Engineering Commons^™

Development And Characterization Of Nanofiber-Based Thermoelectric And Piezoelectric Composites, Julio Enrique Trevino

Theses and Dissertations

This study focuses on the development and characterization of nanofiber-based composites with the goal of developing flexible, lightweight, and cost effective thermoelectric and piezoelectric devices. The following materials were used in the development of the composites: polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) with polyaniline (PANI), polypyrrole (PPY), polyindole (PIN), polyanthranilic acid (PANA), polycarbazole (PCZ), polyacrylonitrile (PAN), functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT-COOH), and camphorsulfonic acid (CSA). Blends and in-situ polymerization techniques were utilized to increase the desired thermoelectric/piezoelectric response. Nanofiber systems were produced utilizing the Forcespinning® technique. The morphology, structure, electrochemical, thermal stability, thermoelectric, and piezoelectric performance was analyzed. All of the nanofiber PVDF/CP …

Exploring A Platinum Nanocatalytic Microcombustion-Thermoelectric Coupled Device, Dylan Moore Mcnally

Theses and Dissertations

This work aimed to create a first-generation power device for eventual application to portable electronics. A platinum nanoparticle catalytic substrate was employed in a microcombustion-thermoelectric coupled (MTC) device for the purpose of chemical-to-electrical energy conversion. Multiple microcombustion reactors were designed, fabricated, and investigated. Most importantly, the reactor configuration was designed to accommodate thermoelectric generators (TEGs) for power production. Temperature studies with catalytic combustion of methanol-air fuel mixtures were used to evaluate the thermal power generation performance of each reactor. The final reactor design enabled ignition at room temperature with the ability to achieve repeat catalytic cycles upon subsequent exposure to …

The Design, Fabrication, And Testing Of A Cooling Garment, Richard James Garza

Theses and Dissertations

The aim of this research is to design a device or technology capable of cooling the user – such as a college student walking to class, for example – in a manner as convenient as putting on a jacket. The idea is to use the peltier effect – a phenomenon in which two dissimilar semi-conductors heat up and cool down with the application of an electric current – as the source of heat absorption used to cool the user. In this research it will be determined whether or not it is feasible to use such a phenomenon to keep the …

A Study Of Catalytic Microcombustion For A Portable Power Supply Device, Bhanuprakash Reddy Guggilla

Theses and Dissertations

The essential need for portable and dense power sources has been greatly increased with the prevalence of portable electronic devices in the past decade. Catalytic combustion of hydrocarbon and oxygenated fuels has the potential to provide an alternative power source for portable electronic devices by replacing relatively today's heavy battery technology. A successful self-ignition and sustainable catalyst combustion for a variety of fuels using Platinum (Pt)-impregnated substrate was demonstrated in our previous work.

Present work explores the performance of a microcombustion thermoelectric coupled (MTC) device with improved reactor configuration design. Chemically synthesized platinum nanoparticles with particle diameters of approx. 8 …

Analytical Modeling And Optimization Of A Thermoelectric Heat Conversion System Operating Betweeen Fluid Streams, Stephen H. Taylor

Theses and Dissertations

Analytical, closed-form solutions governing thermoelectric behavior are derived. An analytical model utilizing a thermal circuit is presented involving heat transfer into, through, out of, and around a thermoelectric device. A nondimensionalization of the model is presented. Linear heat transfer theory is applied to the model to obtain a series of closed form equations predicting net power output for the thermoelectric device. Fluid streams flowing through shrouded heat sinks with square pin fins are considered for the thermal pathways to and from the device. Heat transfer and pressure drop are characterized in a manner conducive to an analytical model using previously …