Academic Venture Fund Supplemental Grants
Combined Solar Heating and Thermoelectric Generation as Distributed Energy Resources
Evaluating the feasibility of alternative heating and electricity technologies
AVF project: To help address increasing energy needs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, researchers will explore a new cogeneration system that combines solar heating for residential and commercial buildings, and thermoelectric energy generation. This system will simultaneously supply heat and electricity from solar heat with zero carbon dioxide emissions. The combined solar heating and thermoelectric generation, which is not intended to replace large-scale power plants, would be particularly useful for isolated areas that are not on a traditional electric grid, therefore advancing the development of resilient rural-urban systems.
This supplemental grant supports three or four students who will design and conduct surveys in rural areas and evaluate the market needs for the combined technology. Specifically, they will design questionnaires, conduct community surveys and summarize and present the results. Two more students will serve as liaisons between the research team and its industry partners, keeping everyone informed about each other’s needs, capabilities and progress.
Topics: Energy, Environment and Sustainability
The Team
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Zhiting Tian, Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
College of Engineering
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Nicholas Sanders, Department of Policy Analysis and Management
College of Human Ecology
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Lang Tong, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
College of Engineering
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Khurram Khan Afridi, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
College of Engineering
- Community partner: Skyven Technologies
Academic Venture Fund Supplemental Grants
Supporting undergraduate participation in cutting-edge, community-engaged projects funded by the Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future