A MEMS thermoelectric generator
Thesis (M.Eng.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 2000.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | en_US |
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Massachusetts Institute of Technology
2005
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28253 |
| _version_ | 1811091839984336896 |
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| author | Schaevitz, Samuel B. (Samuel Benjamin), 1978- |
| author2 | Martin A. Schmidt. |
| author_facet | Martin A. Schmidt. Schaevitz, Samuel B. (Samuel Benjamin), 1978- |
| author_sort | Schaevitz, Samuel B. (Samuel Benjamin), 1978- |
| collection | MIT |
| description | Thesis (M.Eng.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 2000. |
| first_indexed | 2024-09-23T15:08:52Z |
| format | Thesis |
| id | mit-1721.1/28253 |
| institution | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| language | en_US |
| last_indexed | 2024-09-23T15:08:52Z |
| publishDate | 2005 |
| publisher | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | mit-1721.1/282532019-04-10T21:26:09Z A MEMS thermoelectric generator Microelectromechanical systems thermoelectric generator Schaevitz, Samuel B. (Samuel Benjamin), 1978- Martin A. Schmidt. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Thesis (M.Eng.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 2000. Includes bibliographical references (p. 153-163). The demand for portable power is large and expanding. Technologies currently available to meet this demand include batteries, fuel cells, thermophotovoltaic (TPV) generators and thermoelectric (TE) generators. Fuel cells and generators offer significantly improved performance over batteries, but issues of fuel processing and miniaturization remain. Microfabrication has the potential to address this miniaturization. Here I present work towards a thermoelectric generator based on micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) fabrication technologies. This thesis includes an examination of the current state of the portable power field, followed by an explanation of the thermoelectric effects and the operation of thermoelectric generators. A new analysis of the efficiency of thermoelectric devices, including parasitic losses, is included, with a detailed derivation in an appendix. The design of a prototype MEMS thermoelectric generator is presented, analyzed and fabricated. Testing shows the device performs as expected thermally. However, mechanical fragility causes very low yield during fabrication and limits the high temperature operation. Poor electrical contacts are also observed and characterized. Directions for future work are suggested to improve the efficiency and mechanical strength of the device. by Samuel B. Schaevitz. M.Eng. 2005-09-26T19:22:59Z 2005-09-26T19:22:59Z 2000 2000 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28253 51624634 en_US M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission. http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582 163 p. 7013734 bytes 7034329 bytes application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| spellingShingle | Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Schaevitz, Samuel B. (Samuel Benjamin), 1978- A MEMS thermoelectric generator |
| title | A MEMS thermoelectric generator |
| title_full | A MEMS thermoelectric generator |
| title_fullStr | A MEMS thermoelectric generator |
| title_full_unstemmed | A MEMS thermoelectric generator |
| title_short | A MEMS thermoelectric generator |
| title_sort | mems thermoelectric generator |
| topic | Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28253 |
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