A research team created a device that turns exhaust heat into electricity, potentially a new opportunity for fuel efficiency.
Science news website InceptiveMind says traditional combustion engines only use 25% of the fuel’s potential energy.
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The rest escapes as exhaust heat. Consequently, Bed Poudel and Wenjie Li’s team has developed a compact thermoelectric generator system that turns that waste into electricity.
It attaches to a car’s tailpipe, capturing heat and converting it into usable electricity.
The system includes a semiconductor made of bismuth-telluride and uses heat exchangers to capture heat.
The prototype achieves an impressive output of 40 W, enough to power a lightbulb.
Even better, the high airflow from exhaust pipes enhances the system’s efficiency and boosts the electrical output.
The researchers believe their system can integrate into existing exhaust outlets without additional cooling systems.
Soon, it could make vehicles more energy-efficient as the world demands more clean energy solutions.
The researchers published their findings in the journal ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces.
