Title: Next Generation of High-performance Materials in Waste Heat Recovery and Thermal Management Applications
Speaker: Bed Poudel, Research Professor, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Penn State
Abstract:
Ever-growing energy demand, escalating energy prices, and environmental concerns compel us to look for cleaner and more sustainable energy sources. There is also an emerging need for on-demand production of electrical power using locally available energy sources such as waste heat. This need is driving the development of the next generation of high-performance materials and generators that are compact, efficient, and cost-effective. Thermoelectric devices are solid-state power generating devices producing electricity whenever a temperature gradient is applied which can be obtained by burning the fuel, woods, natural gas, solar concentration, and wasted heat etc. The thermoelectric devices, being solid state, compact and continuous generation, can achieve very high-power density and can be scaled up or down without loss of efficiency which are advantageous compared to other power generation technologies especially in kW or lower scale generator size. Thermoelectric devices can also be used in heat pumping applications such as heating/cooling and thermal management.
In this seminar, thermoelectric technology for power generation and thermal management will be the main topic of discussion. Current limitations and some strategies to overcome the performance barriers leading to new application will also be discussed. New and emerging new technologies for low temperature waste heat conversion to electric power using shape memory alloy engines and thermomagnetic generators will also be discussed.
To receive the Zoom link, please contact Sadie Spicer, sco3@psu.edu