swisselectric research award 2009
Low-cost thermoelectric generators developed
The 2009 "swisselectric research award" goes to research scientist Dr. Wulf Glatz, who has developed a low-cost thermoelectric generator which can also function at low temperatures, thereby playing a key role in enhancing energy efficiency.Thermoelectric generators (TEG) convert zero-emission heat into electricity by utilising the differences in temperature between a source of heat and the ambient temperature. For example, waste heat from central heating or car engines can be used to produce electricity for a household or a car's on-board electrics. In the latter case, fuel consumption can be reduced by around ten percent.
Engineer Dr Wulf Glatz has now succeeded in developing a new manufacturing procedure for thermoelectric generators in which thermoelectric material is directly superimposed on a plastic film, making it ten times cheaper than conventional manufacturing processes. The generators are thin and flexible and can also be fixed to uneven surfaces. They are extremely low-maintenance since they have no moving parts. The generators are suitable for converting low temperature heat, i.e. temperatures below 200°C. In future, this characteristic will also enable body heat to be converted to electricity, for example to charge a mobile phone.
Dr. Wulf Glatz developed the new manufacturing process for thermoelectric generators as part of his dissertation at the chair of Micro- and Nanosystems at the Federal Institute of Technology, Zürich. He has applied for a patent for his research findings and, through the newly founded company greenTEG GmbH, is aiming to bring his technology to market within two years.