Thermoelectric power generation enhancement of microfabricated metal-based planar thermopiles through geometrical and device structure optimizations

Thermoelectricity converts heat energy into electricity through a simple mechanism, in which a potential difference is generated due to the temperature difference between the hot and cold contact electrodes (AT) of coupled thermoelements. There are many types of thermoelements used in developing the...

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Main Author:	Selvan, Krishna Veni
Format:	Thesis
Language:	English
Published:	2019
Subjects:	TK Electrical engineering Electronics Nuclear engineering
Online Access:	http://eprints.utm.my/id/eprint/98769/1/KrishnaVeniSelvanPFKE2019.pdf
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spelling	my-utm-ep.987692023-02-03T03:31:10Z Thermoelectric power generation enhancement of microfabricated metal-based planar thermopiles through geometrical and device structure optimizations 2019 Selvan, Krishna Veni TK Electrical engineering. Electronics Nuclear engineering Thermoelectricity converts heat energy into electricity through a simple mechanism, in which a potential difference is generated due to the temperature difference between the hot and cold contact electrodes (AT) of coupled thermoelements. There are many types of thermoelements used in developing thermoelectric generators. However, metal thermoelements offer cheaper solutions, easier fabrication processes, and can produce substantial electricity at smaller AT. The strong correlations of electrical and thermal conductivities in metal thermoelements have resulted in lower Seebeck coefficients along with reduced thermoelectric power-generating performances. Alternatively, a thermoleg cross-sectional area (A ) optimization approach may optimize these disruptive correlations and improve their powergenerating effectiveness. A sandwiched planar structure can also allow more thermopiles to be integrated without affecting the generator’s size. In this study, thermoelectric devices based on a flexible copper (Cu)-clad polyimide substrate with simpler fabrications using Cu, nickel (Ni), and cobalt (Co) metal thermoelements were explored. Planar and lateral device structures may assist in generating larger A T and output power through their longer thermoleg length (l) and larger A . Thus, for the first time, Cu thermoleg-based generators were built on planar and lateral structures, and Co was introduced and implemented in this study too. This study also investigated the roles of previously unexplored geometrical structures such as the l and thermoleg width. Hereby, a sandwiched planar Cu/Co device was optimized by increasing the thermoleg thickness (t) of Co by 3.86 times the t of Cu, and this generator showed improvement factors of 23.5 and 40.2 times than the earlier-fabricated non-optimized Cu/Co and Cu/Ni generators, respectively. Promisingly, the A optimized sandwiched planar and lateral thick film device structures were found to be very compatible and favorable for metal-based thermoelectric generators. 2019 Thesis http://eprints.utm.my/id/eprint/98769/ http://eprints.utm.my/id/eprint/98769/1/KrishnaVeniSelvanPFKE2019.pdf application/pdf en public http://dms.library.utm.my:8080/vital/access/manager/Repository/vital:144966 phd doctoral Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Faculty of Engineering - School of Electrical Engineering
institution	Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
collection	UTM Institutional Repository
language	English
topic	TK Electrical engineering Electronics Nuclear engineering
spellingShingle	TK Electrical engineering Electronics Nuclear engineering Selvan, Krishna Veni Thermoelectric power generation enhancement of microfabricated metal-based planar thermopiles through geometrical and device structure optimizations
description	Thermoelectricity converts heat energy into electricity through a simple mechanism, in which a potential difference is generated due to the temperature difference between the hot and cold contact electrodes (AT) of coupled thermoelements. There are many types of thermoelements used in developing thermoelectric generators. However, metal thermoelements offer cheaper solutions, easier fabrication processes, and can produce substantial electricity at smaller AT. The strong correlations of electrical and thermal conductivities in metal thermoelements have resulted in lower Seebeck coefficients along with reduced thermoelectric power-generating performances. Alternatively, a thermoleg cross-sectional area (A ) optimization approach may optimize these disruptive correlations and improve their powergenerating effectiveness. A sandwiched planar structure can also allow more thermopiles to be integrated without affecting the generator’s size. In this study, thermoelectric devices based on a flexible copper (Cu)-clad polyimide substrate with simpler fabrications using Cu, nickel (Ni), and cobalt (Co) metal thermoelements were explored. Planar and lateral device structures may assist in generating larger A T and output power through their longer thermoleg length (l) and larger A . Thus, for the first time, Cu thermoleg-based generators were built on planar and lateral structures, and Co was introduced and implemented in this study too. This study also investigated the roles of previously unexplored geometrical structures such as the l and thermoleg width. Hereby, a sandwiched planar Cu/Co device was optimized by increasing the thermoleg thickness (t) of Co by 3.86 times the t of Cu, and this generator showed improvement factors of 23.5 and 40.2 times than the earlier-fabricated non-optimized Cu/Co and Cu/Ni generators, respectively. Promisingly, the A optimized sandwiched planar and lateral thick film device structures were found to be very compatible and favorable for metal-based thermoelectric generators.
format	Thesis
qualification_name	Doctor of Philosophy (PhD.)
qualification_level	Doctorate
author	Selvan, Krishna Veni
author_facet	Selvan, Krishna Veni
author_sort	Selvan, Krishna Veni
title	Thermoelectric power generation enhancement of microfabricated metal-based planar thermopiles through geometrical and device structure optimizations
title_short	Thermoelectric power generation enhancement of microfabricated metal-based planar thermopiles through geometrical and device structure optimizations
title_full	Thermoelectric power generation enhancement of microfabricated metal-based planar thermopiles through geometrical and device structure optimizations
title_fullStr	Thermoelectric power generation enhancement of microfabricated metal-based planar thermopiles through geometrical and device structure optimizations
title_full_unstemmed	Thermoelectric power generation enhancement of microfabricated metal-based planar thermopiles through geometrical and device structure optimizations
title_sort	thermoelectric power generation enhancement of microfabricated metal-based planar thermopiles through geometrical and device structure optimizations
granting_institution	Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
granting_department	Faculty of Engineering - School of Electrical Engineering
publishDate	2019
url	http://eprints.utm.my/id/eprint/98769/1/KrishnaVeniSelvanPFKE2019.pdf
_version_	1776100587221286912

Thermoelectric power generation enhancement of microfabricated metal-based planar thermopiles through geometrical and device structure optimizations

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