kW Level Thermoelectric Generators for Turbine Engines

This SBIR Phase I project will development of a novel hot side heat exchanger, which, combined with innovations in high temperature thermoelectric generator (TEG) materials under parallel programs, will provide a path to achieving TEG efficiency of 20%. The focus of this SBIR effort will be TEG device development that is scalable to kW power levels using the exhaust gas stream from turbine engines. In order to achieve this efficiency target, the hot side of the TEG must acquire heat at temperatures approaching 1,000 °C, and survive repeated cycling between the high operational temperature and sub-freezing idle temperatures (-40 °C). The heat exchanger’s composition, configuration, fabrication, and physical integration with the TEG subsystem components will require an advanced design. The Phase I work will evaluate heat exchanger designs both analytically and experimentally to demonstrate feasibility. Simulation of the TEG performance will also be conducted in Phase I and provide a quantitative assessment of efficiency using the proposed heat exchanger and state-of-the-art TEG devices. BENEFIT: The development of high power, high temperature thermoelectric generators for turbine engines will provide power for More Electric Aircraft initiatives and provide substantial weight savings compared to expanding capacity of conventional electric generators.