Space, domesTic and industriAl applications with impRoved TheRmoElectric Components (STARTREC)
Third Party Funds Group - Sub project
Acronym: STARTREC
Start date : 01.01.2025
End date : 31.12.2028
Overall project details
Overall project
Space, domesTic and industriAl applications with impRoved TheRmoElectric Components
Project details
Short description
Short description
STARTREC aims to develop a new generation of thermoelectric generators (TEGs) optimized for medium/high temperature applications. The three applications are industrial waste heat recovery, micro combined heat and power (µCHP) and radioisotope thermoelectric batteries.
For µCHP, an integrated TEG assembly will be developed that is cooled by the domestic heating water circuit to maximize overall efficiency. The new TEG demonstrator will be installed in several test boilers to determine the optimum TEG and heat exchanger geometry, TEG position and temperatures, and the effect of different boiler and heating circuit load conditions on electrical output. Furthermore, the hot and cold side heat transfer will be investigated and optimized by simulation and experiments in order to further increase the system efficiency.
In addition, a comprehensive cradle-to-grave LCA study of the use of TEGs will be carried out, including all relevant process steps from resource extraction to recycling/disposal. This will allow a critical assessment of the environmental impact of TEGs compared to competing µCHP technologies.
Expected benefits of TEG µCHP include:
- The possibility for off-grid operation of the pellet boiler
- Low maintenance requirements due to no moving parts in the generator
- Lower costs compared to other µCHP technologies such as for example Stirling engines
Scientific Abstract
In the context of the energy transition, the interest for thermoelectric generators (TEG) is increasing, as they are able to tap into renewable or waste heat sources with very low impact. So far, wide-scale applicability of TE devices was limited by their low conversion efficiency, typically 5% at system level at the most. STARTREC will develop and evaluate a new generation of TEG based on the optimal combination of nanostructured Si85Ge15 thermoelectric materials with innovative device architectures designed by simulation:
1) Three different materials processing routes using nanostructuration to increase material performances: Additive Manufacturing (AM); Nanostructured Rapid Casting (Nano-RC); Optimized Rapid Casting (O-RC);
2) Innovative device architectures, such as complex forms and cascade architectures, which can considerably improve both their performance and their optimal temperature ranges, and so increase their efficiencies and potential for wider applications.
STARTREC aims at doubling TEG efficiencies up to 10% at system level (15% at device level). It will demonstrate their high-performances in relevant environments at TRL5 for three different and complementary high impact use cases (industrial, domestic and space). Technical work will be completed by dedicated life cycle studies to address economic and environmental issues for these TEGs. A strong dissemination and exploitation strategy and novel circular business models will allow the developed solution to open new application opportunities in other sectors. With TEGs produced and commercialized by European industrial leaders, reinforcing EU strategic autonomy in renewable energy technologies, STARTREC has a complete value-chain with two RTOs, two universities, one technological SME and three industrial end-users.
STARTREC will serve a global TEG market valued at 447.1 million € in 2020 and forecasted to reach 1365.8 million € by 2030.
