Thermoelectric generators incorporating phase-change materials for waste heat recovery from engine exhaust
Abstract
Thermoelectric devices, intended for placement in the exhaust of a hydrocarbon fuelled combustion device and particularly suited for use in the exhaust gas stream of an internal combustion engine propelling a vehicle, are described. Exhaust gas passing through the device is in thermal communication with one side of a thermoelectric module while the other side of the thermoelectric module is in thermal communication with a lower temperature environment. The heat extracted from the exhaust gasses is converted to electrical energy by the thermoelectric module. The performance of the generator is enhanced by thermally coupling the hot and cold junctions of the thermoelectric modules to phase-change materials which transform at a temperature compatible with the preferred operating temperatures of the thermoelectric modules. In a second embodiment, a plurality of thermoelectric modules, each with a preferred operating temperature and each with a uniquely-matched phase-change material may be used to compensate for the progressive lowering of the exhaust gas temperature as it traverses the length of the exhaust pipe.
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1124618
- Patent Number(s):
- 8646261
- Application Number:
- 12/892,983
- Assignee:
- GM Global Technology Operations LLC (Detroit, MI)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F01 - MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL F01N - GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-000OR22725
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
Citation Formats
Meisner, Gregory P, and Yang, Jihui. Thermoelectric generators incorporating phase-change materials for waste heat recovery from engine exhaust. United States: N. p., 2014.
Web.
Meisner, Gregory P, & Yang, Jihui. Thermoelectric generators incorporating phase-change materials for waste heat recovery from engine exhaust. United States.
Meisner, Gregory P, and Yang, Jihui. Tue .
"Thermoelectric generators incorporating phase-change materials for waste heat recovery from engine exhaust". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1124618.
@article{osti_1124618,
title = {Thermoelectric generators incorporating phase-change materials for waste heat recovery from engine exhaust},
author = {Meisner, Gregory P and Yang, Jihui},
abstractNote = {Thermoelectric devices, intended for placement in the exhaust of a hydrocarbon fuelled combustion device and particularly suited for use in the exhaust gas stream of an internal combustion engine propelling a vehicle, are described. Exhaust gas passing through the device is in thermal communication with one side of a thermoelectric module while the other side of the thermoelectric module is in thermal communication with a lower temperature environment. The heat extracted from the exhaust gasses is converted to electrical energy by the thermoelectric module. The performance of the generator is enhanced by thermally coupling the hot and cold junctions of the thermoelectric modules to phase-change materials which transform at a temperature compatible with the preferred operating temperatures of the thermoelectric modules. In a second embodiment, a plurality of thermoelectric modules, each with a preferred operating temperature and each with a uniquely-matched phase-change material may be used to compensate for the progressive lowering of the exhaust gas temperature as it traverses the length of the exhaust pipe.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Feb 11 00:00:00 EST 2014},
month = {Tue Feb 11 00:00:00 EST 2014}
}
Works referenced in this record:
Thermoelectric facility comprising a thermoelectric generator and means for limiting the temperature on the generator
patent-application, July 2010
- Huttinger, Simon
- US Patent Application 12/310629; 20100186399
Works referencing / citing this record:
Thermoelectric generators incorporating phase-change materials for waste heat recovery from engine exhaust
patent, February 2014
- Meisner, Gregory P.; Yang, Jihui
- US Patent Document 8,646,261