Thermoelectricity

Presented By-:

Mohammad Rameez

ENERGY ROADMAP
25% effective power 100% energy from power source 5% parasitic losses 30% coolant

40% Heat Losses

Can we convert this heat into some useful energy?

Introduction
The pioneer in thermoelectrics was a German scientist Thomas Johann Seebeck (1770-1831)

Thermoelectricity refers to a class of phenomena in which a temperature difference creates an electric potential or an electric potential creates a temperature difference.
Thermoelectric power generator is a device that converts the heat energy into electrical energy based on the principles of Seebeck effect

Later, In 1834, French scientist, Peltier and in 1851, Thomson (later Lord Kelvin) described the thermal effects on conductors

Seebeck Effect
Thermoelectricity - known in physics as the "Seebeck Effect" In 1821, Thomas Seebeck, a German physicist, twisted two wires of different metals together and heated one end.

Discovered a small current flow and so demonstrated that heat could be converted to electricity.

Seebeck Effect
Heat transfer through electrons and phonons (lattice vibrations)
Photon Phonon motion

Metal rod
Electron mobility

Al

Al

Electron mobility

Phonon motion

Seebeck Coefficient

dV S dT

Electrons in the hot region are more energetic and therefore have greater velocities than those in the cold region

Seebeck Effect

PELTIER EFFECT
In 1834, a French watchmaker and part time physicist, Jean Peltier found that an electrical current would produce a temperature gradient at the junction of two dissimilar metals.

<0 ; Negative Peltier coefficient

High energy electrons move from right to left.

Thermal current and electric current flow in opposite directions.

(electronic)

PELTIER COOLING
>0 ; Positive Peltier coefficient High energy holes move from left to right. Thermal current and electric current flow in same direction.

q=*j, where q is thermal current density and j is electrical current density. = S*T (Volts) S ~ 2.5 kB/e for typical TE materials T is the Absolute Temperature

PELTIER EFFECT
Peltier Effect Thermoelectric Cooler Diagram:

PELTIER EFFECT
Peltier Effect Animation: As current passes through the 1st plate, the negative electrons and positive holes (called carriers) transport the heat making the 1st plate to be warm (heat is absorbed) and the 2nd plate to be cold (heat is released).

THOMSON EFFECT
Discovered by William Thomson (Lord Kelvin) When an electric current flows through a conductor, the ends of which are maintained at different temperatures, heat is evolved at a rate approximately proportional to the product of the current and the temperature gradient.

dQ dT I dx dx

is the Thomson coefficient in Volts/Kelvin Seebeck coeff. S is temperature dependent

Relation given by Kelvin:

dS dT

THERMOELECTRIC EFFECTS(SUMMARY)

THE SEEBECK EFFECT:

EMF caused by temperature gradient across two dissimilar conducting metals, which form a closed loop.1

THE PELTIER EFFECT:

Temperature differential caused at the junctions of dissimilar conductors, with the passing of current.1

THE THOMSON EFFECT:

Electrical current caused by a temperature gradient in a single homogeneous conductor. 1

S 2

Efficiency of Thermoelectric Devices

Desirable > 0.2

EFFICIENCY OF THERMOELECTRIC DEVICES

The Figure of Merit of a thermoelectric material

2 2 8 k T B 3 S = Seebeck coefficient S m ( ) 2 3eh 3n = Electrical conductivity 2 ne ke= Electronic contribution to thermal conductivity

S2 ZT T ke k p

kp= Phonon contribution to thermal conductivity

m*

Conflicting Issues in Design: m*/(n1/3[k/]) Increasing (through increase in n) reduces S Increase in accompanied by an increase in e Increasing effective mass m*: increase in S, but decrease in Attempts to change p interferes with changes in (mobility)

Metals: S ~ 10 V/K, Semiconductors: S ~ 100 V/K

Degenerate semiconductors, heavy atoms, soft spring constants of

bonds: Bi Te and its alloys

Thermoelectric materials
The good thermoelectric materials should possess 1. Large Seebeck coefficients 2. High electrical conductivity 3. Low thermal conductivity The example for thermoelectric materials BismuthTelluride (Bi2Te3), Lead Telluride (PbTe), SiliconGermanium (SiGe), Bismuth-Antimony (Bi-Sb)

 LT

SEMICONDUCTORS
Semiconductors were found to be much more effective thermoelectric generators with Seebeck coefficients in the range of 100V/K (Exceeds values for metals, typically 10 V/K ). In addition, semiconductors have a higher ratio of electrical conductivity to thermal conductivity when compared to metals. These factors contribute to a greater figure-of-merit for thermoelectric applications.

THERMOELECTRIC EFFECT IN SEMICONDUCTORS

Thermoelectric power generation is explained by a gradient in conduction band energy, across a material. This gradient in conduction band energy is caused by an applied thermal gradient. For homogeneous materials the conduction band energy is directly related to temperature. Electrons on the hot side of a material have greater conduction band energy than those on the cold side producing an EMF.3
e

3. http://ecee.colorado.edu/~bart/book/

THERMOELECTRIC EFFECT IN SEMICONDUCTORS

As for conduction band energy, valence band energy is also varied across a material with an applied thermal gradient. In this case, valence band carriers are termed holes, and correspond to an absent electron.3

EC

Ev

THERMOELECTRIC EFFECT IN SEMICONDUCTORS

n-type Materials
e e e e e e e e e e

For n-type materials, electrons are the primary charge carriers for which applied thermal gradients produce an EMF in the direction shown above.3

p-type Materials
h h h h h h h h h h

For p-type materials, holes are the primary charge carriers for which applied thermal gradients produce an EMF in the direction shown above.3

THERMOELECTRIC EFFECT IN SEMICONDUCTORS

When connected in series, the two materials produce thermoelectric power capable of powering a load.

p-type Material
h h h h h h

n-type Material
e e e e e e

LOAD

THERMOELECTRIC OPERATION
e-

h+

Electron/hole pairs created at the hot end absorbs heat. Pairs recombine and reject heat at the cold end. The net voltage appears across the bottom of the thermoelectric legs.
Snyder et al. Nature 7, 105-114, (2008).

MATERIAL OF CHOICE FOR THERMOELECTRICITY

TE Parameters Materials Electrical Conductivity (G) Very High
~107 S/m

Seebeck Coefficient (S) Low

~ 10V/K

Thermal Conductivity ( ) High

~102 W/m-K

Metals

Insulators

Extremely low (~10-10S/m) Moderate

10-3S/m

High
High
~120 V/K

Low
~10-2-10-4 W/m-K

Semiconductors

Low
~10 W/m-K

Semiconductors most suitable TE material. Allow separate control of G (electrons) and (phonons).

Conventional Thermoelectric Materials

Optimized Bi2Te3 though Sb/Se substitution

POTENTIAL Z ENHANCEMENT IN LOW-DIMENSIONAL MATERIALS

Increased Density of States near the Fermi Level: high S2 (power factor) Increased phonon-boundary scattering: low

high Z = S2/:

THIN FILM SUPERLATTICE THERMOELECTRIC MATERIALS

Thin film superlattice

Phonon (lattice vibration wave) transmission at an interface Incident Reflection phonons Interface Transmission

Barrier (larger Eg)

Quantum well (smaller Eg)

Approaches to improve Z S2/ : --Frequent phonon-boundary scattering: low --High density of states near EF: high S2 in QWs

LOW-DIMENSIONAL THERMOELECTRIC MATERIALS

Thin

Film Superlattices of

Nanowires

of

Bi2Te3,Si/Ge, GaAs/AlAs

Bi, BiSb,Bi2Te3,SiGe Al2O3 template

Top View

Nanowire

Barrier Quantum well

Ec
E Ev

THERMOELECTRIC PROPERTIES OF THIN-FILM MATERIALS USED FOR THERMOELECTRIC MICROSENSORS

THERMOELECTRIC DEVICES

SEMICONDUCTOR PELTIER COOLERS

Bismuth-Telluride n and p blocks An electric current forces electrons in n type and holes in p type away from each other on the cold side and towards each other on the hot side. The holes and electrons pull thermal energy from where they are heading away from each other and deliver it to where they meet.

Electrical Power Generation and Cooling

Wasted heat to electricity Environment-friendly No moving parts: easy maintenance Long life Precision control of T with spatial resolution

THERMOELECTRIC MEMS DEVICES

The miniaturisation and development of MEMS based thermoelectric devices has the potential to improve the performance of thermoelectric devices, and create new applications for the technology. Thermoelectric MEMS based devices, based on thin-film technology, that are compatible with modern semiconductor processing techniques have now started to enter the market place.

THERMOELECTRIC MICRO POWER GENERATORS

Miniaturized, fully-integrated, monolithically and batch-fabricated thermoelectric power generator capable of powering MEMS devices

Sufficient power (individually or in small arrays) to replace batteries in macroscale systems such as weapons,man-portable computers, radios, and GPS receivers

Micromachined scanning thermocouple probe for high resolution temperature mapping, topographical mapping, surface imaging e.g. for ULSI diagnostics

Thermocouple probe

APPLICATIONS
Deep space probes
Microprocessor cooling Laser diode temperature stabilization Temperature regulated flight suits

Air conditioning in submarines

Portable DC refrigerators Automotive seat cooling/heating

Radioisotopic Thermoelectric Generator (RTG)

Some Applications of Thermoelectrics

APPLICATIONS
Water/Beer Cooler
Si bench

Cryogenic IR Night Vision

TE

Electronic Cooling
Cooled Car Seat Laser/OE Cooling

37

AUTOMOBILE
In ATEGs, thermoelectric materials are packed between the hot-side and the coldside heat exchangers. The temperature difference between the two surfaces of thethermoelectric module(s) generates electricity.

Thermoelectric generator in a Volkswagen Golf Plus lowers fuel use by 5% .

BIO WATCHES (THERMIC WATCHES)

Thermionic Watch absorbs heat from the wrist and dissipates it through the front side of the watch. The internal thermoelectric generator converts the temperature into electricity and drives the watch. The heat powered Thermic watches utilizes heat energy continuously while wearing on the wrist. The memory chip inside the watch will keeps tracks of time even when not in contact with the body. The Seiko watch Introduced in 1988 . under normal operation the watch produces 22W of electrical power. With only a 1.5K temperature drop across the intricately machined thermoelectric modules, the open circuit voltage is 300 mV, and thermal to electric efficiency is about 0.1%.