Hybrid vehicle thermal energy recovery systems

<p>Thermal energy recovery systems, in automotive vehicles, are becoming a fundamental area for new research activities. Thermoelectric generator (TEG) units, based on semiconductor technology, are used for that recovery. TEG units create electrical power by converting waste heat from engine exhaust gases applied to one side of the unit, while a cooler working fluid is applied on the other side. At the early stages of TEG development, applications were restricted to relatively low temperatures, but now experiments can be conducted at higher ranges, of up to, 850 degrees. One of the key research objectives is to establish the best location to place the TEG units. This should be as close as possible to the high temperature energy source, without altering, or affecting the fuel combustion process of the engine. Based on the knowledge of thermodynamic properties of internal combustion engines (ICE), especially temperature distribution in the system, CAD modelling and Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis were used to identify the ideal location.  The recovery system uses the exhaust gases as the energy source and engine coolant for cooling the TEG units' subsystem. This novel approach also requires a new TEG unit design, which is proposed in the research reports and publications.</p>