| While much of the recent
attention given to thermoelectrics has focused on its ability to cool
and heat, thermoelectrics can also be applied to generate power from
a specific heat source. This application has tremendous potential,
as there is a wide range of sources of waste heat in the world today
that could be utilized to generate useable electrical power. These
sources range from, but are not limited to, automotive engine exhausts,
waste processing plants, chemical and industrial manufacturing operations,
steam generation systems in naval propulsion systems, and many more.
Additionally, thermoelectric technology has the potential to replace
the current electricity generation systems in many environments at
some future time as the technology's efficiency and cost continue
to improve.
In many cases, the value of generating power from waste heat is
the potential to either provide additional power to a power-hungry
system where none was available before, or to replace heavier, noisier,
less efficient mechanical power generation equipment with more effective,
efficient, lighter, less costly thermoelectric equipment. Augmenting
vehicle power, or replacing the power generation system now used
with thermoelectrics is an example of where this aspect of the technology
could be deployed.
BSST is actively pursuing the advancement of power generation from
waste heat utilizing thermoelectrics as a key portion of its advanced
development program. BSST is currently a key member of a multi-company
team that is pursuing a leading-edge U.S. Department of Defense
program to substantially advance the practical deployment of power
generation from waste heat. A BSST experimental device is shown
below.
Isolated element power generation device
Development programs addressing this area focus
on many of the same performance areas that drive thermoelectrics'
temperature control capabilities. This creates strong synergy
across BSST's efforts to continue extending the performance of
its technology.
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