Design of Thermoelectric Power Generation for Jet Engine Applications

The onset of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the aviation and military industries has introduced new challenges in aircraft design. Among these challenges, the increased requirement for electrical power to support the additional onboard computers and processors demanded by UAVs is a significant one. Traditionally, the electrical power required for flight has been met by batteries charged on the ground and then stored on the aircraft. Batteries limit the flight time of missions due to their density and maximum electrical charge capacity. If electrical power could be generated in flight, mission flight times would be extended. The present study investigates generating electrical power by means of thermoelectric generators on an aircraft utilizing a compact jet engine that generates temperatures exceeding 700 degrees Celsius during operation. The novelty of this study is the discussion on a custom star shaped thermoelectric generator. The results of this study can be used as a starting point for further design and testing of thermoelectric materials in jet engine aircraft, as well as large scale physical testing in jet engines. There is ongoing experimental testing of each design with a microjet engine to evaluate predictions and data in the future.