B_0814_TEM6

Waste Heat a Source of Energy

July 21, 2014

Low-grade heat can generate electricity.

What if excess heat generated by industrial processes and electric power plants could be harnessed to make electricity?

Researchers at MIT and Stanford University have discovered a way to capture this wasted energy with rechargeable batteries.

The low-temperature waste-heat conversion aims at harvesting heat of less than 200 degrees F., which accounts for a large proportion of potentially harvestable waste heat. In a demonstration with waste heat of 60 C. (or 140 F.), the new system has an estimated efficiency of 5.7%.

Since the voltage of rechargeable batteries depends on temperature, the new system combines the charging-discharging cycles of these batteries with heating and cooling, so that the discharge voltage is higher than the charge voltage.

The system can efficiently harness even relatively small temperature differences, such as 120 F.

This potential is particularly attractive as almost 30% of energy consumption in the U.S. ends up as low-grade heat, MIT notes. The process to recover this energy is described in the journal Nature Communications.

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Buildings, create an account today!

Sponsored Recommendations

Building Better Schools

Download this digital resource to better understand the challenges and opportunities in designing and operating educational facilities for safety, sustainability, and performance...

Tips to Keep Facility Management on Track

How do you plan to fill the knowledge gap as seasoned facility managers retire or leave for new opportunities? Learn about the latest strategies including FM tech innovations ...

The Beauty & Benefits of Biophilic Design in the Built Environment

Biophilic design is a hot trend in design, but what is it and how can building professionals incorporate these strategies for the benefits of occupants? This eHandbook offers ...

The Benefits of Migrating from Analog to DMR Two-Way Radios

Are you still using analog two-way radios? Download this white paper and discover the simple and cost-effective migration path to digital DMR radios that deliver improved audio...