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Title: Shape memory alloy engine for high efficiency low-temperature gradient thermal to electrical conversion

Journal Article · · Applied Energy
 [1];  [2]; ORCiD logo [3];  [1]; ORCiD logo [4];  [5];  [6]
  1. Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA (United States). Center for Energy Harvesting Materials and Systems (CEHMS)
  2. Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA (United States). Center for Energy Harvesting Materials and Systems (CEHMS); National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
  3. Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA (United States). Center for Energy Harvesting Materials and Systems (CEHMS); Intel Corporation, Chandler, AZ (United States)
  4. Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA (United States). Dept. of Mechanical Engineering
  5. Kiel Univ., Kiel (Germany). Inst. for Materials Science
  6. Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA (United States). Center for Energy Harvesting Materials and Systems (CEHMS). Penn States, University Park, PA (United States). Materials Research Inst.

More than half of the energy generated worldwide is lost as unused thermal energy because of the lack of efficient methodology for harnessing the low-grade heat. In this paper, we demonstrate that shape-memory alloy can be an effective mechanism for recovering low-grade heat. Shape memory alloys exhibit thermally induced martensite to austenite phase transformation and super-elasticity (stress-induced martensitic transformation). Employing these two characteristics, we demonstrate a thermal engine for harnessing waste energy through all modes of heat transfer: convection, conduction, and radiation. In this work, we performed material and heat transfer analysis for achieving high frequency, sustainable and efficient operation of our engine. An optimized shape memory alloy engine generated 36 W per kilogram or 234 kW of electricity per cubic meter of active material. A continuous three-day operation of several SMA engines could generate 7.2 kWh of electricity when installed on a 500 m long hot pipe network. This generated power can potentially reduce the carbon footprint by 5.1 kg of CO2 illustrating the promise of this technology for addressing climate change.

Research Organization:
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC36-08GO28308
OSTI ID:
1570186
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1564585
Report Number(s):
NREL/JA-5500-75098
Journal Information:
Applied Energy, Vol. 251, Issue C; ISSN 0306-2619
Publisher:
ElsevierCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 18 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Cited By (1)

Linear thermomagnetic energy harvester for low-grade thermal energy harvesting journal January 2020