THERMOELECTRIC

GENERATOR
 ABSTRACT
Nowadays the world has experiencing global warming
due to excessive energy release into atmospheres. Today,
a lot of research being conducted on ways to recover or
reused the energy losses. An experimental investigation
has been carried out to identify the most suitable cooling
system techniques to achieve a stable and sustainable
power output. Four types of Thermoelectric Module
(TEM) was fitted and tested on different cooling system
techniques. Testing was conducted using a candle flame
as a heat source to produce a suitable temperature with
the maximum temperature of 200°C. An electronic circuit
is used to provide a constant and sufficient power. The
use of suitable cooling system and Thermo Electric
Module (TEM) was found by investigating the module
parameters such as the temperature different of hot to
cold side, number of thermo elements and internal
resistance. This research contributes an important role in
saving energy and reducing the dependency to primary
energy sources (AC power or battery).
 INTRODUCTION
It is essential for future generations to reduce the
quantity of global energy consumed, and this can only be
achieved through technological development and use of
diversified renewable energy sources i.e. solar, wind,
hydropower, in addition to the energy sources currently
used. Among these different energy sources,
thermoelectricity is currently emerging as a common and
promising alternative energy source for the future. Their
use is becoming of more interest, as they offer the
advantages of recycling waste energy. This means
transforming the heat from industry, or road transport
into electricity, thus increasing system efficiency and
decreasing operating costs and environmental pollution.
Since the discovery of thermoelectricity (TE) in 1821 by
Seebeck, researchers have been trying to understand and
control this phenomenon. Peltier did exactly this in 1834
by discovering the opposite effect and Lord Calvin in 1851
formulated the laws that link these two phenomena. In
the following century, in 1909, Edmund Altenkirch
correctly calculated, for the first time, the energy
efficiency of a thermoelectric generator now known as
figure of merit.
 THERMOELECTRIC
MODULES
A typical TEG module consists of between ten and a hundred
thermoelectric elements of type n and type p, electrically
connected in series and thermally in parallel, and interposed
between two ceramic layers, as shown in below Figure. The p-n
pairs are joined by conductive tabs connected to the elements
via a low melting point solder (PbSn or BiSn). When a
temperature gradient occurs between its two junctions, the TEG
converts thermal energy into electrical energy according to the
principle of the Seebeck effect. This flat bulk architecture is the
most widely used and marketed. The critical challenge in the
development of TEGS is the degradation of original properties
brought on by thermal fatigue, which is in turn caused by
thermal expansion and thermal shock. This degradation can be
brutal or progressive and result in a decrease in service life and
efficiency. In fact, during normal operation of TE devices, the
shunts are periodically heated and cooled and undergo thermal
expansion. The TE materials connected to these shunts can
experience different effects in expansion from temperature
sources, which cause increased stress at the interface between
them. These stresses are generally the main cause of
mechanism failure and consequently the principal reason why
TE materials are not sintered and integrated into shunts.
 THERMOELECTRIC
GENERATOR
The thermoelectric generator is a device, where electric
energy is produced directly from heat energy. They are
also called Seebeck generators since they used the
Seebeck effect to produce power. In conventional power
plants, like thermal power plants, nuclear power plants,
fuel is used to heat the water. Generally, coal is burnt in
that process. After the water starts boiling, and converted
into steam, at high pressure, this steam is used to rotate
the turbine and hence mechanical energy is converted
into electric energy by Fleming's law of electromagnetic
induction. In this process, there is two-stage energy
conversion, first heat energy is converted into mechanical
energy and then mechanical energy is converted to
electric energy. Because of this two-stage process, the
efficiency of the overall system goes down. If we can
directly convert heat energy to electrical energy,
efficiency will be more. In the thermoelectric generator,
heat energy is directly converted to electric energy, which
has high economic benefits. Thermoelectric generators
fundamentally use the thermoelectric principle of
operation, which is based on the temperature gradient.
 THERMOELECTRIC
GENERATOR
CONSTRUCTION
Constructional, it is made of up semiconductor materials
to create the temperature gradient. The semiconductor
materials used to form a thermocouple, which creates the
temperature gradient and a potential difference is
created. For this semiconductor device, both p-type and
n-type materials are used. Metal alloys are formed using
this semiconductor device. Metal alloys like Bi,zn,Teз,
Sb₂,Te, are used to create the semiconductor path for the
flow of charges.
 WORKING PRINCIPAL
The thermoelectric generator working principle is, it works on the
concept of thermoelectric effect or Seebeck effect. As per this effect,
when a temperature gradient is produced between two ends, the
electrons start flowing from one end to another end and create a
potential difference. For the creation of the temperature gradient,
thermocouple devices have to be used. Thermocouple devices are
fundamentally semiconductor device which has high electrical
conductivity and low thermal conductivity. For this, the properties of
semiconductor devices are used.
They have generally four valence electrons in the outermost orbit. So
they can be either p-type or n-type. In an n-type semiconductor, the
majority of charge carriers are the electrons. They are also called
donors. In p-type semiconductors, the majority of charge carriers are
the holes. Holes are also called the absence of electrons. The p-type
material is also called as acceptors. So when a p-type and n-type
material are connected in a proper manner, and a temperature gradient
is created, then it forms a potential difference across two points. Due to
which the electrons start flowing from one end to another. This creates
a thermoelectric generator. The thermoelectric generator temperature
difference is created by this principle.
 DIFFERENT TYPES
The classification of thermoelectric generator depends
on the method by which input heat is produced.
Different types of thermoelectric generators are:
Fossil fuel Generators:
In this type, the heat is generated by burning fossil fuels ,
the fossil fuels used for this purpose are natural gas,
propane, butane, etc. Its range is from 10W to 100W.
Solar Source generators:
In this type , the heat is produced using solar energy.
Nuclear Fuelled Generators:
In this type, nuclear energy is used to input the heat. Its
power rating is high as compared to other generators. It
may go 100W.
 ADVANTAGES AND
DISADVANTAGES
The advantages of thermoelectric
generators include the following:
• Economical friendly
• Recycles waste heat
• A reliable source of energy
• Lower production cost
The disadvantages of thermoelectric
generators include the following:
• Low efficiency
• Limited applications
• Requires a constant source of heat
• Energy cannot be stored
 APPLICATIONS

The applications of thermoelectric

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