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International Round-Robin Testing of Bulk Thermoelectrics

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1049790· OSTI ID:1049790
 [1];  [1];  [2];  [2];  [3];  [3];  [4];  [5];  [5];  [6];  [7];  [8];  [9];  [10]
  1. Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
  2. Fraunhofer-Institute, Freiburg, (Germany)
  3. Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing (China)
  4. Clemson Univ., SC (United States)
  5. Corning, Inc., Corning, NY (United States)
  6. ZT-Plus, Azusa, CA (United States)
  7. Marlow Industries, Inc
  8. CANMET - Materials Technology Laboratory, Natural Resources of Canada
  9. University of Waterloo, Canada
  10. University of Quebec at Chicoutimi
+ Show Author Affiliations
Two international round-robin studies were conducted on transport properties measurements of bulk thermoelectric materials. The study discovered current measurement problems. In order to get ZT of a material four separate transport measurements must be taken. The round-robin study showed that among the four properties Seebeck coefficient is the one can be measured consistently. Electrical resistivity has +4-9% scatter. Thermal diffusivity has similar +5-10% scatter. The reliability of the above three properties can be improved by standardizing test procedures and enforcing system calibrations. The worst problem was found in specific heat measurements using DSC. The probability of making measurement error is great due to the fact three separate runs must be taken to determine Cp and the baseline shift is always an issue for commercial DSC. It is suggest the Dulong Petit limit be always used as a guide line for Cp. Procedures have been developed to eliminate operator and system errors. The IEA-AMT annex is developing standard procedures for transport properties testing.
Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
DOE Contract Number:
AC05-00OR22725
OSTI ID:
1049790
Report Number(s):
ORNL/TM--2011-393; VT0504000; CEVT004
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
PROBABILITY
RELIABILITY
round-robin
SPECIFIC HEAT
TESTING
THERMAL DIFFUSIVITY
thermoelectric
THERMOELECTRIC MATERIALS
TRANSPORT