Design, modeling and utilization of thermoelectrical materials and devices in energy systems

Scientific interest for thermoelectrica has increased tremendously lately, as new types of suitable materials have been discovered with significantly improved characteristica. Denmark is at the very front of this development. Concurrently, the price of manufacture of standard thermoelectric materials has been lowered substantially, due to improved methods of manufacture in countries such as China and Russia. New thermoelectric materials with an improved production cost vs performance relationship can radically change the way we produce and utilize energy, if they can become standard components in applications ranging from micro-CHP (thermoelectric generators) to industrial and house-hold appliances. This project will seek to identify, the potential for utilization of thermoelectrica and the impact of this on energy system operation and performance, and provide specific design optimization recommendations for thermoelectric generators. The project is multi-disciplinary as it combines material and energy technology and sophisticated modeling techniques, in order to gain a comprehensive overview of the possibilities in the use of thermoelectrics in energy systems