High Power Density Body Heat Energy Harvesting

Journal Article · Wed Oct 02 00:00:00 EDT 2019 · ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.9b14823· OSTI ID:1572269

Nozariasbmarz, Amin ^[1]; Kishore, Ravi Anant ^[2]; Poudel, Bed ^[1]; Saparamadu, Udara ^[1]; Li, Wenjie ^[1]; Cruz, Ricardo ^[3]; Priya, Shashank ^[1]

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1. Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park, PA (United States)
2. Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ. (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA (United States); National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
3. Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ. (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA (United States)

Thermoelectric generators (TEGs) can convert body heat into electricity, thereby providing a continuous power source for wearable and implantable devices. For wearables, the low fill factor (area occupied by legs over the TEG base area) TEG modules are relevant as they provide large thermal gradient across the legs and require less material, which reduces the cost and weight. However, TEGs with a fill factor below 15% suffer from reduced mechanical robustness; consequently, commercial modules are usually fabricated with a fill factor in the range of 25-50%. In this study, TEG modules with a low and high fill factor are demonstrated and their performance is compared in harvesting body heat. Fabricated modules demonstrate ~80% output power enhancement as compared to commercially available designs, resulting in high power density of up to 35 uW/cm2 in a steady state. This enhanced power is achieved by using two-third less thermoelectric materials in comparison to commercial modules. These results will advance the ongoing development of wearable devices by providing a consistent high specific power density source.

• Research Organization: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Defense Programs (DP), Office of Naval Research
• Grant/Contract Number: AC36-08GO28308
• OSTI ID: 1572269
• Report Number(s): NREL/JA--5500-75265
• Journal Information: ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, Journal Name: ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces Journal Issue: 43 Vol. 11; ISSN 1944-8244
• Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
body heat
contact resistance
energy harvesting
fill factor
self-powered
thermoelectric generator
wearables