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Happy Solstice To All, and To All A Good New Year!

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ICT2009 & ECT2009, Freiburg, Germany: Call For Abstracts

Dear Colleagues,  Thermoelectricians,

It is still 2008, but the International and European Conference on Thermoelectric 2009 is only about half a year ahead.

So on behalf of the Organizing Committee it is my privilege to invite you to attend the 28th International Conference on Thermoelectrics in Freiburg, Germany. The conference will be held together with the 7th European Conference on Thermoelectrics.

Abstracts may be submitted here, now through March 1, 2009.

As the registration will start 01.01.2009 I will draw your attention to our

ICT-ECT 2009 homepage - http://ict2009.its.org/.

 And besides: I wish you a:  Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous 2009.

 I am looking forward seeing you in summer 2009 in Freiburg.

 Harald Böttner
(Chairman ICT-ECT 2009)

Dr. Harald Böttner
Abteilungsleiter Thermoelektrische Systeme
Fraunhofer Institut für Physikalische Messtechnik
Heidenhofstr. 8
D-79110 Freiburg
Tel:    # 0049/761/8857-121
Fax:   # 0049/761/8857-224
email:  (Click here for email form):

Head of Department Thermoelectric Systems (TES)
Fraunhofer Institute for Physical Measurement Techniques

http://ict2009.its.org/

 

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Ford, GM selected by DoE for TE HVAC Development

December 3, 2008 a US Department of Energy press release announced funding for thermoelectric HVAC development targeting vehicles.  Conventional air conditioning refrigerants, like R-134a, are seriously bad greenhouse gases.  Today R-134a is not yet a major contributor to global warming, but only because it hasn't been in use very long.  The refrigerant it replaced, R-12, represents a significant contribution to global warming and will continue to do for many years.  If rational minds prevail, R-134a will have to be banned too, this time for climate issues.

Once R-134a is off the table, all alternative air conditioning technologies move up one position on the list options.  That includes thermoelectrics.

The DoE program also thinks a distributed TE cooling system may actually be more efficient at the system level than conventional air conditioning.  Hence the program.

Here is the thermoelectric-related portion of their Dec. 3, 2008 press release:

Thermoelectric Systems:
Two projects totaling up to $13 million in cost-shared cooperative agreements, DOE share of up to $6.5 million, subject to annual appropriations. These projects were selected to accelerate the development of thermoelectric (TE) systems that provides the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) in vehicles. The use of solid state TE devices to heat and cool a vehicle’s passenger compartment can increase vehicle efficiency by reducing engine load - by reducing or eliminating the need for conventional air conditioning refrigerants, these vehicles further reduce greenhouse gas emissions. TE HVAC enables the use of distributed cooling/heating units that cool/heat the occupants rather than the whole cabin and its components. While applicable to all commercial and passenger vehicles, TE HVAC is particularly attractive for hybrids and plug-in hybrids where an electrically driven air conditioning system can maintain occupant comfort even when the engine turns off.

• Ford Motor Company (Dearborn, Mich.) has been selected for negotiation of an award for a 36-month, up to $8.4 million, DOE share of up to $4.2 million, project to accelerate the deployment of light-duty automotive thermoelectric HVAC technology. This work will focus on the development of a zonal TE HVAC system, while reducing energy consumption of existing HVAC systems by one third. Partners include Visteon, BSST, DOE’s National Energy Renewable Laboratory, and Ohio State University.
• General Motors Corporation (Warren, Mich.) has been selected for negotiation of an award for a 36-month, up to $4.6 million, DOE share of up to $2.3 million, project to develop a system that provides thermal comfort equivalent to current HVAC systems while using significantly less energy. The team will design, test, and evaluate the thermoelectric system components and then integrate the components into a demonstration vehicle for testing and evaluation. Partners include Delphi Thermal Systems, University of California at Berkeley, and University of Nevada at Las Vegas.

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Passing of academician Dmitry Vasilyevich

It is with great sorrow that the Bureau of the International Thermoelectric Academy announces the untimely death of  ITA academician Dmitry Vasilyevich GITSU on November 23, 2008.

 Some further information is posted on the International Thermoelectric Academy website. Condolences to the family and colleagues can be sent at: E-mail: kantserlises [dot] asm [dot] md, Fax: +37322737197, +37322738166.

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ztjobs

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Post-doc, on Clathrates at U. of South Florida

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Post doc on high temperature thermoelectrics at Case Western Reserve University

Thermoelectric Processing and Characterization

The Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the Case Western Reserve University seeks qualified applicants for a post-doc position. Candidates should have expertise in material processing and microstructural characterization. Successful candidates shall have a PhD or equivalent degree with strong credentials in material science and engineering or related disciplines, plus demonstrated ability to conduct independent research. Applicant will be expected to conduct original research in multi-functional materials that exhibit thermoelectric behavior. Applicants should show understanding of electronic structure of materials, have experience in all levels of processing and be able to develop novel thermoelectric materials for aeronautics and aerospace applications. Advanced skills with characterization tools for determination of structure-property relationships at high temperatures are required. Experience with impedance analysis and Seebeck measurements, as well as HRTEM, SEM and XRD is expected. Expertise with mechanical property measurements are preferred but not required. The work will be performed in collaboration with NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, OH, and that will be the primary work location. Published evidence of scientific stature is expected. The ability to work in groups and to start new and/or develop existing collaborations is essential. Compensation will be commensurate with qualifications and years of experience.

For full consideration, applicant should send their curriculum vitae, statement of research and the names and addresses of at least three references to Dr. Alp Sehirlioglu, Case Western Reserve University (alp [dot] sehirlioglucase [dot] edu). Qualified applications will be reviewed without regard to race, religion, age, gender or national origin.

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Postdoc for development and synthesis of ceramic thermoelectric materials, Risø DTU,

Do you want to help develop innovative and environmentally friendly energy technologies for the future?

The Fuel Cells and Solid State Chemistry Division at Risø DTU is among the world’s research leaders in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) – a technology for clean and efficient conversion of chemical energy (in the form of, e.g., natural gas, hydrogen, biogas, ammonia or methanol) into electricity and heat. In addition we have activities within a number of related topics, in particular ceramic thermoelectric materials.

Thermoelectric materials directly convert thermal gradients into electric current (and vice versa). They hold great promise for applications in refrigeration and power generation technologies. A major challenge in thermoelectric materials development is to manipulate the structure and physical properties of these systems in order to improve electrical conductivity, Seebeck coefficient and simultaneously reduce thermal conductivity. This is needed to improve the so-called figure of merit of the materials. To strengthen our activities within thermoelectrics we are seeking a motivated postdoc for the Program for Thermoceramics.

Ceramic materials (oxides) can be made with large thermoelectric power while maintaining a reasonable electrical conductivity. However, to have a large figure of merit a low thermal conductivity is also needed. The project will explore new oxides for thermoelectric applications and investigate to what extent doping may influence the thermoelectric properties. Series of materials will be selected, synthesized and characterized to determine the dependence of the figure of merit on doping level as well as the electronic structure of these materials.

Qualifications:
• Ph.D. in engineering, materials science, physics, chemistry or similar
• experience with synthesis of thermoelectric materials
• good knowledge of solid state physics
• preferably experience with materials characterization methods, e.g. X-ray, transport property measurements and SEM/TEM
• preferably experience with thermoelectric modeling
• ability to work independently, to plan and carry out complicated tasks, and to be a part of a large, dynamical group
• good communication skills in English, both written and spoken

We offer an exciting and challenging job in an international environment, good possibilities for professional and personal growth, and a family friendly organization with flexible working hours.

The terms of employment will be in accordance with those of the scientific staff at Risø DTU. Salary will depend on qualifications and experience. The position is for a fixed duration.

Application Deadline:
We must have your online applicatoin by 25 January 2009. Please fill in the application form and attach your CV.

Online application:
http://www.dtu.dk/English/About_DTU/vacancies.aspx?guid=23291458

Applicants are encouraged to contact with Head of programme for more detail:
Dr. Pryds
nini [dot] prydsrisoe [dot] dk
+45 4677 5752

Additional information about Risø DTU and the Fuel Cells and Solid State Chemistry Division can be found on www.risoe.dtu.dk.

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upcoming conferences

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XIII International Forum on Thermoelectricity

Attachment	Size
GENERAL MEETING-2009.pdf	450.66 KB

 

2009 MRS Spring Meeting, Symposium N: Materials and Devices for Thermal-to-Electric Energy Conversion

Attachment	Size
2009SpringMRS.pdf	110.5 KB