How Beneficial is Turning Thermal Energy into Electricity?

Providing lightweight, portable electricity has gotten much more difficult with sensors and improved communication technologies. However, an Army-funded study revealed a novel technique to convert thermal energy into electricity to supply soldiers with compact and efficient power on future battlefields.

Dr. Pramod Reddy, professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Michigan, said, "The team has produced a record kW/m2 power production, which is an order of magnitude greater than systems previously reported in the literature."

Researchers also used advanced theoretical calculations to evaluate the performance of the photovoltaic cell at various temperatures and gap sizes and found that the tests and computer predictions were in good accord.

"This recent demonstration directly illustrates the possibility for creating future near-field TPV devices for Army applications in power and energy, communication, and sensors," stated Dr. Pani Varanasi, program manager, DEVCOM ARL, which sponsored the work.

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