MODELING AND SIMULATION TO SUPPORT PROTOTYPE DEVELOPMENT OF A WASTE THERMAL ENERGY HARVESTER
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Authors
Howard, Lauren
Subjects
heat recovery
heat transfer
energy optimization
thermal conductivity
thermal power
thermoelectric generator
Seebeck effect
energy harvesting
heat signatures
modeling
simulation
heat transfer
energy optimization
thermal conductivity
thermal power
thermoelectric generator
Seebeck effect
energy harvesting
heat signatures
modeling
simulation
Advisors
Grbovic, Dragoslav
Pollman, Anthony G.
Date of Issue
2019-06
Date
Publisher
Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
The Navy and Marine Corps are studying ways to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels as a means to increase energy security and operational resilience. Many military systems reject waste heat into the environment; recovering this thermal energy for reuse could help to reduce overall reliance on fossil fuels. One technology that may effectively recycle waste heat as energy is the thermoelectric generator (TEG). This thesis uses a modeling and simulation (M&S)-based systems engineering approach to influence design of a TEG prototype system to gain insight into the feasibility of applying this technology to military systems. This research uses COMSOL and OrCAD’s PSpice to model a TEG array prototype system on the muffler of a portable generator, as a proxy for a naval system that releases waste heat. The results of the model informed the design and construction of a prototype system. The paper describes the testing of the prototype and compares the results of the prototype to the model. This thesis demonstrates the benefit of using modeling and simulation prior to design and construction. Finally, this research indicates that TEGs may have the potential to reduce the Navy and Marine Corps’ fossil fuel and energy dependence.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Systems Engineering (SE)
Organization
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
ONR
Funding
Format
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.