Energy harvesting using a thermoelectric material

Patent · Tue Jul 08 00:00:00 EDT 2008

OSTI ID:984481

Nersessian, Nersesse ^[1]; Carman, Gregory P ^[2]; Radousky, Harry B ^[3]

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1. Van Nuys, CA
2. Los Angeles, CA
3. San Leandro, CA

A novel energy harvesting system and method utilizing a thermoelectric having a material exhibiting a large thermally induced strain (TIS) due to a phase transformation and a material exhibiting a stress induced electric field is introduced. A material that exhibits such a phase transformation exhibits a large increase in the coefficient of thermal expansion over an incremental temperature range (typically several degrees Kelvin). When such a material is arranged in a geometric configuration, such as, for a example, a laminate with a material that exhibits a stress induced electric field (e.g. a piezoelectric material) the thermally induced strain is converted to an electric field.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC (Livermore, CA)
• Patent Number(s): 7,397,169
• Application Number: 11/082,632
• OSTI ID: 984481
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE