Performance of Skutterudite-Based Modules

Nie, Ge; Suzuki, Shiori; Tomida, Taketoshi; Sumiyoshi, A.; Ochi, Takahiro; Mukaiyama, K.; Kikuchi, Masatoshi; Guo, Junqing; Yamamoto, Atsushi; Obara, H.

doi:10.1007/s11664-016-4849-y

Cited by 31 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…Recently, Nozariasbmarz et al. has further improved conversion efficiency of BiTe unicouple module to 8% under ΔT of 217 K. [ 44 ] Thus, for BiTe based materials best efficiencies obtained so far are in the range of 6–8% over a ΔT of 217 K to 250 K. SKD‐based TE devices have been demonstrated with the conversion efficiency of 7.3–9.3% under ΔT of 370–560 K. [ 45–51 ] Recently, Kang et al. [ 24 ] demonstrated a conversion efficiency of 10.7% under ΔT of 656 K for hH uni‐couple module.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[43] According to Shinohara, the dimensions of KELK's BiTe module were 50 × 50 × 4.2 mm, the weight was 47 g, and maximum output power was 24 W at ΔT = 250 K (553−303 K). Recently, Nozariasbmarz et al has further improved conversion efficiency of BiTe unicouple module to 8% under ΔT of 217 K. [44] Thus, for BiTe based materials best efficiencies obtained so far are in the range of 6-8% over a ΔT of 217 K to 250 K. SKDbased TE devices have been demonstrated with the conversion efficiency of 7.3-9.3% under ΔT of 370-560 K. [45][46][47][48][49][50][51] Recently, Kang et al [24] demonstrated a conversion efficiency of 10.7% under ΔT of 656 K for hH uni-couple module. This conversion efficiency value will be close to the best numbers reported for single material based TE modules in the literature.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Bismuth Telluride/Half‐Heusler Segmented Thermoelectric Unicouple Modules Provide 12% Conversion Efficiency

Poudel

Nozariasbmarz

et al. 2020

Advanced Energy Materials

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The rapid enhancement of the thermoelectric (TE) figure‐of‐merit (zT) in the past decade has opened opportunities for developing and transitioning solid state waste heat recovery systems. Here, a segmented TE device architecture is demonstrated in conjunction with heterogeneous material integration that results in high unicouple‐level conversion efficiency of 12% under a temperature difference of 584 K. This breakthrough is the result of success in fabricating bismuth telluride/half‐Heusler segmented TE unicouple modules using a “hot‐to‐cold” fabrication technique that provides significantly reduced electrical and thermal contact resistance. Extensive analytical and finite element modeling is conducted to provide an understanding of the nature of thermal transport and contributions arising from various thermal and physical parameters. Bismuth telluride/half‐Heusler based segmented thermoelectric generators (TEGs) can provide higher practical temperature difference with optimum average zT across the whole operating range. These results will have immediate impact on the design and development of TEGs and in the general design of devices based upon heterostructures that take advantage of gradients in the figure of merit.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

Bismuth Telluride/Half‐Heusler Segmented Thermoelectric Unicouple Modules Provide 12% Conversion Efficiency

Poudel

Nozariasbmarz

et al. 2020

Advanced Energy Materials

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“…The resonant frequencies of the fillers vary between 42 cm −1 and 142 cm −1 from rare-earth elements to alkali metals [31] so that phonons in different frequency ranges can be effectively scattered via phonon resonant scattering by the multi-fillers, which have been widely used for n-SKD [16,17,32]. However, the multi-filling p-SKD investigations are limited [33][34][35] and deserve further exploration. Moreover, for TE materials to result in device translation, mechanical stability is another critical consideration.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Salvador et al [39] reported a maximum conversion efficiency (η max ) of 7% for a 32-couples SKD module at ∆T of 460 K with 4 mm height legs. Guo et al and Geng et al [24] have demonstrated 32-couples single-stage SKD modules with TE leg dimensions of 5 mm × 5 mm × 7.6 mm and achieved η max of 8% at a temperature gradient (∆T) of 550 K. Ge et al [34] reported an improved η max of 8.5% at ∆T of 550 K based on a 32-couples single stage SKD module with TE leg dimension of 5 mm × 5 mm × 7 mm. Zong et al [40] developed a grain-boundary modified SKD that delivered an η max of 8.4% under ∆T of 577 K. The module consisted of an 8-couples SKD with leg dimension of 4 mm × 4 mm × 12 mm.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High-Efficiency Skutterudite Modules at a Low Temperature Gradient

Stokes

Poudel

et al. 2019

Energies

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Thermoelectric skutterudite materials have been widely investigated for their potential application in mid-temperature waste heat recovery that has not been efficiently utilized A large amount of research has focused on developing materials with a high thermoelectric figure of merit (zT). However, the translation of material properties to device performance has limited success. Here, we demonstrate single-filling n-type Yb0.25Fe0.25Co3.75Sb12 and multi-filling La0.7Ti0.1Ga0.1Fe2.7Co1.3Sb12 skutterudites with a maximum zT of ~1.3 at 740 K and ~0.97 at 760 K. The peak zT of skutterudites usually occurs above 800 K, but, as shown here, the shift in peak zT to lower temperatures is beneficial for enhancing conversion efficiency at a lower hot-side temperature. In this work, we have demonstrated that the Fe-substitution significantly reduces the thermal conductivity of n-type skutterudite, closer to p-type skutterudite thermal conductivity, resulting in a module that is more compatible to operate at elevated temperatures. A uni-couple skutterudite module was fabricated using a molybdenum electrode and Ga–Sn liquid metal as the thermal interface material. A conversion efficiency of 7.27% at a low temperature gradient of 366 K was achieved, which is among the highest efficiencies reported in the literature at this temperature gradient. These results highlight that peak zT shift and optimized module design can improve conversion efficiency of thermoelectric modules at a low temperature gradient.

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“…Owing to the increasing demand for waste heat harvesting technologies, significant advances have been made over the past few decades toward the development of highly efficient bismuth telluride [1][2][3], germanium telluride [4,5], lead telluride [6,7], skutterudite (SKD) [8][9][10][11][12], half-Heusler [9,[13][14][15], and oxide [9,14] based materials as well as bismuth telluride [16,17], lead telluride [18,19], SKD [20][21][22][23][24][25], half-Heusler [26][27][28] based thermoelectric devices.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Determination of the thermoelectric properties of a skutterudite-based device at practical operating temperatures by impedance spectroscopy

et al. 2019

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Skutterudite-based thermoelectric materials are promising candidates for waste heat recovery applications at intermediate temperatures (300-500 °C) owing to their high dimensionless figure of merit and power factor. Recently, several researchers have reported the high performance of skutterudite-based thermoelectric devices obtained by optimizing the crystal structure and microstructure of skutterudite materials and developing metallization layers for device fabrication. Despite extensive research efforts toward maximizing the power density and thermoelectric conversion efficiency of skutterudite-based devices, the thermoelectric properties of such devices after fabrication remain largely unknown. Here, we systematically investigated the factors that affect the thermoelectric properties of skutterudite-based devices within the range of practical operating temperatures (23-450 °C). We successfully prepared a two-couple skutterudite-based device with titanium metallization layers on both sides of the thermoelectric legs and characterized it using scanning and transmission electron microscopy and specific contact resistance measurements. Impedance spectroscopy measurements of the two-couple skutterudite-based device revealed the figure of merit of the device and enabled the extraction of three key thermoelectric parameters (Seebeck coefficient, thermal conductivity, and electrical conductivity). The impedance spectra and extracted parameters depended strongly on the measurement temperature and were mainly attributable to the thermoelectric properties of skutterudite materials. These observations demonstrate the interplay between the properties of thermoelectric materials and devices and can aid in directing future research on thermoelectric device fabrication.

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Performance of Skutterudite-Based Modules

Cited by 31 publications

References 18 publications

Bismuth Telluride/Half‐Heusler Segmented Thermoelectric Unicouple Modules Provide 12% Conversion Efficiency

Bismuth Telluride/Half‐Heusler Segmented Thermoelectric Unicouple Modules Provide 12% Conversion Efficiency

High-Efficiency Skutterudite Modules at a Low Temperature Gradient

Determination of the thermoelectric properties of a skutterudite-based device at practical operating temperatures by impedance spectroscopy

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