The Elements of Innovation Discovered
The Elements of Innovation Discovered
Metal Tech News - September 18, 2024
PyroDelta has developed a tellurium-enhanced thermoelectric generator as a replacement for alternators that add drag and lower the fuel efficiency of internal combustion engines.
PyroDelta's thermoelectric device is expected to improve ICE vehicle fuel efficiency and lower emissions during the energy transition.
First Tellurium Corp. subsidiary PyroDelta Energy is moving forward with a tellurium-enhanced thermoelectric generator that could significantly improve the gas mileage of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles – a technology that could also be used to increase the range of hybrid cars and EVs.
Thermoelectric generators are solid-state devices that convert differences in temperature on either side of the device into electricity.
"Thermoelectric devices are not new," said PyroDelta's Head of Engineering Michael Abdelmaseh. "They have been used in a wide range of applications for many years. However, none of them are suited for long-term, commercial applications that can tolerate high heat."
Enhanced with tellurium, a critical metalloid used in solar panels and other high-tech devices, the thermoelectric generators developed by PyroDelta are able to withstand temperatures exceeding 2,270 degrees Fahrenheit (1,800 degrees Celsius).
The ability to function in wide temperature extremes, coupled with robust construction, low manufacturing costs, and lightweight design, makes the proprietary tellurium alloy-enhanced thermoelectric generators developed by PyroDelta a good fit for converting waste heat produced by automobiles into electricity.
"The PyroDelta thermoelectric generator has been in research and development for eight years," said Abdelmaseh, who previously worked as an engineer for Toyota and General Motors. "We have proven its ability to generate electricity from temperature differentials far more extreme than thermoelectric devices currently on the market."
PyroDelta is currently seeking a facility in Florida to assemble its thermoelectric devices designed to generate electrical power from the temperature differentials within a combustion engine and retrofit them into ICE vehicles.
Such a device would replace the alternator as the source of electricity for fuel ignition within the engine and to power the vehicle's electronic devices.
"The great advantage of this thermoelectric version, which generates electricity from the heat differential of hot liquid passing through a thermoelectric pipe while air cools it from the outside, is that it would power all of an automobile's electrical devices, making an alternator obsolete and saving significant amounts of fuel," said Abdelmaseh.
The fuel savings would primarily come from eliminating the alternator, which puts a drag on the engine that drives it.
While PyroDelta's current device is designed to save fuel and lower emissions in ICE vehicles, the company sees the same heat-to-electricity abilities of their thermoelectric devices improving the efficiency and range of future hybrid and battery-electric models.
PyroDelta's thermoelectric device is expected to improve ICE vehicle fuel efficiency and lower emissions during the energy transition.
"We're confident we can enhance the power of EVs," said Abdelmaseh. "However, the world's transition away from combustion engines will take a long time. Any advantage in fuel savings and emissions during this transition would be extremely beneficial."
The potential for climate improvements during this transition is why PyroDelta and its parent company, First Tellurium, decided to begin with the ICE vehicle alternator replacement.
"The market potential and demand are huge based on the push from governments worldwide to reduce carbon emissions," said First Tellurium President and CEO Tyrone Docherty. "We anticipate a relatively short timeline to complete the working prototype and have a production-ready model."
In addition to automotive applications, PyroDelta has identified a growing number of target markets where the device could save significant amounts of energy and enhance efficiency, including solar panels, drones, and greenhouses.
"As news of the device gets out there, we are also hearing from representatives of industries that we hadn't even explored yet," added Docherty. "We're very excited about where we might go with new applications."
With more than 16 years of covering mining, Shane is renowned for his insights and and in-depth analysis of mining, mineral exploration and technology metals.
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