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The search for new materials and the discovery; investigation and synthesis optimization of novel compounds is a central aspect of materials science and inorganic chemistry. In this work, solid-state synthetic techniques were combined with mechanochemical and flux growth methods to optimize the synthesis in three different systems: The family of RE3Fe3Sb7 (RE = La-Nd, Sm, Gd and Tb) compounds, the bismuth telluride bromides BinTeBr (n = 2, 3) and the bismuth bromide Bi5Br4. The former raise ineterst due to their magnetic and thermoelectric properties, respectiveley. The latter represents a new phase in the binary Bi-Br phae diagram.

Analytical, closed-form solutions governing thermoelectric behavior are derived. An analytical model utilizing a thermal circuit is presented involving heat transfer into, through, out of, and around a thermoelectric device. A nondimensionalization of the model is presented. Linear heat transfer theory is applied to the model to obtain a series of closed form equations predicting net power output for the thermoelectric device. Fluid streams flowing through shrouded heat sinks with square pin fins are considered for the thermal pathways to and from the device. Heat transfer and pressure drop are characterized in a manner conducive to an analytical model using previously published experimental results. Experimental data is presented which validates and demonstrates the usefulness of the model in predicting power output for commercially available thermoelectric generators. A specific design for a thermoelectric power harvester is suggested consisting of a pattern of thermoelectric generators. An economic model for calculating payback time is developed. An optimization process is demonstrated that allows for the payback time of such a system to be minimized through optimization of the physical design of the system. It is shown that optimization of the thermal pathways dramatically reduces payback time. Optimized design of a system is discussed in light of theoretical cases with feasible payback times.

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The combustion of ultra-lean fuel to air mixtures provides an efficient way to convert the chemical energy of hydrocarbons into useful power. Conventional burning techniques of a mixture have defined flammability limits beyond which a flame cannot self-propagate due to heat losses. Matrix stabilized porous medium combustion is an advanced technique in which a solid porous matrix within the combustion chamber accumulates heat from the hot gaseous products and preheats incoming reactants. This heat recirculation extends the standard flammability limits and allows the burning of ultra-lean fuel mixtures, conserving energy resources, or the burning of gases of low calorific value, utilizing otherwise wasted resources. The heat generated by the porous burner can be harvested with thermoelectric devices for a reliable method of generating electricity for portable electronic devices by the burning of otherwise noncombustible mixtures. The design of the porous media burner, its assembly and testing are presented. Highly porous (~80% porosity) alumina foam was used as the central media and alumina honeycomb structure was used as an inlet for fuel and an outlet for products of the methane-air combustion. The upstream and downstream honeycomb structures were designed with pore sizes smaller than the flame quenching distance, preventing the flame from propagating outside of the central section. Experimental results include measurements from thermocouples distributed throughout the burner and on each side of the thermoelectric module along with associated current, voltage and power outputs. Measurements of the burner with catalytic coating were obtained for stoichiometric and lean mixtures and compared to the results obtained from the catalytically inert matrix, showing the effect on overall efficiency for the combustion of fuel-lean mixtures

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

Managing the thermal loads inside a non-airbreathing hypersonic vehicle is particularly difficult. The heat generated by the power electronics, avionics, etc. must be removed so that the components do not exceed their maximum temperatures. These vehicles cannot dump the waste heat into fuel or ram air because they carry no fuel and do not have provisions for ram air. This means that the thermal energy resulting from the heat generated must be dumped into an onboard heat sink. Existing solutions to this problem have been passive systems based on solid-liquid phase change materials (PCMs), which store thermal energy as they melt. Since space is at a premium, a heat sink must store a lot of energy per unit volume, while keeping components below their maximum temperature. In this project, three heat sink concepts are tested, i.e., one based on PCMs, a second on thermal to chemical (TTC) energy storage, and a third on a hybrid combination of the first two. For the first, three different PCMs are tested and for the second a single endothermic chemical reaction. The hybrid PCM/TTC concept consists of a single PCM which plays the dual role of PCM and reactant in the endothermic chemical reaction of the TTC energy storage. To enhance heat sink performance, the use of thermoelectric generators (TEGs) and a local coolant loop are investigated. The advantage of the former is that they transform waste heat into usable electricity, reducing the amount of thermal energy that needs to be stored by the heat sink. The advantage of the latter is that it results in a more uniform cooling of the heat source and more uniform heating of the heat sink. Prototypes of each of the heat sink concepts and the coolant loop are designed, built, and tested. Experimental results indicate that all the solutions tested in this project outperform widely used paraffin heat sink technologies on an energy per unit volume basis. Our experiments also show that a local coolant loop is indeed advantageous and that current off-the-shelf thermoelectric generators do not generate enough power to offset the power requirements of the coolant loop. Significant improvements in the ZT factor of the thermoelectric materials used by the TEG would be required. / Master of Science / All electronics produce waste heat and have a maximum operating temperature above which they fail due to overheating. Heat sinks absorb the waste heat and prevent overheating. Non-airbreathing hypersonic vehicles do not have natural heat sinks like intake air or liquid fuel which are commonly used as heat sinks in airbreathing vehicles. Heat cannot be transferred to the environment due to the high temperatures caused by the friction of hypersonic air travel. This means that all waste heat must absorbed by an onboard heat sink. Existing heat sinks in non-airbreathing hypersonic vehicles use paraffin based solid-liquid phase change materials (PCMs) which store thermal energy as they melt. Three novel heat sink options are evaluated in this project, hydrated salt PCMs which absorb energy as they melt, a chemical reaction which absorbs heat as it reacts, and a hybrid system which incorporates one of the hydrates salt PCM as a reactant in the chemical reaction. Because space is at a premium, these options are evaluated by the amount of energy they can absorb (kilojoules) per unit volume (in3) while keeping the electronics below their maximum temperature. To enhance heat sink performance, the use of thermoelectric generators (TEGs) and a local coolant loop are investigated. The advantage of the former is that they transform waste heat into usable electricity, reducing the amount of thermal energy that needs to be stored by the heat sink. The advantage of the latter is that it results in a more uniform cooling of the electronics and more uniform heating of the heat sink. Prototypes of each of the heat sink concepts and the coolant loop are designed, built, and tested. Experimental results indicate that all the solutions tested in this project outperform widely used paraffin heat sink technologies on an energy per unit volume basis. Our experiments also show that a local coolant loop is indeed advantageous and that current off-the-shelf thermoelectric generators do not generate enough power to offset the power requirements of the coolant loop. Significant improvements in the state of the art of thermoelectric materials would be required for TEGs to generate enough electricity from our waste heat load to power the local coolant loop.

In this project, nano powder of CoSb3 thermoelectric material was synthesized using chemical alloying novel co-precipitation method. This method involved co-precipitation of TE precursor compounds in controlled pH aqueous solutions followed by thermo-chemical treatments including calcination and reduction to produce nano-particulates of CoSb3. The nano powder was consolidated using rapid solid state spark plasma sintering (SPS) and the processing time was of the order of few minutes. On a result very high densities were achieved and grain growth was almost negligible. Various batches of the CoSb3 nano powder were produced to achieve high purity, minimum particle size and compensate Sb evaporation during thermo-chemical reduction. For de-agglomeration, powder was grinded before and after calcination. Samples were characterized at each stage during synthesis using XRD and SEM (with EDX). Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) was done before thermochemical treatments to observe weight losses with heating the powder at high temperatures and other physiochemical changes. Thermal diffusivity of the samples was measured at room temperature using Laser Flash Apparatus (LFA) and heat capacity was measured using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC).   Thermal conductivities are calculated using these thermal diffusivities, heat capacities and densities of the sintered pellets. Average grain size is measure using image size J software. It was observed that powder purity and size is affected by batch size, reduction conditions like holding temperature and time.  During sintering with SPS; heating and cooling rates, sintering temperature, holding pressure and time were the main variables. Grain size and morphology was analyzed using SEM. It was observed that larger the grain size higher will be the thermal diffusivity, which leads to increase in thermal conductivity. Hence, grain size has affected on thermal conductivity and also on TE performance. / QC 20100708