Reversible Thermo-Power Parka Jacket

Attempts to generate power from body heat have faced several difficult technical challenges. Technologies have most often tried to charge cell phones through body heat. Charging a cell phone in one hour requires 5 Volts of regulated DC power of 5-10 Watts. The ideal body heat generator can charge a phone, but will take more than 100-200 hours to charge from empty to full. Innovations in this technology are needed in order to feasibly implement it into markets.

Researchers at Purdue University have developed a power bank to be charged from body heat within a power harness that is built into a parka jacket. Charging a power bank instead of charging a phone is beneficial as it allows for thermoelectric temperature control. This technology is able to warm up or cool down the inner side of a jacket by consuming the electrical power generated from the power bank. The power generation and temperature control can be externally controlled with a wireless transmitter/receiver or from a cell phone connected with a power wire or wirelessly through an additional app.

Advantages:

-Charges at all times, whenever power is available

-Temperature control

-Adds value to parka jackets

Potential Applications:

-Integration to parka jackets

-Thermoelectric materials

-Sporting, medical, military, emergency services, etc.

TRL: 7

Intellectual Property:

Keywords: Body heat generator, thermoelectric temperature control, wearable power bank, energy harvesting, body heat charging, parka jacket integration, thermoelectric materials, power harness, power generation, temperature control, Materials and Manufacturing, Reversible Heat and Power, Thermoelectric, Wearable Technology