Next generation of thermal-electrical devices for heat and power management
Concept of THERMOCOOL Project
The THERMOCOOL project is driven by two major societal trends: energy transition and digitalization. In response to the urgent need to provide society with efficient, low-cost, and eco-friendly devices for heat and power management, THERMOCOOL is designed to achieve three major objectives:
- The first objective is to increase the efficiency of innovative static energy conversion devices for electricity and heat/cold generation by using and assembling state of the art materials into devices. For the generation of electrical power, we focus on thermoelectric generators (TG) and pyroelectric generators (PG). For the generation of cold, we focus on thermoelectric coolers (TC) and electrocaloric coolers (EC).
- The second objective is to use materials that are low cost and composed of as little critical raw materials as possible. This aspect is important to massively implement such a technology and succeed to bring sustainability impact either on the environmental, societal, or economical aspects. When sustainability issues arise, we pay attention to solution to be implemented for recyclability.
- The third objective is to demonstrate those four technologies (TG, PG, TC, EC) in areas/conditions where other conversion systems are less efficient, less convenient or not possible. We have chosen five types of demonstrators:
- Peltier coolers for batteries (Denmark);
- Electrocaloric coolers for low noise amplifier (France);
- Thermoelectric coolers for high performance computing (Germany),
- Pyroelectric generators for wearable electronics (Sweden);
- Thermoelectric generators for solar harvesting (Sweden).
The choice of those four technologies (TG, PG, TC, EC) is adopted because those four physical phenomena are grouped in two classes of materials: (i) thermoelectric materials (TG, TC), and (ii) ferroelectric materials (PG, EC). THERMOCOOL gathers two groups of researchers with complementary expertise to work in a unified way on those two classes of materials to fabricate devices and move them from TRL3 (experimental proof of concept – technology validated in the lab) to TRL5 (validation in relevant environment).
Thermoelectric devices (TG, TC) and ferroelectric devices (PG, EC) are based on completely different materials and phenomena. Thermoelectric are electrical conductors while ferroelectrics are dielectrics. As a result, TG and TC are working in constant mode in time, while PG and EC fluctuate in time in their operation. However, Thermoelectric, pyroelectric and electrocaloric generators have several common key advantages compared to conventional technologies: (i) They have no moving parts and no mechanical parts that wear out (zero maintenance cost). (ii) They are compact, lightweight and quiet (zero noise). (iii) The effect of power generators versus coolers can be achieved by reversing the direction of the electrical current (TG) or electric field (PG). (iv) Those solid states devices have no operating fluid or gas that can leak and damage the environment.
TERMOCOOL implements research activities at the material, module and characterization levels for these two classes of materials in order to provide technology demonstrators that will allow their validation in different operational concepts.
The technological breakthrough of SMARTWAY relies on the integration of the following components into the standard high-volume and cost-effective silicon-based technologies to propose radical and innovative solutions: 1) Metamaterials, 2) Two-dimensional material-based antennas, and 3) Carbon nanotube-based filters and switches.
Smartway Objectives:
The originality and innovation of the SMARTWAY project consists in the simultaneous exploitation of advanced nanomaterials (i.e., 2D materials and CNTs) and of the MM concept for the achievement of two main objects corresponding to the realisation of two demonstrators:
1) Objective 1 (Demonstrator 1 ):
design, fabrication, and experimental characterisation of a 300GHz radar chipset with MM-based on-chip or on interposer antennas. Based upon the specifications provided by the industrial partners of the consortium, we will design a T/R module embedding a metal antenna integrated with MMs for gain enhancement at THz frequencies. In this case, the interposer will come from IHP, hence from the NANOPOLY project in which IHP developed the 300GHz bow-tie antenna
2) Objective 2 (Demonstrator 1):
design, fabrication, and experimental characterisation of a 60GHz radar chipset integrating MMs, 2D materials, CNT-based filters, and CNT-based switches for radar communications. Based upon the specifications provided by the industrial partners of the consortium, we will design two versions of a MM-based antenna, i.e., a metal antenna or a 2D material-based antenna (graphene, nanocrystalline graphene etc.). In the case of the metal antenna, the exploitation of the MMs will allow a further miniaturization, an increase of the gain/radiation efficiency/directivity, an enhancement of the bandwidth, or a multi-band functionality. In the case of the 2D antennas, we will match the intrinsic tunability (amplitude of the radiated field and resonance frequency) of the 2D materials with the gain improvement offered by the MMs, thus compensating the medium-low radiation efficiency achievable when using such nanoscale materials.
Call: HORIZON-CL5-2023-D3-03
Topic: HORIZON-CL5-2023-D3-03-01
Type of action: HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions
About Thermocool
THERMOCOOL addresses critical global challenges – energy transition and digitalization. With 20% of global energy used for cooling, and 1.6 billion AC units in use, energy-efficient alternatives are vital. Thermoelectric coolers (TE) offer a solution, saving 1795 kWh/y and reducing CO2 emissions by 38% per person compared to standard AC. Additionally, TE has applications in high-power computing and batteries where conventional cooling falls short. The project leverages novel thermoelectric materials to drive advancements. In parallel, THERMOCOOL contributes to digitalization. The Internet of Everything (IoE) necessitates trillions of connected devices. To power them sustainably, thermal energy harvesters are explored, tapping into heat sources like the human body, buildings, and the sun. This approach reduces maintenance costs and indirectly cuts CO2 emissions by optimizing information flows. THERMOCOOL focuses on three key objectives: 1.Enhancing the efficiency of energy conversion devices, including thermoelectric generators and pyroelectric generators for electricity generation, and thermoelectric coolers and electrocaloric coolers for cooling. 2. Prioritizing low-cost, sustainable materials with minimal reliance on critical raw materials and emphasizing recyclability. 3.Demonstrating the effectiveness of these technologies in challenging environments where conventional systems are less efficient. Collaborative research will elevate these technologies from TRL3 to TRL5, involving researchers with complementary expertise in thermoelectric and ferroelectric materials. These solid-state devices share key advantages: zero maintenance costs, compactness, lightweight, silence, and environmental friendliness. They have the potential to revolutionize energy conversion and cooling, addressing pressing global challenges. THERMOCOOL offers efficient, low-cost, and eco-friendly solutions that will benefit society, the environment, and the economy, heralding a promising future.
CONSORTIUM
