Advanced Energy Recovery using Micro & Nano Devices

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

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

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

4. Low Temperature Sources • U.S. Energy Consumption • 101.5 quadrillion BTUs (2007) • 29 % to transportation sector • 65 % energy wasted to low temperature heat in automobiles Source: Annual energy review 2007. Technical report, Energy Information Administration

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

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

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

8. Plans for 2009-10 • Solar Initiative • Harness “low-temperature” solar energy • Micro-fabrication for cost and quality • Advance Boilers • Utilize micro and nano-scale channels • Increase efficiency

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