Enhanced - European Thermodynamics Limited

Project: Enhanced

The ENHANCED project (ENergy Harvester for AutoNomous Commercial Electronic Devices) will develop an inter-operable platform wireless system for autonomous sensors and electronics, powered by thermoelectric energy harvesting technology.

ENHANCED will combine thermal energy harvesting (thermoelectrics) with energy storage to achieve minimal power usage. The system will be specifically for marine and automotive applications with the thermoelectric generator (TEG) hot-side in contact with the vehicle or vessel exhaust. It will be based on a standard platform for a range of sensors based on a core processor with the consortium building the architecture (antenna and interconnects etc…) around this. The system is modular and interchangeable.

The innovative aspects of the project are; demonstrating a thermal energy harvesting device that can power autonomous electronics for a wide wireless network system and the ink jet printing process as a method for producing thermoelectric generators.

Goals

To create an integrated TE energy harvester, energy storage, electronics and sensor system for wireless communications powered by waste exhaust heat for marine and automotive applications in-line with the end-user requirements
Achieve a reliability of up to 10 years for the integrated system

Project Update

The project approach has adjusted away from inkjet and onto screen printing. The inkjet method proved to be patchy and uneven and due to machinery failure, it was felt that screen printing was the best way forward.
Work is now underway on the ink reformulation work for screen printing use. This approach will also meet the required price target for the device. The cost analysis report identified that reduced costs are needed and a device redesign will help to achieve this.
For interconnects, an alternative copper plated through-hole technique, available from commercial suppliers, has been identified and offers a potential alternative route and give an improvement in both time saving and cost reduction. This particular design approach could utilise standard flexi-PCB substrate materials and give an improvement in both time saving and cost reduction.
Assembly of the electronics hardware and the validation of both aero and auto harvester sub circuits has been completed.
Assembly of the electronics hardware and the validation of both aero and auto harvester sub circuits has been completed. A software controlled radio transmission link bench test was successfully carried out.

Project: Enhanced

Goals

Project Update

Project partners

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