Comments on: Thermoelectric Materials Can Increase Energy Efficiency http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/thermoelectric-materials-increase-energy-efficiency/ Alternative Energy News and Information about Renewable Energy Technologies: Articles, Discussions, News and Videos. Mon, 25 Apr 2011 00:53:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Nflight http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/thermoelectric-materials-increase-energy-efficiency/#comment-3288 Nflight Mon, 01 Dec 2008 14:06:07 +0000 http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/thermoelectric-materials-increase-energy-efficiency/#comment-3288 Rick Lanese: Imagine a Fuel Cell using just Hydrogen and Oxygen as the fuels to make electricity. The total energy efficiency of the Fuel Cell is nearly 50%. The remaining 50% is wasted heat of temperatures approaching 2000°F. Lets say you install the Thermoelectric's around the perimeter of the Fuel Cell while in operation. Thus converting the wasted Heat into electricity with out any moving parts. The efficiency of the Thermoelectric's is at 10%, after install your electric production on the Fuel Cell has increased now just 5% more. Thus giving you a 55% efficient Fuel Cell. That is the beauty of Thermoelectric's, added efficiency without any moving parts needed! Rick Lanese:
Imagine a Fuel Cell using just Hydrogen and Oxygen as the fuels to make electricity. The total energy efficiency of the Fuel Cell is nearly 50%. The remaining 50% is wasted heat of temperatures approaching 2000°F. Lets say you install the Thermoelectric’s around the perimeter of the Fuel Cell while in operation. Thus converting the wasted Heat into electricity with out any moving parts. The efficiency of the Thermoelectric’s is at 10%, after install your electric production on the Fuel Cell has increased now just 5% more. Thus giving you a 55% efficient Fuel Cell.
That is the beauty of Thermoelectric’s, added efficiency without any moving parts needed!

]]> By: Cyril R. http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/thermoelectric-materials-increase-energy-efficiency/#comment-3284 Cyril R. Sun, 30 Nov 2008 15:13:37 +0000 http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/thermoelectric-materials-increase-energy-efficiency/#comment-3284 This is interesting work, but for cooling, efficiency will never be as good as an advanced heat pump system (such as transcritical CO2 cycles). There may be some luxury niche applications like seat heaters/coolers. This is interesting work, but for cooling, efficiency will never be as good as an advanced heat pump system (such as transcritical CO2 cycles). There may be some luxury niche applications like seat heaters/coolers.

]]> By: Shawn http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/thermoelectric-materials-increase-energy-efficiency/#comment-3249 Shawn Sun, 23 Nov 2008 20:04:58 +0000 http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/thermoelectric-materials-increase-energy-efficiency/#comment-3249 One way that thermoelectric materials can increase energy efficiency is by converting waste heat to electricity. If they can be placed next to a hot surface, the temperature difference will cause electricity to flow. For example, if you placed a thermoelectric device next to your cars muffler, it could generate electricity to help charge your cars battery, decreasing some or all of the work your alternator would do. This would mean your engine would not have to work as hard and you would save energy. All from heat energy that would otherwise be wasted. One way that thermoelectric materials can increase energy efficiency is by converting waste heat to electricity. If they can be placed next to a hot surface, the temperature difference will cause electricity to flow. For example, if you placed a thermoelectric device next to your cars muffler, it could generate electricity to help charge your cars battery, decreasing some or all of the work your alternator would do. This would mean your engine would not have to work as hard and you would save energy. All from heat energy that would otherwise be wasted.

]]> By: Rick Lanese http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/thermoelectric-materials-increase-energy-efficiency/#comment-3184 Rick Lanese Thu, 13 Nov 2008 17:44:27 +0000 http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/thermoelectric-materials-increase-energy-efficiency/#comment-3184 It seems like a good concept, but I am still not clear on how Thermoelectric materials actually can increase energy efficiency. Can someone elaborate more on this concept, it will help me better understand the article. Thanks a bunch Rick L. It seems like a good concept, but I am still not clear on how Thermoelectric materials actually can increase energy efficiency. Can someone elaborate more on this concept, it will help me better understand the article. Thanks a bunch Rick L.

]]> By: Nflight http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/thermoelectric-materials-increase-energy-efficiency/#comment-3044 Nflight Fri, 24 Oct 2008 13:38:32 +0000 http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/thermoelectric-materials-increase-energy-efficiency/#comment-3044 Thermoelectics have been around for many years. Just 10 years ago the maximum efficiency was just 1%, today we are approaching 12%. Anything above 10% is considered an excellent time for implementation. The leading company in the field is http://www.nextreme.com they have developed power from heat directly to electricity at power ratios of >20watts per square centimeter, or >120 watts per square inch. Simply amazing technology with no moving parts to breakdown. Thermoelectics have been around for many years. Just 10 years ago the maximum efficiency was just 1%, today we are approaching 12%. Anything above 10% is considered an excellent time for implementation. The leading company in the field is http://www.nextreme.com they have developed power from heat directly to electricity at power ratios of >20watts per square centimeter, or >120 watts per square inch. Simply amazing technology with no moving parts to breakdown.

]]> By: Nflight http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/thermoelectric-materials-increase-energy-efficiency/#comment-3026 Nflight Thu, 23 Oct 2008 14:15:52 +0000 http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/thermoelectric-materials-increase-energy-efficiency/#comment-3026 Thermoelectrics Conversion of heat to electricity has been proven and in working models for many years. Several US companies currently produce materials for producing this unique thermo-chemical reaction. The uses of these devices have always intrigued me. My first experience was to purchase a 12 volt igloo cooler and take it apart. Once I got to the thermoelectric cooler I removed the coating to observe the tiny squares of material arranged in away similar to a checkerboard, fascinating. But, I ruined my igloo cooler but, I learned something. This was 1997. http://www.floridaplants.com/CR/thermo.htm http://www.powerchips.gi/technology/overview.shtml I was intrigued to learn more and delved into many areas of the thermoelectric realm only to learn by making a physical call to one of the manufacturers that the efficiency of the devices was only 1% efficient. I was not very happy in that response. http://www.technologyreview.com/NanoTech/wtr_15959,303,p1.html?trk=nl Late in 2007 a discovery of material arranged in miniature form and using nanoscale materials achieved 10% efficiency this is now starting to be closer to a workable item. http://biopact.com/2007/10/thermoelectric-devices-could-save.html As of today the envelope of Thermoelectrics is now approaching somewhere near 12% efficiency making the development of the apparatus viable for a return on a profit viable. http://www.nextremethermal.com/pages/applications/power_generation.html Manufacturers of the material can be found in these links: http://www.marlow.com/ http://www.zts.com/ http://www.tetech.com/ http://www.melcor.com/ http://www.thermacore.com/ http://www.zts.com/node/3955 Hope this helps Thermoelectrics

Conversion of heat to electricity has been proven and in working models for many years. Several US companies currently produce materials for producing this unique thermo-chemical reaction. The uses of these devices have always intrigued me. My first experience was to purchase a 12 volt igloo cooler and take it apart. Once I got to the thermoelectric cooler I removed the coating to observe the tiny squares of material arranged in away similar to a checkerboard, fascinating. But, I ruined my igloo cooler but, I learned something. This was 1997.

http://www.floridaplants.com/CR/thermo.htm
http://www.powerchips.gi/technology/overview.shtml

I was intrigued to learn more and delved into many areas of the thermoelectric realm only to learn by making a physical call to one of the manufacturers that the efficiency of the devices was only 1% efficient. I was not very happy in that response.

http://www.technologyreview.com/NanoTech/wtr_15959,303,p1.html?trk=nl

Late in 2007 a discovery of material arranged in miniature form and using nanoscale materials achieved 10% efficiency this is now starting to be closer to a workable item.

http://biopact.com/2007/10/thermoelectric-devices-could-save.html

As of today the envelope of Thermoelectrics is now approaching somewhere near 12% efficiency making the development of the apparatus viable for a return on a profit viable.

http://www.nextremethermal.com/pages/applications/power_generation.html

Manufacturers of the material can be found in these links:

http://www.marlow.com/
http://www.zts.com/
http://www.tetech.com/
http://www.melcor.com/
http://www.thermacore.com/
http://www.zts.com/node/3955

Hope this helps

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