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Johnson Thermoelectric Energy Converter

The Johnson thermoelectric energy converter (JTEC) is a solid-state heat engine that converts heat into electricity without moving parts, using hydrogen circulation between two cells at different temperatures to generate voltage.

Background

The Johnson Thermoelectric Energy Converter (JTEC) is a heat engine, not a traditional thermoelectric device. It uses a cycle similar to a Stirling engine to convert heat directly into electricity, using hydrogen as a working fluid and special PEM (proton exchange membrane) stacks to generate voltage from pressure differences. Invented by Lonnie Johnson (an engineer best known for inventing the Super Soaker water gun), JTEC aims to be more efficient than conventional heat engines, especially at smaller scales, and has potential for waste-heat recovery, solar power, and remote power generation. The company JTEC Energy continues development, though commercial viability remains unproven.

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