Effective solution for Exhaust heat to save fuel

Two-thirds - about 66 percent - of the energy of gasoline and diesel fuel burned in the engine, is wasted in the form of heat. The heat is largely wasted through the exhaust, the rest of the cooling system (radiators).

The concept of recovering heat energy that made ​​the exhaust is converted into electricity

Well, like the Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) in F1 or regenaratif brakes on hybrid cars, experts also want to "restore" the wasted energy to be used again. It is not easy, but the researchers from energy companies and car manufacturers are also trying to do.

TEG
Like KERS and regenerative braking - diuban kinetic energy into electricity - at the exhaust heat energy is converted into electricity. To change it, needed materials or equipment called a thermoelectric generator (TEG). The main problem faced by scholars and researchers today is the basic material. Semiconductor material used is still very low efficiency and expensive. This is what makes, car manufacturers less interested mengembangkannnya.

Nevertheless, the researchers now are trying to install the first prototype TEG to be installed on commercial vehicles and SUVs. Fortunately, materials or tools were developed by independent companies, namely BSST in Irwindale, California. The company is developing its own car TEG is General Motors (GM) and BMW.

BSST plans are able to produce a prototype that will be tested in the BMW and Ford this year. While GM tried it on the Chevrolet SUV.

Material
BSST using new materials, namely bismuth Telluride, consisting of tellurium are rare and work only above 250 degrees Celsius. While the material needed to work at 500 degrees Celsius. BSST also termoelectrically develop other materials, namely a mixture of hafnium and zirconium which worked with the high temperatures and its efficiency reaches 40 percent.

Researchers put GM who was the last prototype TEG - considered more promising - called the material with "skutterudites". Explained this material is cheaper than tellurides, the ability also works better at high-temperatures. Based on tests on the Chevrolet Suburban, tools

Skutterudites consists of a mixture of cobalt arsenide (cobalt arsenide) with the addition of rare elements such as ytterbium. According to Gregory Meisner of GM, the difficulties they face is to integrate these materials into unity. Because of differences in material properties cause the performance will decrease.

Inserted
Another challenge is how to install the TEG in the car. Researchers have tried generator Bismuth Telluride in the SUV. "Now the installation is done by slipped it into the exhaust. Exhaust cut, such as installing a muffler. We need to design a tool that integrates the system and not as an additional vehicle, "expressed by Meisner.

With the development now, both companies expect to manufacture such equipment in large quantities at affordable prices, still took about four years.