MODELLING THE PERFORMANCE OF AND ANALYZING THERMAL RADIANCE REDUCTION BY A WATER-COOLED THERMOELECTRIC WASTE HEAT HARVESTING SYSTEM AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN AIR-COOLED HEAT SINK REPLACEMENT
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Authors
Sloan, Daniel L.
Subjects
thermoelectric generator
TEG
waste heat recovery
waste heat harvesting
IR signature reduction
thermal signature reduction
TEG
waste heat recovery
waste heat harvesting
IR signature reduction
thermal signature reduction
Advisors
Grbovic, Dragoslav
Pollman, Anthony G.
Date of Issue
2020-06
Date
Publisher
Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
Propulsion and electrical generator systems that utilize fossil fuels experience losses in efficiencies due to waste heat. While there are a number of ways to recover some of this waste heat, this research focuses on a waste heat harvesting system that uses thermoelectric generators (TEGs). TEGs operate via the Seebeck effect, where a temperature difference generates an electric potential. This project consists of three parts. The first part details the steps taken to model the existing water-cooled thermoelectric waste heat harvesting prototype using COMSOL Multiphysics Finite Element Analysis Software. The second part analyzes how well the water-cooled prototype reduces the thermal signature of the gasoline-powered generator’s muffler. This application shows that it could be useful in minimizing asset visibility in the infrared spectrum for expeditionary missions. The last part discusses the design, fabrication, and performance of a passive, air-cooled variant of the thermoelectric waste heat harvesting system. When water-cooled applications are not feasible, as with expeditionary vehicles, having an air-cooled version is possible.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Physics (PH)
Organization
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NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
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Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release. distribution is unlimited
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.