Thermal Management Systems and Waste Heat Recycling by Thermoelectric Generators—An Overview

With the fast evolution in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (e.g., CO2, N2O) caused by fossil fuel combustion and global warming, climate change has been identified as a critical threat to sustainable development of human society, public health, environment. To reduce GHG emissions, besides minimizing waste heat production at source, an integrated approach should be adopted for management, namely, collection recycling. One solution enable capture conversion into useful energy forms electricity) is employing solid-state converters, such thermoelectric generators (TEGs). The simplicity enables them applied various industries, specifically those that generate primary product temperature several hundred degrees. Nevertheless, can used over broad range temperatures applications; example, low body harvesting, mid-temperature automobile exhaust recovery systems, high cement concentrated solar exchangers, or NASA exploration rovers. We present trends devices thermal management recovery. In addition, brief account presented on scientific TE materials with approaches implemented improve efficiency compounds through manipulation Figure Merit, unitless factor indicative efficiency. Finally, case study, work from rotary kiln reactors evaluated discussed.