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Thermal pulse energy harvesting

Author

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  • McKay, Ian Salmon
  • Wang, Evelyn N.

Abstract

This paper presents a new method to enhance thermal energy harvesting with pulsed heat transfer. By creating a phase shift between the hot and cold sides of an energy harvester, periodically pulsed heat flow can allow an available temperature gradient to be concentrated over a heat engine during each thermal pulse, rather than divided between the heat engine and a heat sink. This effect allows the energy harvester to work at maximum power and efficiency despite an otherwise unfavorable heat engine–heat sink thermal resistance ratio. In this paper, the analysis of a generalized energy harvester model and experiments with a mechanical thermal switch demonstrate how the pulse mode can improve the efficiency of a system with equal engine and heat sink thermal resistances by over 80%, although at reduced total power. At a 1:2 engine–sink resistance ratio, the improvement can simultaneously exceed 60% in power and 15% in efficiency. The thermal pulse strategy promises to enhance the efficiency and power density of a variety of systems that convert thermal energy, from waste heat harvesters to the radioisotope power systems on many spacecraft.

Suggested Citation

  • McKay, Ian Salmon & Wang, Evelyn N., 2013. "Thermal pulse energy harvesting," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 632-640.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:57:y:2013:i:c:p:632-640
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2013.05.045
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Zhou, Maoying & Al-Furjan, Mohannad Saleh Hammadi & Zou, Jun & Liu, Weiting, 2018. "A review on heat and mechanical energy harvesting from human – Principles, prototypes and perspectives," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 82(P3), pages 3582-3609.
    2. Zeadally, Sherali & Shaikh, Faisal Karim & Talpur, Anum & Sheng, Quan Z., 2020. "Design architectures for energy harvesting in the Internet of Things," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    3. Li, Saiwei & Sun, Zhiqiang, 2015. "Harvesting vortex energy in the cylinder wake with a pivoting vane," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 783-792.
    4. Wang, Kai & Zhang, Li & Ji, Bingcheng & Yuan, Jinlei, 2013. "The thermal analysis on the stackable supercapacitor," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 440-444.
    5. Lorenzo Castelli & Qing Zhu & Trevor J. Shimokusu & Geoff Wehmeyer, 2023. "A three-terminal magnetic thermal transistor," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-14, December.
    6. Jeong, Se Yeong & Hwang, Won Seop & Cho, Jae Yong & Jeong, Jae Chul & Ahn, Jung Hwan & Kim, Kyung Bum & Hong, Seong Do & Song, Gyeong Ju & Jeon, Deok Hwan & Sung, Tae Hyun, 2019. "Piezoelectric device operating as sensor and harvester to drive switching circuit in LED shoes," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 177(C), pages 87-93.
    7. Yao, Wei & Lu, Xiaochen & Wang, Chao & Wu, Yao & Ma, Rong & Song, Jian, 2015. "Dynamic modelling and simulation of a heat engine aerobot for atmospheric energy utilization," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 439-446.

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