Using the only test bed in Korea that actually reproduces the high-temperature gas emission environment of an industrial site, a joint research and industry team led by the Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI) has achieved results that mark a milestone in the industrialization of thermoelectric power generation technology.

The Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI) announced on the 9th that the team led by Dr. Park Soo-dong of the KERI Electric Conversion Materials Research Center, with support from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, has successfully established a standard system to objectively evaluate the performance of thermoelectric power generation devices developed and owned by domestic companies, and has also succeeded in securing the basic engineering data necessary for this.

Thermoelectric power generation is a future technology that converts the temperature difference between two different types of metals or semiconductors into electricity, but there have been few cases of application in industrial settings due to a lack of research data and a gap between theoretical and actual efficiency.

First, Dr. Park Soo-dong's team used AI algorithms to study approximately 13,000 papers and technical brochures from around the world and derived average performance and specifications related to thermoelectric semiconductor composition.

Based on this, we developed three types of 'thermoelectric power generation standard elements' that will serve as industrial standards that are not affected by internal or external environmental conditions such as temperature and manufacturing method.In the future, companies will be able to compare and evaluate the performance of their own devices using KERI devices as a standard.

The research team has established engineering data necessary for evaluating the performance of thermoelectric generator elements, and is disclosing diverse data, including environmental characteristics (humidity, vibration, salt influence), electrical characteristics (withstand voltage level), mechanical characteristics (strength, impact, compression resistance), element life prediction, thermoelectric semiconductor properties, and interface thermal conductivity measurement information.

In addition, the world's only verification infrastructure capable of evaluating thermoelectric power modules at temperatures of 250-300℃ and gas flow rates of up to 14 m/s was built by simulating the high-temperature gas emission environment of industrial sites.

In fact, KERI manufactured a 1.6-meter-long kW-class thermoelectric power module and thoroughly verified its performance at the facility, proving the value of the evaluation facility.

KERI plans to provide the results of this study and the documentation of measurement and evaluation know-how free of charge to companies in need, and is also operating a website for free output prediction simulation for thermoelectric semiconductors and components.

Dr. Park Soo-dong said, “This case is the first in the world to have the reference point, data, and verification infrastructure necessary for thermoelectric power generation in one place, and we have maximized its public nature so that anyone can utilize it.” He added, “It will increase the perception of eco-friendly thermoelectric power generation technology, which has felt distant so far, and contribute to saving energy and achieving carbon neutrality nationwide.”

Currently, Dr. Park Soo-dong's team is overseeing the 'Development and Demonstration Research of Thermoelectric Power Generation Systems' project with support from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. The project includes the development of a mass production process for thermoelectric power generation elements and the development of thermoelectric power generation systems for ships and industrial use, and is expected to see widespread application of thermoelectric power generation technology after 2027.

In addition, this study showed that bismuth-tellurineAs a systematic database and new development theory on the RIDE series of thermoelectric semiconductors are secured, in-depth research in the field of thermoelectric cooling technology that removes heat by passing current will also be conducted in parallel.