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Projects: Projects for Investigator
Reference Number EP/M013707/1
Title TPVs for Waste Heat Recovery in Energy Resilient Manufacturing
Status Completed
Energy Categories Energy Efficiency(Other) 100%;
Research Types Basic and strategic applied research 100%
Science and Technology Fields PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Physics) 100%
UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation Not Cross-cutting 100%
Principal Investigator Professor A Krier
No email address given
Physics
Lancaster University
Award Type Standard
Funding Source EPSRC
Start Date 01 April 2015
End Date 30 December 2016
Duration 21 months
Total Grant Value £187,045
Industrial Sectors Manufacturing
Region North West
Programme Manufacturing : Manufacturing
 
Investigators Principal Investigator Professor A Krier , Physics, Lancaster University (99.999%)
  Other Investigator Dr QD Zhuang , Physics, Lancaster University (0.001%)
  Industrial Collaborator Project Contact , IQE Plc (0.000%)
Project Contact , Compound Semiconductor Tech Global Ltd (0.000%)
Web Site
Objectives
Abstract An efficient, practical and cost-effective means for directly converting heat into electricity is a very appealing concept. In principle, thermo-photovoltaic (TPV) cells could form the critical component of various systems for generating electricity from different types of heat sources including combustion processes, concentrated sunlight, waste process heat, and radio isotopes. This opens up a wide variety of possibilities for technology uptake and so TPV systems can be envisaged for use in applications ranging from small power supplies to replace batteries, to large scale co-generation of electricity.However, existing TPV cells are based on GaSb and are spectrally matched to heat sources at temperatures of ~1800 oC which limits their practical implementation and widespread uptake. In this project we shall build on existing UK based world class III-V semiconductor materials expertise to fabricate novel low bandgap TPV arrays on inexpensive GaAs substrates, capable of efficient electricity generation from thermal waste heat sources in the range 500-1000 0C commonly encountered in industrial processes. The project will demonstrate the next step towards fabrication of large area TPV arrays essential for the commercial viability of TPV heat recovery, and will enable their widespread implementation in a wide range of high energy consumption industries such as glass, steel and cement manufacture, oil/gas and energy generation.
Publications (none)
Final Report (none)
Added to Database 16/07/15