Thermoelectric energy harvesting using vapour chamber coolers for aerospace applications

Author(s):  
Alexander Sarris ◽  
Bashir Bhatti ◽  
Francesco Ciampa

Thermoelectric generators (TEGs) have shown great potentials to supply low-power sensor nodes in aerospace applications due to their relatively small size, adequate output power and reliability. TEGs convert waste heat available at aircraft locations into a usable potential difference. However, TEGs’ performance greatly depends on the use of passive cooling systems such as heatsinks to enhance their energy supply. This paper reports the first proof-of-concept use of vapour chambers coupled to traditional circular pin-fin heatsinks to enhance the output power of TEGs. Vapour chambers are compact and small capillary-driven heat spreaders that incorporate a cavity in their volume containing a working fluid to provide a high effective thermal conductivity. Numerical simulations and experimental tests revealed that the use of vapour chambers provided significant increase of the output power, with a maximum produced power of 28.2 W and a relative difference of 6.27 W against conventional energy scavenging configurations. Results demonstrate the high thermal cooling performance of vapour chambers to efficiently support thermal energy harvesting solutions designed for condition and structural health monitoring.

Electronics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 219
Author(s):  
Phuoc Duc Nguyen ◽  
Lok-won Kim

People nowadays are entering an era of rapid evolution due to the generation of massive amounts of data. Such information is produced with an enormous contribution from the use of billions of sensing devices equipped with in situ signal processing and communication capabilities which form wireless sensor networks (WSNs). As the number of small devices connected to the Internet is higher than 50 billion, the Internet of Things (IoT) devices focus on sensing accuracy, communication efficiency, and low power consumption because IoT device deployment is mainly for correct information acquisition, remote node accessing, and longer-term operation with lower battery changing requirements. Thus, recently, there have been rich activities for original research in these domains. Various sensors used by processing devices can be heterogeneous or homogeneous. Since the devices are primarily expected to operate independently in an autonomous manner, the abilities of connection, communication, and ambient energy scavenging play significant roles, especially in a large-scale deployment. This paper classifies wireless sensor nodes into two major categories based the types of the sensor array (heterogeneous/homogeneous). It also emphasizes on the utilization of ad hoc networking and energy harvesting mechanisms as a fundamental cornerstone to building a self-governing, sustainable, and perpetually-operated sensor system. We review systems representative of each category and depict trends in system development.


2012 ◽  
Vol 476-478 ◽  
pp. 1336-1340
Author(s):  
Kai Feng Li ◽  
Rong Liu ◽  
Lin Xiang Wang

The concept of energy harvesting works towards developing self-powered devices that do not require replaceable power supplies. Energy scavenging devices are designed to capture the ambient energy surrounding the electronics and convert it into usable electrical energy. A number of sources of harvestable ambient energy exist, including waste heat, vibration, electromagnetic waves, wind, flowing water, and solar energy. While each of these sources of energy can be effectively used to power remote sensors, the structural and biological communities have placed an emphasis on scavenging vibrational energy with ferroelectric materials. Ferroelectric materials have a crystalline structure that provide a unique ability to convert an applied electrical potential into a mechanical strain or vice versa. Based on the properties of the material, this paper investigates the technique of power harvesting and storage.


Author(s):  
James F. Walton ◽  
Andrew Hunsberger ◽  
Hooshang Heshmat

In this paper the authors will present the design and preliminary test results for a distributed electric generating system that uses renewable energy source for economical load-following and peak-shaving capability in an oil-free, high-speed micro-turboalternator system using compliant foil bearings and a permanent magnet alternator. Test results achieved with the prototype system operating to full speed and under power generating mode will be presented. A comparison between predicted and measured electrical output will also be presented up to a power generating level of 25 kWe at approximately 55,000 rpm. The excellent correlation between design and test provides the basis for scale up to larger power levels. Based upon the turboalternator test results a thermodynamic cycle analysis of a system using low grade waste heat water at approximately 100 C will be reviewed. The tradeoff study results for a series of environmentally friendly refrigerant working fluids will also be presented including sensitivity to vaporization and condensing temperatures. Based on the cycle and pinch point analyses predicted maximum output power was determined. Finally a preliminary turbine design for the selected R134a working fluid was completed. The results of this study show that a net output power level of greater than 40 kW is possible for approximately 240 l/m flow of water at 100C is possible.


2010 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 111-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aleksandra Borsukiewicz-Gozdur

Influence of heat recuperation in ORC power plant on efficiency of waste heat utilization The present work is devoted to the problem of utilization of the waste heat contained in the exhaust gases having the temperature of 350 °C. Conversion of the waste heat into electricity using a power plant working with organic fluid cycles is considered. Three Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) power plant solutions are analysed and compared: a solution with the basic, single thermodynamic conversion cycle, one with internal heat recuperation and one with external heat recuperation. It results from the analysis that it is the proper choice of the working fluid evaporation temperature that fundamentally affects the maximum of the ORC plant output power. Application of the internal heat recuperation in the plant basic cycle results in the output power increase of approx. 5%. Addition of the external heat recuperation to the plant basic cycle, in the form of a secondary supercritical ORC power cycle can rise the output power by approx. 2%.


Micromachines ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 359 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dahoon Ahn ◽  
Kyungwho Choi

During rolling stock operation, various kinds of energy such as vibration, heat, and train-induced wind are dissipated. The amount of energy dissipation cannot be overlooked when a heavy railroad vehicle operates at high speed. Therefore, if the wasted energy is effectively harvested, it can be used to power components like low power sensor nodes. This study aims to review a method of collecting waste heat, caused by the axle bearing of bogie in a rolling stock. A thermoelectric module (TEM) was used to convert the temperature gradient between the surface of the axle bearing housing and the outdoor air into electric energy. In this study, the output performance by temperature difference in the TEM was lab-tested and maximized by computational fluid analysis of the cooling fins. The optimized thermoelectric energy harvesting system (TEHS) was designed and applied on a rolling stock to analyze the power-generating performance under operation. When the rolling stock was operated for approximately 57 min including an interval of maximum speed of 300 km/h, the maximum open circuit voltage was measured at approximately 0.4 V. Based on this study, the system is expected to be utilized as a self-powered independent monitoring system if applied to a low-power sensor node in the future.


2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 1008-1018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ravi Anant Kishore ◽  
Brenton Davis ◽  
Jake Greathouse ◽  
Austin Hannon ◽  
David Emery Kennedy ◽  
...  

Thermal energy harvesting from natural resources and waste heat is becoming critical due to ever-increasing environmental concerns.


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