Overview
Collaboration between engineering departments at an undergraduate level is a very rare yet important process. Our project requires co-operation between Material and Electrical Engineers. These two disciplines share several fundamentals and are ideal for collaboration in semiconductor work. Industrial processes, from power generation to manufacturing, discharge large quantities of waste heat. This heat is a free, yet relatively untapped, source of energy. At this point in time, waste heat cannot be harnessed efficiently, due to several constraints, such as technology and the economic return.
Sustainability in design processes is more important than in the past. Energy harvesting has long been a goal, and attempts to convert wasted heat have been made. This project proposes that a pyroelectric element under the right conditions can convert this waste into usable electricity. Once optimal conversion is achieved our group will design a device to mitigate the limitations of previous attempts.
Sustainability in design processes is more important than in the past. Energy harvesting has long been a goal, and attempts to convert wasted heat have been made. This project proposes that a pyroelectric element under the right conditions can convert this waste into usable electricity. Once optimal conversion is achieved our group will design a device to mitigate the limitations of previous attempts.
Goals & Requirements
Our goals are to:
- Create a pyroelectric material
- Design a circuit capable of drawing power from the material
- Measure the amount of power gained in terms of watts per centimeter
- Develop a control system that will regulate the temperature and voltage levels on the device