High-Efficiency Thermoelectric CHP
Technology Description:
NanoConversion Technologies, along with researchers from Gas Technologies Institute (GTI), will develop a high-efficiency thermoelectric CHP system. This is a solid-state device that uses heat to create electricity and contains no moving parts, thus creating no noise or vibrations. Instead, this thermoelectric CHP engine uses a novel concentration mode-thermoelectric converter (C-TEC) to harness the heat of the natural gas combustor to vaporize and ionize sodium, creating positive sodium ions and electrons that carry electric current. The C-TEC uses this sodium expansion cycle to produce electricity using an array of electrochemical cells. The superadiabatic combustor technology from GTI provides a low emission external combustion heat source with 95% fuel-to-heat efficiency and a stable temperature compatible with the C-TEC units.
Potential Impact:
If successful, NanoConversion’s project will facilitate development and commercialization of economical, efficient, and durable CHP systems for residential use. These advancements support progress toward ARPA-E’s overall goals as follows:
Security:
Innovations developed in this project could help households and businesses become more energy self-reliant and less susceptible to energy-related outages through distributed, local generation of power and heat.
Environment:
Widespread adoption of high-efficiency residential CHP systems could decrease overall primary energy consumption and therefore reduce CO2 emissions associated with electricity generation by up to 10%.
Economy:
Cost-effective natural gas-fueled residential CHP systems could offer consumers lower electricity and heating bills.
Contact
ARPA-E Program Director:
Dr. Ji-Cheng Zhao
Project Contact:
Dr. Evan Green
Press and General Inquiries Email:
ARPA-E-Comms@hq.doe.gov
Project Contact Email:
egreen@nanoconversion.com
Partners
Gas Technology Institute
Related Projects
Release Date:
10/16/2014