The development of a 10 kilowatt thermoelectric generator (TEG) waste heat recovery system has been identified as an approach to meet growing demand for on-board power combined with the requirement to reduce the thermal and noise signatures for emerging and future military vehicle platforms. Four elements are critical to the successful development of the TEG system: (1) increased efficiency of thermoelectric power generation systems, (2) increased power density, and (3) reduced cost, size and weight of resultant power generators. The last element is (4) a well-reasoned path forward, based on developmental experience and technical knowledge. BSST will develop the specified TEG system, using its advanced TE thermodynamic cycles in combination with high power density state-of-the-art thermoelectric materials to achieve the required efficiencies, size, weight and reduced cost. In its fundamental thermoelectrics R&D, BSST has demonstrated increases in power conversion efficiency of 2X compared to that of present high wattage systems, and size reduction in power generators of 4 - 6X using high power density state-of-the-art TE materials. Adding an APU function to this system is a task of only moderate difficulty, building on the basic elements of the TEG as discussed.
Benefits: Sucessful development of a TEG waste heat recovery system and APU offers very significant benefits in military and commercial applications. For military vehicle applications, successful development of the TEG/APU system offers the potential to reduce vehicle exhaust temperatures by 50% or more, significantly reduce vehicle noise signature when operating in APU mode, eliminate the need for current mechanical generators, and provide the significant quantity of electrical power required for operation of on-board vehicle systems. Using the APU model, stationary power generation with characteristics similar to those of present systems but of lower thermal and acoustic signatures, is also a likely outcome of this program. For commercial applications, implementation of this technology in vehicles of all types offers much sought after augmentation of vehicle power, replacement of mechanical generators that meet the substantially increasing power demand from on-board systems of current and near-future vehicle platforms, and reduced energy consumption and emissions. A wide variety of industrial, aerospace, medical and consumer applications also become possible as a successful outgrowth of this development.
Keywords: thermoelectric generator waste heat recovery system, direct thermal to electric conversion, thermoelectric power generation, vehicle thermal emission reduction, high efficiency high energy density design thermoelectric power generator, thermoelectric generator/APU system
