of different types of providers. A low-cost provider’s CSR level is the highest when a screening contract is provided, while a high-cost provider’s CSR level reaches the peak under a pooling contract. If pursuing profit maximization, the integrator should choose to provide a screening contract. When the integrator needs to ensure a higher average level of social responsibility, a pooling contract should be chosen. The findings also show that service cost is an important factor affecting the CSR level of the provider, and only when the providers’ service cost is low, will providers actively fulfill their social responsibility.

The aerodynamic optimisation of a low-Reynolds paper plane with adjoint method

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Y. Zhang ◽  
X. Zhang ◽  
G. Chen
Keyword(s):  
Adjoint Method ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Aerodynamic Performance ◽  
Discrete Adjoint ◽  
Design Variables ◽  
Limited Variation ◽  
Aerial Vehicle ◽  
Paper Plane ◽  
Drag Ratio ◽  
Lift To Drag Ratio

ABSTRACT The aerodynamic performance of a deployable and low-cost unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is investigated and improved in present work. The parameters of configuration, such as airfoil and winglet, are determined via an optimising process based on a discrete adjoint method. The optimised target is locked on an increasing lift-to-drag ratio with a limited variation of pitching moments. The separation that will lead to a stall is delayed after optimisation. Up to 128 design variables are used by the optimised solver to give enough flexibility of the geometrical transformation. As much as 20% enhancement of lift-to-drag ratio is gained at the cruise angle-of-attack, that is, a significant improvement in the lift-to-drag ratio adhering to the preferred configuration is obtained with increasing lift and decreasing drag coefficients, essentially entailing an improved aerodynamic performance.

Degradation of Colored Polystyrene Films

2018 ◽  
Vol 930 ◽  
pp. 254-257 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisca Pereira de Araújo ◽  
Josy Anteveli Osajima ◽  
Mônica Regina Silva de Araujo ◽  
Edson Cavalcanti da Silva Filho ◽  
João Sammy Nery de Souza
Keyword(s):  
Crystal Violet ◽  
Carbonyl Compounds ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Polymer Materials ◽  
Visible Radiation ◽  
No Formation ◽  
Crystal Violet Dye ◽  
Physical And Chemical ◽  
And Chemical Properties

Polystyrene is commercial polymer of extensive use in industrial scale due to great physical and chemical properties and low cost. Lifespan of polymer materials can be changed by incorporation of additions to polymeric matrix.The present study aimed to evaluate the influence of crystal violet dye in polystyrene matrices when irradiated by visible radiation. The samples were studied in the form of films, in which solution of crystal violet (5.0x10-4mol.L-1) was added to the PS solution (8% w / w). The films were irradiated with commercial lamp for 150 hours and analyzed with UV-Vis and FTIR. The results showed that the dye degraded at a rate of 16%, however the FTIR analysis revealed that polystyrene did not degrade under the conditions studied, since no formation of carbonyl compounds was observed.

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