Title: Optimal Design of Thermoelectric Generators for Low Grade Heat Recovery Developed by Dr. HoSung Lee on 12/15/2014

Low-grade waste heat conversion to electricity has drawn much attention toward reduction of production cost (Matsuura, Rowe et al. 1992, Rowe 1995, Ebrahimi, Jones et al. 2014). Organic Rankine cycle has been recently proved as a feasible solution with about 7% thermal efficiency and initial cost of about $2/watt for a high temperature of 116 °C and low temperature of 25 °C (Imran, Park et al. 2014, Matsuda 2014, Minea 2014). Thermoelectric generators is thought to be an alternative solution. The barriers for thermoelectric generators are the low conversion efficiency of about 3% and high initial cost of about $20/watt (Rowe 2012, Ebrahimi, Jones et al. 2014). However, recent development of optimal design on thermoelectric generators indicates that significant improvement in both performance and cost could be achieved (Lee 2010, Lee 2013, Attar, Lee et al. 2014, Weera 2014). Together particularly with a small operating cost due to no moving parts, thermoelectric generators would be a good and reliable candidate for lowgrade waste heat recovery with the present optimal design.