Design of Thermoelectric Power Generation Module for Waste Heat Recovery of Exhaust Gasses

Design of Thermoelectric Power Generation Module for Waste Heat Recovery of Exhaust Gasses Faculty Guide: Dr. Robert Stevens

Thermoelectrics (TE) are solid state devices that can be used for cooling or electric power generation applications. When TEs are subjected to temperature gradients, they are able to convert heat directly into electrical energy based on the Peltier and Seebeck effects. TEs power generation applications have had success in space power applications and are beginning to be applied in terrestrial waste heat recovery applications. Although TEs have had limited uses because of their low TE figure-of- merit, in recent years there have been dramatic improvements in the lab potentially opening the door to dramatic improvements in power generation. To this end, we propose that a Multidisciplinary Senior Design team of approximately six RIT engineering students design, build, and test a scaled prototype heat recovery TE power unit for use on a Dresser Rand Corporation power technology. The TE power unit will utilize existing TE modules with the intention of developing experience and expertise that can be translated to advanced TE module system design as the advanced modules move from lab to commercial production. The TE power module project scope will be formally developed during the fall of 2007 by one or two dual degree students in the Design Project Management course. The student(s) and the faculty guide, Dr. Stevens, will work closely with Dresser Rand to identify a potential technology for waste heat recovery. In addition, attention will be paid to how the prototype can be scaled to test it using the heat recovery test stand currently being developed at RIT. A project team will be formed during the end of fall quarter of 2007. The team will design a scaled prototype heat recovery system during the winter of 2007-08 followed by full testing and characterization of the scaled power module during the spring of 2008. This project will be an excellent opportunity to expose students to Dresser Rand power technologies while enhancing RIT’s Mechanical Engineering departments Energy and Environment option. The project will also further develop RIT’s expertise and reputation in TE power applications.