High-Performance Silicon–Germanium-Based Thermoelectric Modules for Gas Exhaust Energy Scavenging

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• 作者：K. Romanjek ; S. Vesin ; L. Aixala ; T. Baffie…
• 关键词：Thermoelectricity ; thermoelectric material ; thermoelectric module ; thermoelectric generator ; SiGe ; gas exhaust ; energy harvesting
• 刊名：Journal of Electronic Materials
• 出版年：2015
• 出版时间：June 2015
• 年：2015
• 卷：44
• 期：6
• 页码：2192-2202
• 全文大小：2,905 KB
• 参考文献：1.J. Berger et al., in 4th Thermoelectrics Conference Utilizing Waste Heat in Transport and Industry (IAV), Berlin, 10-2 Dec 2014.
  2.G. Bernard-Granger et al., in European-Materials Research Society Spring Meeting, 2013.
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  6.R. McCarty et al., in International Conference on Thermoelectrics, Nashville, TN, USA, 6-0 July 2014.
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  8.K. Yasawa et al., in Proceedings of the ASME 2010 International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition (IMECE2010), Vancouver, BC, Canada, 12-8 Nov 2010.
  9.K. Brinkfeldt et al., in European Conference on Thermoelectrics, 2013.
  
• 作者单位：K. Romanjek (1) (2)
  S. Vesin (1) (2)
  L. Aixala (1) (2)
  T. Baffie (1) (2)
  G. Bernard-Granger (1) (2)
  J. Dufourcq (3)
  
  1. Université Grenoble Alpes, 38000, Grenoble, France
  2. CEA, LITEN, DTNM/SERE/LTE, 17 rue des martyrs, 38054, Grenoble Cedex, France
  3. HotBlock OnBoard, 7 Parvis Louis Néel, 38040, Grenoble Cedex 9, France
  
• 刊物类别：Chemistry and Materials Science
• 刊物主题：Chemistry
  Optical and Electronic Materials
  Characterization and Evaluation Materials
  Electronics, Microelectronics and Instrumentation
  Solid State Physics and Spectroscopy
  
• 出版者：Springer Boston
• ISSN：1543-186X

文摘

Some of the energy used in transportation and industry is lost as heat, often at high-temperatures, during conversion processes. Thermoelectricity enables direct conversion of heat into electricity, and is an alternative to the waste-heat-recovery technology currently used, for example turbines and other types of thermodynamic cycling. The performance of thermoelectric (TE) materials and modules has improved continuously in recent decades. In the high-temperature range (T _{hot side}?>?500°C), silicon–germanium (SiGe) alloys are among the best TE materials reported in the literature. These materials are based on non-toxic elements. The Thermoelectrics Laboratory at CEA (Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives) has synthesized n and p-type SiGe pellets, manufactured TE modules, and integrated these into thermoelectric generators (TEG) which were tested on a dedicated bench with hot air as the source of heat. SiGe TE samples of diameter 60?mm were created by spark-plasma sintering. For n-type SiGe doped with phosphorus the peak thermoelectric figure of merit reached ZT?=?1.0 at 700°C whereas for p-type SiGe doped with boron the peak was ZT?=?0.75 at 700°C. Thus, state-of-the-art conversion efficiency was obtained while also achieving higher production throughput capacity than for competing processes. A standard deviation <4% in the electrical resistance of batches of ten pellets of both types was indicative of high reproducibility. A silver-paste-based brazing technique was used to assemble the TE elements into modules. This assembly technique afforded low and repeatable electrical contact resistance (<3?nΩ?m2). A test bench was developed for measuring the performance of TE modules at high temperatures (up to 600°C), and thirty 20?mm?×?20?mm TE modules were produced and tested. The results revealed the performance was reproducible, with power output reaching 1.9?±?0.2?W for a 370 degree temperature difference. When the temperature difference was increased to 500°C, electrical power output increased to >3.6?W. An air–water heat exchanger was developed and 30 TE modules were clamped and connected electrically. The TEG was tested under vacuum on a hot-air test bench. The measured output power was 45?W for an air flow of 16?g/s at 750°C. The hot surface of the TE module reached 550°C under these conditions. Silicon–germanium TE modules can survive such temperatures, in contrast with commercial modules based on bismuth telluride, which are limited to 400°C.