Table of Contents
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Project Overview
Currently, approximately 30% of the energy consumed in the United States is by the transportation sector. Nearly 2/3 of this energy is imported and is one of the major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. To reduce the demand on imported fuels and decrease the environmental impact, there is a growing interest in finding alternative fuel options as well as increasing the efficiencies in the transportation sector. To this end, this project focuses on developing a novel technology to recover a portion of the 40% or so energy that is typically lost through the exhaust system of passenger vehicles. The project team will design, build, and test an exhaust waste heat recovery unit based on thermoelectrics to be used in a passenger car. Thermoelectrics are solid-state devices that can convert thermal energy directly into electrical energy. Recent advances in thermoelectric materials might open the door for thermoelectrics to move from niche to mainstream power generation applications.
Previous related projects associated with this project are: P07441 and P07442

Team Picture (left to right: Paul Gaylo, Michael Rheinheimer, Erin Crowley, Joel Nelson, Frank Trotto, Stephen Byrne)
Administrative Information
- Project Name
- Auto Exhaust Power Generation Unit from Waste Heat
- Project Number
- P08441
- Project Family
- Next Generation Thermo-Electric Systems
- Track
- Sustainable Products, Systems, and Technologies
- Start Term
- 2007-2
- End Term
- 2007-3
- Faculty Guide
- Dr. Rob Stevens
- Faculty Consultant
- John Wellin (ME)
- Graduate Teaching Assistant
- Primary Customer
- Rob Stevens, RIT ME Department
- Customer contact information
Team Documents
Senior Design I (Winter 2008)
Senior Design II (Spring 2008)
Planning
Intellectual Property Considerations
Preliminary Work Breakdown Structure
Concept Development
Establish Target Specifications
Published Documents
As you conclude the project, include links to all of your finished and fully polished documents here. The previous sections of the web site contain the entire design history of your project. This section contains the finished products. Add more links as needed.
Concept Design Review Documents (SD I)
Detailed Design Review Documents (SD I)
Technical Conference Publication (SD II)
Poster Publication (powerpoint) (SD II)
Managerial Design Review Presentation (SD II)