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A Flexible Way To Convert Waste Heat To Electricity (asianscientist.com)
A research group in Japan has developed an inexpensive, large-scale and flexible thermoelectric generator (FlexTEG) that has high mechanical reliability and can convert heat into electricity efficiently. The findings are published in the journal Advanced Materials Technologies.
From a report: Thermoelectric conversion is one of the most attractive techniques for converting low-temperature (150C or lower) waste heat into electric power. However, widespread adoption of this technology has been hampered by a lack of suitable packaging techniques for thermoelectric generation modules that can operate in the 100-150C range. In addition, the production cost of modules for generating power at room temperature was prohibitive.
In the present study, scientists at Osaka University, Japan, have developed a method to manufacture thermoelectric generation modules in a cost-efficient manner while preserving the conversion efficiency of the modules. They mounted small thermoelectric semiconductor chips on a flexible substrate and were able to achieve reliable and stable adhesion of the electrical contacts between the chips and the flexible substrate. They called their invention FlexTEG.
In the present study, scientists at Osaka University, Japan, have developed a method to manufacture thermoelectric generation modules in a cost-efficient manner while preserving the conversion efficiency of the modules. They mounted small thermoelectric semiconductor chips on a flexible substrate and were able to achieve reliable and stable adhesion of the electrical contacts between the chips and the flexible substrate. They called their invention FlexTEG.
The industries I can see adopting this quickly:
Automotive industry: There is a continuing push to improve overall mileage of a car. If waste heat can be captured as electrical power, It will get adopted.
Power industry: These guys are already trying to up their efficiency and the competition is stiff. If the power industry can implement this it will get implemented real fast.
Industrial processes: These guys vent so much waste heat it isn't funny. But they do have space normally. I can see them intentionally re-tuning their discharge temperatures to take advantage of this. Many of these industries are (also) very competitive. If they can shave a couple tenths of a percent of their costs, they will do it.
I expect most people in the industries I mentioned will not immediately notice it. But one of those industries will see it and get it implemented. And then Ford or Chevy or Subaru will come out with a car that doesn't have an alternator in it. All of the electrical power is generated from a rebuilt radiator and exhaust system that recycles the power from the heat. A lot of alternators on a car can draw 1-2 hp. So that is now either top end power or additional MPG. Either way everyone else in the industry is now saying "how do we do that?"
I expect the same thing to occur in industrial process, only the average consumer will never hear of it. In metal refining their price per ton will drop by a penny or two consistently and everyone else will start asking how they managed to shave that much cost off without reducing anymore many power.
In either case, once this gets adopted in a particular industry, everyone in that industry will stampede to adopt it so they can stay competitive.
Architectural plans are like computer source code with a couple of differences: You only compile once.
If you read the actual paper, you will see that this process delivers a whopping 1.84% efficiency.
The Carnot efficiency of generating power from low grade heat is terrible, and then you slap a very inefficient Seebeck semiconductor thermoelectric generator on top of that, and about the best you can do is recharge your Apple Watch from the waste heat from your furnace.
This is not the solution to global warming.