Energy harvesting, reuse and upgrade to reduce primary energy usage in the USA

Rattner, Alexander S.; Garimella, Srinivas

doi:10.1016/j.energy.2011.07.047

Cited by 163 publications

(130 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…The efficiency of the cycle is estimated based on equation (2). Effects of internal resistance and Coulombic efficiency are both taken into account.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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An electrochemical system for efficiently harvesting low-grade heat energy

et al. 2014

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Efficient and low-cost thermal energy-harvesting systems are needed to utilize the tremendous low-grade heat sources. Although thermoelectric devices are attractive, its efficiency is limited by the relatively low figure-of-merit and low-temperature differential. An alternative approach is to explore thermodynamic cycles. Thermogalvanic effect, the dependence of electrode potential on temperature, can construct such cycles. In one cycle, an electrochemical cell is charged at a temperature and then discharged at a different temperature with higher cell voltage, thereby converting heat to electricity. Here we report an electrochemical system using a copper hexacyanoferrate cathode and a Cu/Cu 2 þ anode to convert heat into electricity. The electrode materials have low polarization, high charge capacity, moderate temperature coefficients and low specific heat. These features lead to a high heat-to-electricity energy conversion efficiency of 5.7% when cycled between 10 and 60°C, opening a promising way to utilize low-grade heat.

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“…The efficiency of the cycle is estimated based on equation (2). Effects of internal resistance and Coulombic efficiency are both taken into account.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…L ow-grade heat sources (o100°C) are ubiquitous, generated in energy conversion and utilization processes 1,2 . Among the methods for converting this energy to electricity, thermoelectric (TE) materials and devices have been studied extensively for several decades [3][4][5][6][7][8][9] .…”

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confidence: 99%

An electrochemical system for efficiently harvesting low-grade heat energy

et al. 2014

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“…While a portion of the unconverted energy is captured for use in air and fuel preheating systems 6,7 or applied in processes downstream of the turbines, significant quantities of heat are passively released during steam conveyance 2,4 or discharged into the environment through cooling water and exhaust streams. 2,5,8 Recoverable energy that is not converted into electricity is henceforth referred to as "residual heat" in this manuscript.Plant-level efforts to improve power generation efficiency focus on decreasing the heat rate, defined as the fuel input needed to generate a unit of electricity, 9 of a power cycle. This is accomplished through a combination of retrofits to the plant infrastructure, 10−15 mathematical modeling and optimization of thermodynamic operating conditions, 8,16,17 and improved plant maintenance and operation.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantity, Quality, and Availability of Waste Heat from United States Thermal Power Generation

Gingerich

Mauter

2015

Environ. Sci. Technol.

152

107

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Secondary application of unconverted heat produced during electric power generation has the potential to improve the life-cycle fuel efficiency of the electric power industry and the sectors it serves. This work quantifies the residual heat (also known as waste heat) generated by U.S. thermal power plants and assesses the intermittency and transport issues that must be considered when planning to utilize this heat. Combining Energy Information Administration plant-level data with literature-reported process efficiency data, we develop estimates of the unconverted heat flux from individual U.S. thermal power plants in 2012. Together these power plants discharged an estimated 18.9 billion GJ(th) of residual heat in 2012, 4% of which was discharged at temperatures greater than 90 °C. We also characterize the temperature, spatial distribution, and temporal availability of this residual heat at the plant level and model the implications for the technical and economic feasibility of its end use. Increased implementation of flue gas desulfurization technologies at coal-fired facilities and the higher quality heat generated in the exhaust of natural gas fuel cycles are expected to increase the availability of residual heat generated by 10.6% in 2040.

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“…Nowadays, great amount of produced energy is lavished as waste heat, and at least 40% of the primary energy utilized in industrialized countries is emitted to the ambient as waste heat [1]. Nevertheless, most of this waste heat presents low temperature levels (low temperature grade heat), as Figure 1 presents, explaining the most studied use up to the moment, heating of fluids for heating or other purposes [2][3][4].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Nevertheless, most of this waste heat presents low temperature levels (low temperature grade heat), as Figure 1 presents, explaining the most studied use up to the moment, heating of fluids for heating or other purposes [2][3][4]. It has been estimated, that double the heating needs of the United States, the 16.4 % of the primary energy consumed worldwide, could be supplied with waste heat [1]. Particular temperature grade, that waste heat presents, restricts applicable technologies to harvest it with effective conversion to electricity.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Thermoelectric Power Generation Optimization by Thermal Design Means

Aranguren¹,

Astrain²

2016

Thermoelectrics for Power Generation - A Look at Trends in the Technology

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One of the biggest challenges of the twenty-first century is to satisfy the demand for electrical energy in an environmentally speaking clean way. Thus, it is very important to search for new alternative energy sources along with increasing the efficiency of current processes. Thermoelectric power generation, by means of harvesting waste heat and converting it into electricity, can help to achieve above-mentioned goal. Nowadays, efficiency of thermoelectric power generators limits them to become key technology in electric power generation, but their performance has potential of being optimized, if thermal design of such generators is optimized. Heat exchangers located on both sides of thermoelectric modules (TEMs), mass flow of refrigerants and occupancy ratio (the area covered by TEMs related to base area), among others, need to be fine-tuned in order to obtain the maximum net power generation (thermoelectric power generation minus consumption of auxiliary equipment). Finned dissipator, cold plate, heat pipe and thermosiphon are experimentally tested to maximize net thermoelectric generation on real-working furnace based on computational model. Maximum generation of 137 MWh/year using thermosiphons is achieved with 32% of area covered by TEMs.

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Energy harvesting, reuse and upgrade to reduce primary energy usage in the USA

Cited by 163 publications

References 20 publications

An electrochemical system for efficiently harvesting low-grade heat energy

An electrochemical system for efficiently harvesting low-grade heat energy

Quantity, Quality, and Availability of Waste Heat from United States Thermal Power Generation

Thermoelectric Power Generation Optimization by Thermal Design Means

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