Advanced Energy Recovery using Micro & Nano Devices Low-temperature Energy Harvesting Institute for Micromanufacturing at Louisiana Tech Leland Weiss, Ph.D. November 5, 2009

Vision The Challenge: The Challenge: Improve U.S. energy efficiency Improve U.S. energy efficiency Improve U.S. energy security Improve U.S. energy security Utilize alternative energy sources Utilize alternative energy sources Single technology developed to address these challenges Single technology developed to address these challenges Cost effective to drive marketability and wide- spread implementation Cost effective to drive marketability and wide- spread implementation

Summary Wasted Heat: A Low Temperature Energy Supply Wasted Heat: A Low Temperature Energy Supply Energy rejected as part of larger processes Energy rejected as part of larger processes Rejected by Rejected by Transportation Transportation Industry Industry Commercial Commercial Opportunity: develop technologies to capture Opportunity: develop technologies to capture Output electrical power Output electrical power Output mechanical power Output mechanical power

Low Temperature Sources U.S. Energy Consumption U.S. Energy Consumption quadrillion BTUs (2007) quadrillion BTUs (2007) 29 % to transportation sector 29 % to transportation sector 65 % energy wasted to low temperature heat in automobiles 65 % energy wasted to low temperature heat in automobiles Source: Annual energy review Technical report, Energy Information Administration

Low Temperature Sources Solar Heating Large opportunity to capture and use low temperature energy

Research Goals and Objectives Low Cost Approach Low Cost Approach Micro-manufacturing techniques -- batch fabrication Micro-manufacturing techniques -- batch fabrication Simplicity in design and materials Simplicity in design and materials Scalable for Multiple Applications Scalable for Multiple Applications Transportation Transportation Power Generation Power Generation Computers and other consumer products Computers and other consumer products Solar Solar

Accomplishments Boilers in development Boilers in development Micro-channel design Micro-channel design Rapid production Rapid production.5W of low temperature energy converted to steam.5W of low temperature energy converted to steam 60% more effective than previous designs 60% more effective than previous designs

Plans for Solar Initiative Solar Initiative Harness “low- temperature” solar energy Harness “low- temperature” solar energy Micro-fabrication for cost and quality Micro-fabrication for cost and quality Advance Boilers Advance Boilers Utilize micro and nano-scale channels Utilize micro and nano-scale channels Increase efficiency Increase efficiency

Value Driven Superiority Superiority Cost Cost Design simplicity Design simplicity Market Driven Market Driven Transportation Transportation Consumer products Consumer products Wide applicability, wide suitability Wide applicability, wide suitability Enhancing Security Enhancing Security Increased efficiency Increased efficiency Increased energy security Increased energy security