TERMOFLEX

Año: 2019
Sector estratégico: Movilidad eléctrica y conectada
Líder del proyecto: NAITEC
Socios del proyecto: Universidad Pública de Navarra (UPNA)

TERMOFLEX is a collaborative project between the UPNA (with the INAMAT and SMART CITIES institutes) and NAITEC. Up to 20 researchers and experts in chemistry, functional printing and engineering have participated in the two years of the project. The main goal of the project was to develop flexible thermoelectric devices. The thermoelectric devices can be used to generate electrical current from a heat source. In that way, the heat from tubing can be used to feed a sensor that sends information remotely in an autonomous way, for example. It is a solution that simplifies sensoring because it avoids using batteries and does not need maintenance.

One of the innovations of TERMOFLEX is in the manufacturing process, because we have used functional printing techniques for it. It is a product that uses conductive and adhesive inks that are applied using serigraphy.

On the other hand, TERMOFLEX is an innovative product because it has the unique property of being flexible. Consequently, heat sources that are currently not viable can be used. We are even thinking about putting them in clothing or accessories to give new functionality to textiles.

This year we have also explored different solutions for incorporating the flexible heat dissipater into the hybrid thermoelectric prototype. In that way, efficiency can be improved without the product losing flexibility. It is a highly innovative product and we are evaluating whether it can be patented.