Thermoelectric generators are devices which convert temperature differences
into electrical energy. The principle phenomenon that underpins thermoelectric
energy generation is known as the Seebeck effect: the conversion of a
temperature differential into electricity at the junction of two materials.
Although thermoelectric phenomena have been used for heating and cooling
applications quite extensively, electricity generation has only seen very
limited market in niche applications and it is only in recent years that
interest has increased regarding new applications of energy generation through
thermoelectric harvesting.
The new applications are varied and the vertical markets benefiting from new
devices range from condition monitoring in industrial environments, smart
metering in energy market segments, to thermoelectric applications in
vehicles, either terrestrial or other.
This report gives an overview of devices, materials and manufacturing
processes, with a specific focus on emerging technologies that allow for new
functionality, form factor and application in various demanding environments.
Whether it is operation in high temperatures or corrosive environments,
applications with increased safety demands or components that need to be thin,
flexible, or even stretchable, there is a lot of research and development work
worldwide which is highlighted.
Included in the report are interviews with potential adopters of
thermoelectric energy harvesters and their views of the impact that the
technology could have over their respective industries. Some of the
application sectors include:
Waste heat recovery systems in vehicles: A large number of car companies,
including Volkswagen, VOLVO, FORD and BMW in collaboration with NASA have been
developing thermoelectric waste heat recovery systems in-house, each achieving
different types of performance but all of them expecting to lead to
improvements of 3-5% in fuel economy while the power generated out of these
devices could potentially reach up to 1200W.
Wireless sensor network adoption. Wireless sensors powered by
thermogenerators in environments where temperature differentials exist would
lead to avoiding issues with battery lifetime and reliability. It would also
lead to the ability to move away from wired sensors, which are still the
solution of choice when increased reliability of measurement is necessary.
Some applications have low enough power demands to operate with small
temperature differentials, as small as a few degrees in some cases. These
types of developments increase adoption trends.
Consumer applications: In these applications, the type of solution that
thermogenerators provide varies: it could be related to saving energy when
cooking by utilising thermo-powered cooking sensors, powering mobile phones,
watches or other consumer electronics, even body sensing could become more
widespread with sensory wristbands, clothing or athletic apparel that monitor
vitals such as heart rate, body temperature, etc.
Finally, utilising solid assumptions based on the knowledge acquired through
extensive primary research and the understanding of the way existing and new
markets develop over time, 10-year IDTechEx market forecasts are included in
the report.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
2. INTRODUCTION
2.1. The Seebeck and Peltier effects
2.2. Designing for thermoelectric applications
2.3. Thin Film Thermoelectric Generators
2.4. Material choices
3. OTHER PROCESSING TECHNIQUES
3.1. Manufacturing of flexible thermoelectric generators
3.2. AIST Technology details
4. APPLICATIONS
4.1. Automotive Applications
4.1.1. BMW
4.1.2. Ford
4.1.3. Volkswagen
4.2. Wireless Sensing
4.2.1. TE-qNODE
4.2.2. TE-CORE
4.2.3. EverGen PowerStrap
4.3. Aerospace
4.4. Wearable/implantable thermoelectrics
4.5. Other applications
4.5.1. Micropelt-MSX
4.5.2. PowerPot"!
4.5.3. Tellurex products
5. INTERVIEWS - COMMERCIALIZATION CONSIDERATIONS
5.1. Ford
5.2. Microsemi
5.3. MSX Micropelt
5.4. Rolls Royce
5.5. TRW
5.6. Volvo
6. MARKET FORECASTS
7. COMPANY PROFILES
7.1. Amerigon-BSST
7.2. EVERREDtronics
7.3. Ferrotec
7.4. Global Thermoelectric
7.5. greenTEG
7.6. Marlow
7.7. mc10
7.8. Micropelt
7.9. National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science & Technology (AIST)
7.10. Nextreme
7.11. Perpetua
7.12. Romny Scientific
7.13. TEG Power
7.14. Tellurex
7.15. Thermolife Energy Corporation
APPENDIX 1: IDTECHEX PUBLICATIONS AND CONSULTANCY
TABLES
6.1. Market forecasts for thermoelectric energy harvesters in different
applications 2012-2022 (US$ Million)
FIGURES
1.1. Market forecasts for thermoelectric energy harvesters in different
applications 2012-2022 (US$ million)
1.2. Global Thermoelectric implementations
2.1. Representation of the Peltier (left) and the Seebeck (right) effect
2.2. A general overview of the sequential manufacturing steps required in
the construction of thermoelectric generators
2.3. Generic schematic of thermoelectric energy harvesting system
2.4. Figure of merit for some thermoelectric material systems.
2.5. Orientation map from a skutterudite sample
2.6. Power Density and Sensitivity plotted for a variety of TEGs at a
δT=30K
2.7. % of Carnot efficiency for thermogenerators for different material
systems
2.8. Bulk Bi2Te3 sample consolidated from nanostructured powders that were
formed by gas atomization, then hot pressed together
2.9. Calculated figure-of-merit ZT for doped PbSe at various hole
concentrations (main plot) and electron concentrations (inset)
2.10. Experimental ZT values for PbSe
2.11. The skutterudite crystal lattice structure
2.12. A sample of skutterudite ore
2.13. Polyhedral morphology of a ZrNiSn single crystal
3.1. A typical thermoelectric element
3.2. Schematic of the inside of a typical thermoelectric element
3.3. Sputtered thermoelectric material on wafer substrate
3.4. Detail of thermocouple legs. (3.3mmx3.3mm area containing 540
thermocouples, 140mV/K)
3.5. Electrochemically deposited Bi2Te3 legs with high aspect ratios
3.6. The fabrication method of the CNT-polymer composite material (top),
and an electron microscope image of its surface (lower)
3.7. A flexible thermoelectric conversion film fabricated by using a
printing process (left) and its electrical power-generation ability (right). A
temperature difference created by placing a hand on the film installed on the
10 °C pla
4.1. Energy losses in a vehicle
4.2. Opportunities to harvest waste energy
4.3. Ford Fusion, BMW X6 and Chevrolet Sburban. US Department of Energy
thermoelectric generator programs
4.4. Pictures from the BMW thermogenerator developments, as part of
EfficientDynamics
4.5. Ford's anticipate 500W power output from their thermogenerator
4.6. The complete TEG designed by Amerigon
4.7. High and medium temperature TE engines
4.8. Modelled power generation vs. exhaust mass flow for different cold
inlet temperatures
4.9. FTP-75 Drive cycle simulation results: Exhaust gas flow, exhaust gas
temperature and resulting power generation
4.10. The Micropelt-Schneider TE-qNODE
4.11. The TE-qNODE in operation, attached to busbars
4.12. The TE Core from Micropelt
4.13. The EverGen PowerStrap from Marlow
4.14. EverGen PowerStrap performance graphs
4.15. A drawing of a general purpose heat source (GPHS)-RTG used for
Galileo, Ulysses, Cassini-Huygens and New Horizons space probes
4.16. One of the Cassini spacecraft's three RTGs, photographed before
installation
4.17. Labelled cutaway view of the Multi-Mission Radioisotope
Thermoelectric Generator
4.18. Nuclear-powered pace maker, Source: Los Alamos National Laboratory
4.19. Power emanating from various parts of the human body
4.20. MSX-MIcropelt cooking sensor
4.21. Powerpot with basic USB charger se
4.22. Backside of the PowerPot"!, showing the flame resistant cable and
connector
4.23. Thermoelectric Cupholder Module from Tellurex
6.1. Market forecasts for WSN 2012-2022
6.2. Market forecasts for military & aerospace 2012-2022
6.3. Market forecasts for other industrial 2012-2022
6.4. Market forecasts for healthcare 2012-2022
6.5. Market forecasts for other consumer 2012-2022
6.6. Market forecasts for other non-consumer 2012-2022
6.7. Total market forecasts for thermoelectric energy harvesters in
different applications 2012-2022
7.1. The three main parts of a Global Thermoelectric solid state
generator: a burner, the thermopile and cooling fins
7.2. 5000W for SCADA communications and cathodic protection of a gas
pipeline - India
7.3. Small, flexible thermoelectric generators from greenTEG
7.4. Detail of fabricated gTEG"!
7.5. A greenTEG micro thermoelectric generator
7.6. A stretchable array of inorganic LEDs
7.7. Micropelt's thermal energy harvester integrated with a wirelessHART
sensor in action
7.8. Thermoelectric conversion film devices fabricated by printing
7.9. Nextreme's evaluation kit
7.10. TheaeTEG"! HV37 Power Generator
7.11. Schematic of Perpetua's Flexible Thermoelectric Film"! technology
7.12. n-type Mg2SixSny produced by Romny give ZT of ~ 0.83 at 300 °C
7.13. Mg-Silicide ingots, hot pressed by Romny Scientific
7.14. Comparison of stability during cycling: Cycle type: heating up to
350p C within 30 minutes, cooling down to ambient within 90 minutes
7.15. Automotive exhaust TEG, 200W fluid to fluid TEG and 500W fluid to
fluid TEG from TEG Power
Thermoelectric Energy Harvesting 2012-2022: Devices, Applications, Opportunities published by IDTechEx Ltd. in July 31, 2012. This report consists of 106 Pages and the price starts from US $ 3995.
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