Description du projet
Une technique innovante pour récupérer la chaleur résiduelle de faible qualité
Les processus de conversion, de transport et d’utilisation finale génèrent des pertes d’énergie considérables sous forme de chaleur de faible qualité. Les technologies existantes permettant de convertir la chaleur résiduelle de faible qualité en électricité s’avèrent coûteuses. Le projet EHAWEDRY, financé par l’UE, propose un concept de conversion innovant qui repose sur le couplage des cycles de charge/décharge des supercondensateurs électrochimiques avec le séchage/mouillage de leurs électrodes nanoporeuses. Le concept exploite la proportionnalité de la capacité du condensateur à sa surface de contact électrode/électrolyte. Le projet prévoit un prototype innovant de collecteur atteignant des densités de puissance volumétrique comparables aux technologies éprouvées de récupération de la chaleur résiduelle, telles que les moteurs à cycle de Rankine. Le prototype présente une flexibilité de conception, une évolutivité et un potentiel pour une récolte rentable de la chaleur résiduelle de faible qualité.
Objectif
Huge amounts of energy are wasted as low grade heat during conversion, transportation and end use. While several technologies can convert heat into electricity, none of them is cost-effective for the conversion of low-grade waste heat. EHAWEDRY proposes a radically new concept for converting low grade waste heat into electricity. EHAWEDRY will couple charging/discharging cycles of electrochemical super-capacitors with the drying/wetting of their nanoporous electrodes, exploiting the proportionality of the capacitor capacity to its electrode/electrolyte contact area. Previous attempts to couple charging/discharging cycles with changes in the electrode/electrolyte contact area aimed at harvesting the mechanical energy used to drive the change in the contact area. The power generated by these mechanical energy harvesters is relatively low, mainly because they have to use smooth capacitor plates (electrodes) to avoid generating too large capillary forces counteracting the harvested displacement. EHAWEDRY proposes a paradigm shift from the energy harvesting strategies previously used. Instead of mechanically changing the electrode/electrolyte contact area by displacing smooth electrodes, EHAWEDRY will change the electrode/electrolyte contact area by modifying the electrolyte level within nanoporous electrodes through drying/wetting cycles. The use of nanoporous electrodes will increase by many orders of magnitude the electrode/electrolyte contact area, which will translate into several orders of magnitude larger amounts of harvestable energy per cycle. Via pioneering fundamental research, EHAWEDRY targets the generation of a harvester prototype that reaches a volumetric power densities of the order of 10 kW/m3, comparable to established waste heat recovery technologies such as Rankine cycle engines, but with advantages in terms of cost, design flexibility, scalability and potential for the cost-effective harvesting of low grade waste heat without upgrading.
Champ scientifique
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectrical engineeringpower engineeringelectric power distribution
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectrical engineeringpower engineeringelectric power generationcombined heat and power
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectrical engineeringpower engineeringelectric power transmission
Mots‑clés
Programme(s)
Régime de financement
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinateur
08034 Barcelona
Espagne