Thermoelectric generators for wearable body heat harvesting: Material and device concurrent optimization

Nozariasbmarz, Amin; Suarez, Francisco; Dycus, J. Houston; Cabral, Matthew J.; LeBeau, James M.; Öztürk, Mehmet C.; Vashaee, Daryoosh

doi:10.1016/j.nanoen.2019.104265

Cited by 82 publications

(58 citation statements)

References 60 publications

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“…Better TE properties above room temperature make this material suitable for low-grade waste heat recovery application, such as energy harvesting from hot-water pipes ( Kishore et al., 2020 ). Type (I)-p with higher (zT) peak and lower thermal conductivity at room temperature is appropriate for specific applications that involve high heat sink/source contact resistance such as body heat harvesting ( Nozariasbmarz et al., 2019a ; 2020a , 2020b ; Suarez et al., 2016 ) and body cooling ( Kishore et al., 2019 ).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The (zT) peak of Type (I)-n and Type (II)-n is 0.92 and 0.9, respectively. In Type (II)-n, zT~0.9 is maintained in a broad temperature range from 50 C to -n has lower thermal conductivity and higher Seebeck coefficient and zT at room temperature, which makes this material appropriate for applications that require large contact resistance between TE and heat source/sink at room temperature such as wearable electronics (Nozariasbmarz et al, 2019a(Nozariasbmarz et al, , 2019b2020a, 2020b. However, comparatively Type (I)-n is not the best candidate for power generation at high temperature due to its zT degradation.…”

Section: Open Accessmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Bismuth Telluride Thermoelectrics with 8% Module Efficiency for Waste Heat Recovery Application

Nozariasbmarz

Poudel

et al. 2020

iScience

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Summary Thermoelectric generators (TEGs) offer cost-effective and sustainable solid-state energy conversion mechanism from wasted heat into useful electrical power. Thermoelectric (TE) materials based upon bismuth telluride (BiTe) systems are widely utilized in applications ranging from energy generation to sensing to cooling. There is demand for BiTe materials with high figure of merit (zT) and TEG modules with high conversion efficiency over intermediate temperatures (25°C–250°C). Here we provide fundamental breakthrough in design of BiTe-based TE materials and utilize them to demonstrate modules with outstanding conversion efficiency of 8%, which is 40% higher compared with state-of-the-art commercial modules. The average zT of 1.08 for p-type and 0.84 for n-type bismuth telluride alloys is obtained between 25 and 250°C. The significant enhancement in zT is achieved through compositional and defect engineering in both p- and n-type materials. The high conversion efficiency accelerates the transition of TEGs for waste heat recovery.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Open Accessmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bismuth Telluride Thermoelectrics with 8% Module Efficiency for Waste Heat Recovery Application

Nozariasbmarz

Poudel

et al. 2020

iScience

Self Cite

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“…As it is clearly visible in Fig. 11, the human tissues act as an excellent heat insulator and most of the temperature drop occurs at the skin/TEG interface because of the large thermal contact resistance, which is due to the rough surface of the skin [39], [40]. Regarding the laboratory temperatures for the L-task, the values are about the same except for the third participant (Ltask) where it is 3 degrees lower than the other measured values.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 72%

A Flexible Thermoelectric Generator Worn on the Leg to Harvest Body Heat Energy and to Recognize Motor Activities: A Preliminary Study

et al. 2021

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Wearable devices are commonly used to monitor human movement since motor activity is a fundamental element in all phases of a person's life. Patients with motor disorders need to be monitored for a prolonged period and the battery life can be a limit for such a goal. Here the technique of harvesting energy from body heat to supply energy to wearable devices is investigated. A commercial flexible thermoelectric generator, equipped with an accelerometer, is placed on the lower leg above the ankle. The accelerometer serves to detect diverse motor activities carried out by ten students of VSB-Technical University of Ostrava involved in the execution of two tasks. To summarize, the motor activities analyzed in the proposed work are: "Sit", "Walk", "Rest", "Go biking", "Rest after biking", and "Go down and up the stairs". The maximum measured value of power density was 20.3 µW cm -2 for the "Walk" activity, corresponding to a gradient of temperature between the hot and cold side of the thermocouples constituting the flexible thermoelectric generator of 1.5 °C, while the minimum measured value of power density was 8.3 µW cm -2 for the "Sit" activity, corresponding to a gradient of temperature of 1.1 °C. Moreover, a mathematical model was developed for the recognition of motor activities carried out during the execution of the experiments. As a preliminary result, it is possible to state that semi-stationary parts of the signal generated by the thermoelectric generator can be traced back to the performance of an activity.

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“…The standard sensor technologies for skin temperature measure sometimes require electronics and outer power supply like batteries or AC power [16] using TEG modules, the system could produce the necessary amount of energy to sense and report an early fever state, with no outer energy supply. The TEG modules are solidstate devices that produce electric energy directly from human heat, with neither mechanical, light, or radio wave inputs [17]. The need for body core temperature measurements and fever monitoring systems represents nowadays a key factor to control and mitigate the evolution of the pandemic and this mechanism is the best approach to "flatten the curve".…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Early fever detection on COVID-19 infection using thermoelectric module generators

Sanin-Villa

Monsalve-Cifuentes

Río

2021

IJECE

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In 2020 the COVID-19 pandemic has suddenly stopped society and changed human interaction. In this work, a thermoelectric generator wearable device for early fever detection symptoms is presented as a possible solution to avoid higher propagation of this disease. To identify a possible fever symptom, numerical and parametric simulations are developed using a highquality-refined hexahedral mesh. At first, a 2-pair-leg thermoelectric module has undergone simulations to establish temperature conditions, open-circuit voltage, and power output generation; and secondly, these previous results are extrapolated for a larger thermoelectric module containing 28 pair-leg of N-P type material. The numerical study shows that a maximum value of electrical power of 60.70 mW was reached for 28-pair-leg N-P type thermocouples under a constant temperature difference of 20 K.

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Thermoelectric generators for wearable body heat harvesting: Material and device concurrent optimization

Cited by 82 publications

References 60 publications

Bismuth Telluride Thermoelectrics with 8% Module Efficiency for Waste Heat Recovery Application

Bismuth Telluride Thermoelectrics with 8% Module Efficiency for Waste Heat Recovery Application

A Flexible Thermoelectric Generator Worn on the Leg to Harvest Body Heat Energy and to Recognize Motor Activities: A Preliminary Study

Early fever detection on COVID-19 infection using thermoelectric module generators

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