• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.1135-1140
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• 2008

Bismuth-telluride based thin film materials are grown by Metal Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition(MOCVD). A planar type thermoelectric device has been fabricated using p-type $Bi_{0.4}Sb_{1.6}Te_3$ and n-type $Bi_2Te_3$ thin films. Firstly, the p-type thermoelectric element was patterned after growth of $4{\mu}m$ thickness of $Bi_{0.4}Sb_{1.6}Te_3$ layer. Again n-type $Bi_2Te_3$ film was grown onto the patterned p-type thermoelectric film and n-type strips are formed by using selective chemical etchant for $Bi_2Te_3$. The top electrical connector was formed by thermally deposited metal film. The generator consists of 20 pairs of p- and n-type legs. We demonstrate complex structures of different conduction types of thermoelectric element on same substrate by two separate runs of MOCVD with etch-stop layer and selective etchant for n-type thermoelectric material. Device performance was evaluated on a number of thermoelectric devices. To demonstrate power generation, one side of the sample was heated by heating block and the voltage output measured. As expected for a thermoelectric generator, the voltage decreases linearly, while the power output rises to a maximum. The highest estimated power of $1.3{\mu}W$ is obtained for the temperature difference of 45 K. we provide a promising procedure for fabricating thin film thermoelectric generators by using MOCVD grown thermoelectric materials which may have nanostructure with high thermoelectric properties.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2008.05a
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• pp.460-463
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• 2008

A large part of the overall industrial energy is dissipated as waste heat despite of much development in the utilization of thermal energy. A mean efficiency is reported to be only around 30 to 35%. The existing waste heat recovery technology has reached its limit and consequently, the development of a new technology is necessary. Improving efficiency using thermoelectric technology has recently come into the spotlight because of its unique way to recover thermal energy. In fact, thermoelectric generator directly converts thermal energy into electric energy by a solid state without any moving parts. Futhermore remarkable improvement in the thermoelectric energy conversion efficiency has been achieved. In this study, a thermoelectric generator was made using commercialized thermoelectric modules. With thermoelectric modules attached on a duct surface, hot air was blown into the duct using a hot air blower. On the other side of the module, a water jacket was attached to cool the module. With different air inlet temperatures and water flowrates, the electrical power of the thermoelectric generator was measured.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.33-38
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• 2015

PURPOSES : The purpose of this paper is to investigate the application of thermoelectric technology to concrete structures for harvesting solar energy that would otherwise be wasted. In various fields of research, thermoelectric technology using a thermoelectric module is being investigated for utilizing solar energy. METHODS: In our experiment, a halogen lamp was used to produce heat energy instead of the solar heat. A data logger was used to record the generated voltage over time from the thermoelectric module mounted on a concrete specimen. In order to increase the efficiency of energy harvesting, various factors such as color, architecture, and the ability to prevent heat absorption by the concrete surface were investigated for the placement of the thermoelectric module. RESULTS : The thermoelectric module produced a voltage using the temperature difference between the lower and upper sides of the module. When the concrete specimen was coated with an aluminum foil, a high electric power was measured. In addition, for the power generated at low temperatures, it was confirmed that the voltage was generated steadily. CONCLUSIONS: Thermoelectric technology for energy harvesting can be applied to concrete structures for generating electric power. The generated electricity can be used to power sensors used in structure monitoring in the future.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2008.11a
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• pp.425-425
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• 2008

Bismuth-antimony-telluride based thermoelectric thin film materials were prepared by metal organic vapor phase deposition using trimethylbismuth, triethylantimony and diisopropyltelluride as metal organic sources. A planar type thermoelectric device has been fabricated using p-type $Bi_{0.4}Sb_{1.6}Te_3$ and n-type $Bi_2Te_3$ thin films. Firstly, the p-type thermoelectric element was patterned after growth of $4{\mu}m$ thickness of $Bi_{0.4}Sb_{1.6}Te_3$ layer. Again n-type $Bi_2Te_3$ film was grown onto the patterned p-type thermoelectric film and n-type strips are formed by using selective chemical etchant for $Bi_2Te_3$. The top electrical connector was formed by thermally deposited metal film. The generator consists of 20 pairs of p- and n-type legs. We demonstrate complex structures of different conduction types of thermoelectric element on same substrate by two separate runs of MOCVD with etch-stop layer and selective etchant for n-type thermoelectric material. Device performance was evaluated on a number of thermoelectric devices. To demonstrate power generation, one side of the device was heated by heating block and the voltage output was measured. The highest estimated power of 1.3mW is obtained at the temperature difference of 45K. We provide a promising approach for fabricating thin film thermoelectric generators by using MOCVD grown thermoelectric materials which can employ nanostructures for high thermoelectric properties.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2002.07b
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• pp.1332-1334
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• 2002

Thermoelectric generation is the direct energy conversion method from heat th electric power. The conversion method is a very useful utilization of waste energy because of its possibility using a thermal energy below $150^{\circ}C$ This research objective is th establish the thermoelectric technology on a optimum system design method and efficiency, and cost effective thermoelectric element in order to extract the maximum electric power from a wasted hot water. This paper is considered in manufacturing a thermoelectric generator and measuring of electric resistance of module a thermoelectric modules. It was found that the electric resistance of thermoelectric modules was defined as a temperature functions. The relationship between electric resistance and temperature characteristics can be a analogized as function of electric current.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2001.05b
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• pp.50-53
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• 2001

The thermoelectric refrigeration technologies have no moving parts. compressor, or piping required. In this study, the basic capacity of thermoelectric devices and development on some thermoelectric refrigerator were reviewed and basic technical concepts related with many kinds of thermoelectric materials were discussed. Especially the result of performance test on thermoelectric refrigerator whose minimum temperature of $-2^{\circ}C$ was introduced briefly.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.26 no.7
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• pp.329-334
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• 2014

This study indicated the possibility of energy regeneration from waste coolant heat, by using thermoelectric generation integrated with heat pipe. The internal combustion engine rejects more than 60% wasteful energy to the atmosphere by heat. The thermoelectric generator has recently been studied, to convert the energy from engine waste heat into electricity. For coolant waste heat recovery, a thermoelectric generator was investigated, to find out the possibility of vehicular application. Performance characteristics were conducted with various test conditions of coolant temperature, coolant mass flow rate, air temperature, and air velocity, with the thermoelectric generator installed either horizontally or vertically. Experimental results show that the electric power and conversion efficiency increases according to the temperature difference between the hot and cold side of the thermoelectric generator, and the coolant flow rate of the hot side heat exchanger. Performance improvement can be expected by optimizing the heat pipe design.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.224-230
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• 2014

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the performance of supplemental cooling and heating system equipped with the 1 kW thermoelectric module. The system consist of 96 thermoelectric modules, heat sink with louver fin and water cooling jacket which is attached on the hot side of the thermoelectric module. The cooling and heating performance test of the thermoelectric system is conducted with various conditions, such as intake voltage, air inlet temperature, air flow volume, water inlet temperature and water flow rate at calorimeter chamber in consideration of environmental conditions in realistic vehicle drive. The experimental results of a thermoelectric system shows that the cooling capacity and COP is 1.03 kW, and 1.0, and heating capacity and COP is 1.53 kW, and 1.5 respectively.

• Proceedings of the Korean Powder Metallurgy Institute Conference
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• 2006.09a
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• pp.430-431
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• 2006

Thermoelectric thick film was fabricated by screen printing process with using p-type Bi-Te-Sb powders. The powder was synthesized by melting, milling and sintering process and hydrogen reduced to enhance the thermoelectric property. The thick film of Bi-Te-Sb powder was fabricated by screen printing method and baked at the optimized conditions. The thermal conductivity, the electrical resistivity and Seeback coefficient of thick film were measured and the thermoelectric performance was analyzed in terms of film characteristics and its microstructure. Finally, the feasibility of thermoelectric thick film into micro cooling device on CPU chip was discussed in this study.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 1997.07d
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• pp.1446-1448
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• 1997

TEC(Thermoelectric conversion) is direct conversion method between thermal energy and electric energy. We studied on the mechanical, electrical and thermal properties of thermoelectric module and made experimental thermoelectric generator with BiTe material.