Session Description:

A large amount of heat is at the temperature of <100 °C, which is estimated to be around 60% of the total waste heat. The exploitation of such sources would benefit for the improvement of energy efficiency and the reduction of carbon footprint. How to efficiently convert such energy into electricity is a big challenge as the heat sources are typically distributed and exhibit narrow temperature difference with the ambient. Traditional technologies such as organic Rankine cycles and solid-state thermoelectric generators are being actively pursued but face their challenges in efficiency, cost, and system complexity.

This Special Session provides a unique platform to present state-of-the-art research findings in heat-to-electricity techniques from such low-temperature heat sources, especially the emerging technologies based on the electrochemical working principles. Contributions regarding the material exploration, device development and system operation, from experiment to theoretical modeling, are welcomed.

Invited Speakers:

Session Contents:

Topic 1: Explore the low-grade heat harvesting in divalent ion batteries

  • Dr. Caitian Gao, Hunan University, China

Topic 2: Heat/mass coupling transfer analysis and optimization of thermocells driven by low-grade heat

  • Dr. Zhi Li, Zhejiang University, China

Topic 3: Electrochemical Brayton cycle: A new approach to utilizing low and medium grade thermal energy

  • Dr. Weicong Xu, Tianjin University, China

Topic 4: Selective tuning the thermopower of ionic thermoelectrics for low-grade heat harvesting

  • Dr. Cheng Chi, North China Electric Power University, China

Topic 5: Entropy change regulation in thermally regenerative electrochemical cycles

  • Dr. Xiaoya Li, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China