Researchers have developed an innovative thermoelectric generator that transforms otherwise wasted thermal emissions from combustion engines into electricity. Current gas-powered cars lose about 75% of energy as heat, prompting interest in recovering this energy to improve vehicle efficiency. The prototype can produce up to 40 Watts and is designed to attach easily to existing exhaust systems. Utilizing bismuth-telluride as a semiconductor, the device leverages temperature gradients to create electric currents. The strategic heatsink design maintains necessary temperature discrepancies while keeping the device simple and practical, overcoming traditional challenges associated with similar technologies.
The researchers developed a thermoelectric generator that harnesses waste heat from combustion engines, transforming it into electricity, offering a novel way to enhance vehicle efficiency.
The maximum power output achieved by the prototype thermoelectric generator was 40 Watts, sufficient to power a lightbulb, demonstrating significant potential for energy recovery.
This new device, which can be added to the tailpipe of existing vehicles, represents a major stride toward practical implementations of waste heat recovery, overcoming previous cost-effectiveness barriers.
Their innovative heatsink design helps maintain temperature differences crucial for generating electrical current while keeping the device simple and adaptable, avoiding the complexities of water cooling solutions.
#thermoelectric-generator #waste-heat-recovery #combustion-engines #vehicle-efficiency #renewable-energy
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