Automotive Waste Heat Conversion to Electric Power using Skutterudite, TAGS, PbTe and BiTe

BSST began development of a high efficiency Thermoelectric Waste Energy Recovery System for passenger vehicle applications in November 2004 under a contract [Contract No. DE-FC26-04NT42279] awarded by the U.S. Department of Energy Freedom Car Office. The system reduces fuel consumption by replacing a significant portion of the required electric power normally produced by the alternator with electric power produced from exhaust gas waste heat conversion to electricity in a Thermoelectric Generator Module (TGM). BSST team members include BMW, Visteon and Marlow Industries. In Phase 1, the team created a system architecture, developed a system model to predict performance and established system and subsystem design requirements. The Phase 1 effort resulted in a predicted fuel efficiency increase of 10%. Phase 2 is scheduled to be completed in December, 2006 in which key subsystem components will be built and tested and the system model updated to provide a new performance prediction. This paper presents the current status of the system architecture, modeling and key technologies