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Thermoelectric Energy Conversion: Advanced Thermoelectric Analysis and Materials Development

Mackey, Jon A
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1428062038

Abstract Details

2015, Doctor of Philosophy, University of Akron, Mechanical Engineering.
Thermoelectric materials exhibit a significant coupling between thermal and electrical transport. Devices made from thermoelectric materials can convert between thermal and electrical energy. System reliability is extremely high but widespread use of the technology is hindered by low conversion efficiency. To increase the practicality of thermoelectric devices improvements are required in both (i) device design and (ii) thermoelectric materials. Advanced thermoelectric analysis developed in this work provides general guidelines for device design by introducing a new set of design factors. The new analytic factors include Device Design Factor, Fin Factor, Inductance Factor, and Thermal Diffusivity Factor. The advanced analysis is applied to two material systems developed in this work. The first system investigated was a composite of WSi2 precipitates in a Si/Ge matrix. The composite was investigated through both solidification techniques and powder processing. The system has a 30% higher figure of merit, a material parameter relating to conversion efficiency, than traditional zone-leveled Si/Ge. The second system investigated was a novel quaternary CoxNi4-xSb12-ySny skutterudite. The system was found to achieve both n- and p-type conduction with tuning of the Co level.
Celal Batur, Dr. (Advisor)
Alp Sehirlioglu, Dr. (Committee Member)
Minel Braun, Dr. (Committee Member)
Guo-Xiang Wang, Dr. (Committee Member)
Jerry Young, Dr. (Committee Member)
Bob Viellette, Dr. (Committee Member)
283 p.
Aerospace Materials; Materials Science; Mechanical Engineering
Thermoelectricity; Seebeck Coefficient; Thermal Conductivity; Electrical Conductivity; Modeling; Uncertainty Analysis

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Mackey, J. A. (2015). Thermoelectric Energy Conversion: Advanced Thermoelectric Analysis and Materials Development [Doctoral dissertation, University of Akron]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1428062038

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Mackey, Jon. Thermoelectric Energy Conversion: Advanced Thermoelectric Analysis and Materials Development. 2015. University of Akron, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1428062038.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Mackey, Jon. "Thermoelectric Energy Conversion: Advanced Thermoelectric Analysis and Materials Development." Doctoral dissertation, University of Akron, 2015. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1428062038

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

akron1428062038
338
© 2015, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by University of Akron and OhioLINK.