Development of High Efficiency Thermoele

With the increasing concern over environmental issues, thermoelectric power generation has gained renewed attention as a promising energy conversion technology. This study outlines the development of a high-efficiency thermoelectric power generation system initiated in 2002 under the guidance of Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. The research focuses on improving thermoelectric materials characterized by their figure of merit (Z), which is driven by their Seebeck coefficient, electrical resistivity, and thermal conductivity. The goal is to achieve a conversion efficiency of 12% to 15% across a temperature spectrum ranging from room temperature up to approximately 600°C. To optimize performance, the temperature range is segmented into high (300°C-580°C) and low (30°C-280°C) regions, using a cascade-type module design that stacks thermoelectric modules tailored for each specific temperature gradient. This project emphasizes the potential of thermoelectric modules as effective tools for waste heat recovery, converting otherwise lost thermal energy directly into electrical power, thus offering significant benefits in combating global warming.