Tenneco (NYSE:TEN) announced today that it is part of a consortium
actively developing a solution for capturing waste exhaust heat in
vehicles and converting it to electrical energy to be used to power
electrical systems within the vehicle, supporting automakers strategies
for improved fuel economy. The first rapid prototype of a Thermoelectric
Generator (TEG) for light vehicle applications will be on display at
Tenneco’s booth at the 2013 Frankfurt IAA Motor Show (Hall 5.1, Stand
A16).
In a typical internal combustion engine, approximately 30 percent of the
fuel energy is used for actual vehicle propulsion, while more than 70
percent is lost, about half of it through the vehicle’s exhaust system.
Thermoelectric generators help capture a portion of the lost energy,
convert it to electricity and redistribute it to electrical systems in
the vehicle, which can ultimately support improved fuel efficiency.
Tenneco has added its experience in heat recovery technology and thermal
management to an industry consortium tasked with optimizing the design,
validation and testing of thermoelectric generators for light vehicles.
Partnering with Tenneco is Gentherm, a global developer of thermal
management technologies for the automotive industry, and two global
vehicle manufacturers.
“While vehicle manufacturers have made significant progress in achieving
emissions reduction and fuel economy, new technologies must be developed
throughout the vehicle to address engines running at higher temperatures
and with greater loads. With waste heat recovery, heat that would not
otherwise be recycled can be put to use within the vehicle,” said Dr.
Wolfgang Reuter, vice president, sales and engineering, Tenneco Clean
Air Europe.
The TEG is a unique heat exchanger that integrates cylindrical-shaped
cartridges. Thermoelectric material is sandwiched together within the
cartridges that are exposed to hot exhaust gas on one side and to engine
coolant on the other side. The temperature gradient over the
thermoelectric material results in a continuous electrical current flow,
which is then redistributed to the vehicle. The modular design of the
TEG enables packaging scalability depending on vehicle design, making it
more cost-effective to integrate into the vehicle’s exhaust system.
Tenneco is responsible for the overall system layout and integration,
including validation testing for the project. TEGs must undergo rigorous
durability testing, using a wide range of exhaust gas temperatures. The
test process must also simulate harsh operating conditions on the
underbody of the vehicle, such as road bumps, salt corrosion and other
examples of severe conditions.
Testing and validation for the TEG is being conducted at Tenneco’s
global emissions technical centers in Edenkoben, Germany and Grass Lake,
Michigan. The consortium anticipates that initial demonstrators will be
available in early 2014.
Visit Tenneco in Hall 5.1, Stand A16.
About Tenneco
Tenneco is a $7.4 billion global manufacturing company with headquarters
in Lake Forest, Illinois and approximately 25,000 employees worldwide.
Tenneco is one of the world’s largest designers, manufacturers and
marketers of clean air and ride performance products and systems for
automotive and commercial vehicle original equipment markets and the
aftermarket. Tenneco’s principal brand names are Monroe®, Walker®, XNOx™
and Clevite®Elastomer.
About Gentherm
Gentherm (NASDAQ-GS:THRM) is a global developer and marketer of
innovative thermal management technologies for a broad range of heating
and cooling and temperature control applications. Automotive products
include actively heated and cooled seat systems and cup holders, heated
and ventilated seat systems, thermal storage bins, heated seat and
steering wheel systems, cable systems and other electronic devices. The
Company’s advanced technology team is developing more efficient
materials for thermoelectric and systems for waste heat recovery and
electrical power generation for the automotive market that may have
far-reaching applications for consumer products as well as industrial
and technology markets. Gentherm has more than 7,000 employees in
facilities in the U.S., Germany, Mexico, China, Canada, Japan, England,
Korea, Malta, Hungary and the Ukraine. For more information, go to www.gentherm.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements. Words such as
“anticipate,” “expects,” "will", "continue" and similar expressions
identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements
are based on the current expectations of the company (including its
subsidiaries). Because these forward-looking statements involve risks
and uncertainties, the company's plans, actions and actual results could
differ materially. Among the factors that could cause these plans,
actions and results to differ materially from current expectations are:
(i) changes in automotive or commercial vehicle manufacturers'
production rates and their actual and forecasted requirements for the
company's products, including the company's resultant inability to
realize the sales represented by its awarded book of business; (ii) any
change in customer demand due to delays in the adoption or enforcement
of worldwide emissions regulations or any other changes in consumer
demand and prices, including decreases in demand for automobiles or
commercial vehicles which include the company's products, and the
potential negative impact on the company's revenues and margins from
such products; (iii) the general political, economic and competitive
conditions in markets where the company and its subsidiaries operate;
(iv) workforce factors such as strikes or labor interruptions; (v)
material substitutions and increases in the costs of raw materials; and
(vi) the company's ability to develop and profitably commercialize
new products and technologies, and the acceptance of such new products
and technologies by the company's customers. The company undertakes no
obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or
circumstances after the date of this press release. Additional
information regarding risk factors and uncertainties is detailed from
time to time in the company's SEC filings, including but not limited to
its report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012.
Copyright Business Wire 2013