– Promotion of higher reliability of measurement technology, and use in international standardization activities of power generation performance tests –
Researchers: YAMAMOTO Atsushi, assigned to the group, OHTA Michihiro, Senior Researcher, Priyanka JOOD, Researcher, and Raju CHETTY, AIST Postdoctoral Researcher, Thermoelectric Energy Conversion Group, Research Institute for Energy Conservation
- Development of a highly reliable standard reference module with excellent mechanical durability for thermoelectric power generation tests
- Use of nickel alloys as the thermoelectric energy conversion materials realizes excellent durability for long-term evaluation, etc.
- Expected to contribute to industrialization and market expansion of power generation from unused heat through accurate evaluation of thermoelectric power generation module performance
Appearance and test of the developed standard reference module for thermoelectric power generation tests
(a) The developed thermoelectric power generation module that uses nickel alloys
(b) Evaluation of power generation characteristics of the developed module using testing equipment of AIST
Thermoelectric power generation technology which can directly convert unused thermal energy into useful electric power is gathering attention from the viewpoints of energy saving and reduction of CO2 emissions. However, widespread use of thermoelectric power generation technology has not yet been achieved due to many factors, such as the difficulty of forming electrodes that are stable at high temperatures in a thermoelectric power generation module, and an absence of standard measurement methods.
The researchers tackled the issue that there are almost no standard reference modules that can be used to verify testing equipment for evaluating the power generation performance of thermoelectric power generation modules. In order to swiftly disseminate thermoelectric power generation technology throughout society in the future, standard reference module is needed to ensure performance of thermoelectric power generation modules.
AIST conducted development, in collaboration with the Thermal Management Materials and Technology Research Association (TherMAT) and the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), as part of NEDO's "Research and Development Project for Innovative Thermal Management Materials and Technologies". These efforts resulted in the development of a thermoelectric power generation module with high reliability, such as excellent mechanical durability, that enables use as a standard reference module for thermoelectric power generation tests.
The developed thermoelectric power generation module uses nickel alloys with excellent mechanical durability. The module is stable with respect to repeated tests and long-term tests, so use is expected as an evaluation reference for performance assurance of testing equipment for power generation characteristics.