Thermoelectric Generators Applied in Waste Heat Recovery

Dear Colleagues,

Aim and scope of the Special Issue

As a result of the huge amount of heat waste generated in many applications, energy harvesting has emerged as a promising technology worth investigating. In recent years, many researchers have presented different types of energy harvesting systems capable of harnessing this dissipated energy. Thermoelectricity, which consists of the direct conversion of temperature differences into electric voltage, is one of these emerging technologies. It can potentially capture low-grade heat from industrial processes and convert it into electricity, and can improve efficiency by reducing the need for extra fuel to generate power, helping to offset greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, thermoelectric devices can be used in reverse for cooling purposes. Potential applications are refrigeration and air conditioning systems, which consume large amounts of energy. By harnessing the power of thermoelectricity, reliance on fossil fuels could be reduced, thus improving efficiency and mitigating CO₂ emissions. Thermoelectric generators have several advantages over other forms of power generation, such as high efficiency, long-term stability, and low environmental impact. Additionally, thermoelectric generators can be used in a wide range of temperature conditions, and they do not require any moving parts, making them maintenance-free. Recent advances in nanotechnology have led to a new generation of thermoelectric materials that are much more efficient than previous versions. These materials have the potential for a wide range of applications, from powering electronic devices to recovering waste heat from car engines and industrial plants. Thermoelectricity can be used to generate electricity from any source of heat, including renewable sources such as solar and geothermal energy. It can also improve the efficiency of power plants and other industrial facilities by recovering wasted heat and converting it into usable electricity. Despite these advantages, there are still some challenges associated with thermoelectric generators, such as the high initial cost and the need for careful material selection to achieve optimal performance. However, research is ongoing into developing new materials and improving manufacturing processes to overcome these challenges. The potential for thermoelectricity is enormous, and with continued research and development, it could play a major role in meeting future energy needs. Investigations, focussed on waste energy recovery, new designs, materials, and applications to improve the efficiency of thermoelectric devices, are welcome.

Scope and Information for authors

Original research and review articles including, but not limited to, the following areas of interest are welcome:

• Thermoelectric generator for waste heat recovery;
• Waste energy in industrial processes;
• New materials used in thermoelectricity;
• Advanced designs of thermoelectric systems;
• New approaches applied to modelling and simulation of thermoelectric systems;
• Experimental characterization of thermoelectric systems;
• Innovative applications of thermoelectric systems;
• Hybrid systems used in thermoelectricity

Dr. Said Bentouba
Prof. Dr. Mahmoud Bourouis
Dr. Peter Breuhaus
Prof. Dr. Nadjet Zioui
Guest Editors

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