Solid-liquid thermoelectric systems with uncorrelated properties
Overview
UncorrelaTEd aims at reaching unprecedented improvements in the heat-to-electricity energy conversion efficiency employing thermoelectric materials. One of the main problems of the thermoelectric technology is the adverse correlation that exists between the properties that determine how good a thermoelectric material is. UncorrelaTEd will break this correlation introducing a new concept in thermoelectricity, which is based on the combination of a thermoelectric solid material with a tactically designed electrolyte (liquid with ions), bringing together thermoelectricity and electrochemistry.
UncorrelaTEd concept will be implemented in different families of thermoelectric materials (bismuth telluride alloys, oxides, and polymers), and will potentially lead to an extraordinarily powerful technology with unprecedented efficiencies in the heat-to-electricity energy conversion.
Project details
- Duration: 01/2020 to 12/2023
- Funding body: European Union (H2020, FET Open)
- Coordinator: Jorge García-Cañadas (Universitat Jaume I)
- Total amount: 2.543.322,50 €
- Project code: 863222
Partners
More information
Main project results
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Development of Impedance Spectroscopy as a new tool to characterise and evaluate the conversion of heat to electricity using ThermoElectric devices and Generators
Overview
This project aims at developing impedance spectroscopy as a powerful tool to characterise thermoelectric modules and generators. These developments will allow this technique to be useful for (i) the identification of failures in thermoelectric devices, (ii) the analysis of the performance of thermoelectric generators under operating conditions, and (iii) the optimisation and monitoring of thermoelectric generators in real applications. The development of this method will provide a highly valuable tool to researchers working on device fabrication and the design of generators, significantly facilitating its development and the understanding of its performance.
Project details
- Duration: 01/2020 to 12/2021
- Funding body: Universitat Jaume I
- Principal investigator: Jorge García-Cañadas (Universitat Jaume I)
- Total amount: 24.000 €
- Project code: UJI-B2019-50
Partners
Main project results
- B. Beltrán-Pitarch, J. Maassen, J. García-Cañadas. Comprehensive impedance spectroscopy equivalent circuit of a thermoelectric device which includes the internal thermal contact resistances. Applied Energy 299, 117287 (2021).
- B. Beltrán-Pitarch, J. García-Cañadas. Impedance spectroscopy analysis of thermolectric modules fabricated with metallic outer external layers. ACS Applied Electronic Materials 3, 4803 (2021).
Experimental analysis and characterisation of aging phenomena in NMC Li-ion batteries
Overview
This project focuses on the analysis of the aging processes that occur in commercial Li-ion batteries when they are subjected to different operating temperatures for long times. During one year the status of the batteries will be monitored by impedance spectroscopy, which will allow the identification of the phenomena more affected by the aging processes. The batteries analysed form part of the products of Ampere Energy, a company focused on the domestical management of energy. The project, apart from Ampere Energy, also involves the Electricity, Electronics and Automatic Control research group from Universitat Jaume I.
Project details
- Duration: 01/2019 to 03/2021
- Funding body: Generalitat Valenciana
- Principal investigator from TESLab: Braulio Beltrán-Pitarch
- Total amount: 16.000 €
- Project code: GV/2019/087
Project partner
Main project results
- H. Beltran, P. Ayuso, N, Vicente, B. Beltrán-Pitarch, J. García-Cañadas, E. Pérez. Equivalent circuit definition and calendar aging analysis of commercial Li(NixMnyCoz)O2/graphite pouch cells. Journal of Energy Storage 52, 104747 (2022).
Large and simultaneous improvement of Seebeck coefficient and electrical conductivity of thermoelectric materials acting outside the crystalline lattice
Overview
This project focuses on achieving a simultaneous and large improvement in both the Seebeck coefficient and the electrical conductivity of bismuth telluride alloys, potentially leading to unprecedented large improvements in their thermoelectric performance. This is performed without acting inside the lattice of the material, which is the core of most of current approaches. In contrast, the project proposes a new strategy that involves acting outside the lattice of the thermoelectric material. This strategy consists in establishing a close interaction with an additional material, which is an electrolyte (e.g. salt dissolved in a solvent or an ionic liquid). The electrolyte is expected to produce at least 4.5 times improvement in the overall performance of bismuth telluride alloys.
Project details
- Duration: 11/2018 to 12/2020
- Funding body: Spanish National Research Agency (Explora programme)
- Principal investigator: Jorge García-Cañadas
- Total amount: 72.600 €
- Project code: MAT2017-91015-EXP
Project partners
Main project results
- N. Vicente, B. Beltrán-Pitarch, I. Mora-Seró and J. García-Cañadas. Mechanisms Involved in the Large Power Factor Improvement Identified in Sb-doped SnO2 by the Presence of Ionic Liquids. International Conference on Thermoelectrics 2019, Gyeongju (South Korea) – Best Poster Award.
Advanced methods for the characterisation of thermoelectric materials and devices
Overview
This project aims at providing solutions and improvements to the tedious task of characterising thermoelectric materials. For this purpose, advanced charaterisation methods based on frequency-resolved and transient methods will be developed. Impedance spectroscopy is the main technique under study, which is applied to thermoelectric materials and devices. The project specially focuses on the impedance response of thermoelectric devices under actual operating conditions, i.e. when they are subjected to a temperature gradient and contacted by heat exchangers.
The project is expected to provide new knowledge about the materials and physical phenomena that govern thermoelectric operation, which will offer the possibility of identifying new strategies both to improve their efficiency and to discover new possibilities for characterization.
Project details
- Duration: 01/2017 to 12/2019
- Funding body: Universitat Jaume I
- Principal investigator: Jorge García-Cañadas
- Total amount: 40.000 €
- Project code: UJI-A2016-08
Project partners
Main project results
- B. Beltrán-Pitarch, F. Vidan, J. García-Cañadas. Thermal contact resistance evaluation of a thermoelectric system by means of three I–V curves. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer 173, 121247 (2021).
- B. Beltrán-Pitarch and J. García-Cañadas. A novel vacuum pressure sensor using a thermoelectric device. Vacuum 172, 109088 (2020).
- B. Beltrán-Pitarch, F. Vidan and J. García-Cañadas. Characterization of thermal contacts between heat exchangers and a thermoelectric module by impedance spectroscopy. Applied Thermal Engineering 165, 114361 (2020).
- B. Beltrán-Pitarch, J. Prado-Gonjal, A. V. Powell, F. Martínez-Julián and J. García-Cañadas. Complete characterization of thermoelectric materials by impedance spectroscopy. Journal of Physical Chemistry C 123, 12608-12613 (2019).
- R. Mesalam, H. R. Williams, R. M. Ambrosi, D. P. Kramer, C. D. Barclay, J. García-Cañadas, K. Stephenson and D. P. Weston. Impedance Spectroscopy Characterization of Neutron Irradiated Thermoelectric Modules for Space Nuclear Power. AIP Advances 9, 055006 (2019).
- B. Beltrán-Pitarch, J. Prado-Gonjal, A. V. Powell, and J. García-Cañadas. Experimental conditions required for accurate measurements of electrical resistivity, thermal conductivity, and figure of merit (ZT) using Harman and impedance spectroscopy methods. Journal of Applied Physics 125, 025111 (2019).
- B. Beltrán-Pitarch, J. Prado-Gonjal, A. V. Powell, P. Ziolkowski and J. García-Cañadas. Thermal conductivity, electrical resistivity and dimensionless figure of merit (ZT) determination of thermoelectric materials by impedance spectroscopy up to 250 ºC. Journal of Applied Physics 124, 025105 (2018).
- B. Beltrán-Pitarch and J. García-Cañadas. Influence of convection at outer ceramic surfaces on the characterization of thermoelectric modules by impedance spectroscopy. Journal of Applied Physics 123, 084505 (2018).