ENERGY CONSERVATION USING THERMOELECTRIC GENERATOR

Srinivasan. V1, Dr.Venkatesh Babu2 1Asst.Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering,

BIST, BIHER, Bharath University, Chennai-73 2Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering,

BIST, BIHER, Bharath University, Chennai-73 1srinivasan.mech@bharathuniv.ac.in,

2rvbaboo76@gmail.com

Abstract: This paper deals with the study of

thermoelectric generator. The demand for portable

power is large and expanding. Technologies currently

available to meet this demand include batteries, fuel

cells, thermo photovoltaic generators and

thermoelectric generators. Fuel cells and generators

offer significantly improved performance over

batteries, but issues of fuel processing and

miniaturization remain. Microfabrication has the

potential to address this miniaturization.

Thermoelectric generators are easy to build from

simple materials or commercially available Peltier

cells, and they can be used for demonstration

purposes. Experimenting with these low efficiency

devices gives opportunities for energy conservation.

1. Introduction

In 1821, Thomas Johann Seebeck found that the

needle of a compass was deflected when it was placed

near a loop made of two different metals and one of

the two junctions was heated. The deflection was

proportional to the temperature difference and

depended on the metals used.

This resulted in the design of thermoelectric

generators (thermopiles) comprising a large number

of junctions. Since a couple of junctions gives only

some tens of millivolts, many unions connected in

series, alternately heated and cooled (usually with

radiating fins), are necessary to produce a few volts

.George Simon Ohm discovered his well known law

around 1825 using this type of generator connected to

circuits with wires which he had manufactured . In

1834, Jean Peltier proved the opposite effect: the

current flowing through these junctions gives rise to

the absorption or liberation of heat depending on the

direction ofthe current.[1]

Later, semiconductors based on more efficient non-

metallic materials, such as bismuth or lead telluride, were

developed. Even with these materials, the conversion

efficiency is low (about5% was reached in the 1950s),

much below that of the best photovoltaic cells. This

limits the use of thermoelectric generators for supplying

power, and the main application of Seebeck’sdiscovery is

temperature measurement from the voltage produced

when a junction of two metals is heated (a thermocouple)

In water-heaters there is thermo couple acting over the

electro valve that controls the flow of gas (figure 1); in

the past these generators were used as power supplies for

radios, using the heat of a kerosene lamp or a stove ;

nowadays, theyare used in isolated farms of Northern

Swedenon stoves, as a supply of a DC–DC converter

circuit which charges a battery . Thermo electric

generators, using the heating from radioactive decay , are

the power sources for space probes,s uch as Pioneer 10

and Pioneer 11, which have been sent to the outer planets

in the solar system, where photovoltaic cells would not

be viable. Nowadays,[2] Peltier cells are

commerciallyavailable devices used mainly in portable

coolers for cars. They are made up of a large number of

junctions in series, so that a temperature difference

higher than 40 ◦C appears between the two facesof the

cell when a current flows. A Peltier cell can work as a

thermoelectric generator simply by cooling one of the

faces and heating the other. Several experiments and

demonstrations have been described using these

generators.[3] A simplet hermo couple made from wires

of different metal sand a voltmeter allows checking that a

voltage is generated when a junction is heated. A

compass can be used to detect the current in a

thermoelectric generator made with a loop of two metals

with two junctions, and effective.

International Journal of Pure and Applied MathematicsVolume 116 No. 14 2017, 409-414ISSN: 1311-8080 (printed version); ISSN: 1314-3395 (on-line version)url: http://www.ijpam.euSpecial Issue ijpam.eu

409

Figure 1.Thermocouple acting on an electrovalve,

dismantled from an old water-heater.

Figure 2.Thermo magnet built with copper tubing

and a screw.

Two cupronickel coins have to be held on theflattened

part of the tube using bulldog clips.demonstrations

can be carried out with powerfulthermo magnets. The

purpose of this article isto describe how to build

thermoelectric generatorsor to use commercially

available Peltier cells to[4] Supply electric power.

A thermomagnet with copper tubing and

A weak but effective electromagnet running ona

simple thermoelectric generator (thermo magnet)can

be built using a piece of copper tubing and a[5]

Couple of coins of nickel or cupronickel. Eventhough

the voltage obtained with only a couple of1 The 25

cent US (cupronickel, 8.33% Ni) and the 25 cent

Canada (pure nickel) coins work very well. In the

euro zone,the 2 euro coin, which has a cupronickel

(25% Ni) outerring, also works well. Many countries

have some of theirpresent or old coins made of

cupronickel. As the voltage of a thermoelectric

generator is proportional to the temperaturedifference

between the junctions, the bigger the coin, the

better.[6]

Thermocouple acting on an electrovalve,

heater.

Thermo magnet built with copper tubing

Two cupronickel coins have to be held on theflattened

part of the tube using bulldog clips.demonstrations

carried out with powerfulthermo magnets. The

purpose of this article isto describe how to build

thermoelectric generatorsor to use commercially

Supply electric power.

A thermomagnet with copper tubing and coins

effective electromagnet running ona

simple thermoelectric generator (thermo magnet)can

be built using a piece of copper tubing and a[5]

Couple of coins of nickel or cupronickel. Eventhough

the voltage obtained with only a couple of1 The 25

ckel, 8.33% Ni) and the 25 cent

Canada (pure nickel) coins work very well. In the

euro zone,the 2 euro coin, which has a cupronickel

(25% Ni) outerring, also works well. Many countries

have some of theirpresent or old coins made of

age of a thermoelectric

generator is proportional to the temperaturedifference

between the junctions, the bigger the coin, the

Figure 3.The magnetic poles of the needle of acompass

are alternatively attracted when one arm or theother of

the thermo magnet is heated.[7]

Junctions is low, the low electrical resistance of

thecopper tubing allows a relatively strong current.A

piece of copper tubing (about 45 cm long,6 mm in

diameter and 1 mm thick, of the type usedby plumbers),

is coiled (5 turns) around a thickscrew. The straight ends

of the tubing are bentso that they are parallel and about 2

cm apart; thetube is then flattened with a hammer.[8]

Two coins are held on either side of the flattened part of

thetube with bulldog clips (figures

lined with paper to insulate it fromthe copper tubing, is

used as a core inside thecoiled tubing. Since the

resistivity of iron is five times that of copper, lining the

iron core withpaper is not strictly necessary. [9]The

unlined core would act as a resistance in parallel with the

lowresistance of the copper coil. Isolating the

coreincreases the efficiency of the thermo magnet by

asmall amount.[10]

The coil is held by a clamp and a compass isplaced in

front of the screw. As one of the coppera

with a flame, the needle is quicklyattracted towards the

screw. When the other arm[11]

The magnetic poles of the needle of acompass

are alternatively attracted when one arm or theother of

ermo magnet is heated.[7]

Junctions is low, the low electrical resistance of

thecopper tubing allows a relatively strong current.A

piece of copper tubing (about 45 cm long,6 mm in

diameter and 1 mm thick, of the type usedby plumbers),

around a thickscrew. The straight ends

of the tubing are bentso that they are parallel and about 2

cm apart; thetube is then flattened with a hammer.[8]

are held on either side of the flattened part of

thetube with bulldog clips (figures 2 and 3).The screw,

lined with paper to insulate it fromthe copper tubing, is

used as a core inside thecoiled tubing. Since the

resistivity of iron is five times that of copper, lining the

iron core withpaper is not strictly necessary. [9]The

act as a resistance in parallel with the

lowresistance of the copper coil. Isolating the

coreincreases the efficiency of the thermo magnet by

The coil is held by a clamp and a compass isplaced in

front of the screw. As one of the copperarms is heated

with a flame, the needle is quicklyattracted towards the

International Journal of Pure and Applied Mathematics Special Issue

410

Figure 4. A paperclip is held when one arm of

thethermo magnet is strongly heated

.

Figure 5.Thermo magnet built with an Alpaca fork

andthick copper wire.

is heated the needle on the compass swings

180◦,proving the change of the direction of the

current. When one of the junctions is strongly heated

thescrew is able to hold a paper clip (figure

As shown in figure 5, similar thermo magnetscan be

built using different parts, such as an Alpacafork and

thick copper wire.[12]

Motor working on thermocouples in series

A small motor can work with 60 Fe–Cu junctions(30

couples) in series, heated in a flame . Anefficient

motor, such as a MABUCHI RF 300C-14 270

using only 5 couples (10 junctions)2

A paperclip is held when one arm of

thethermo magnet is strongly heated

Thermo magnet built with an Alpaca fork

is heated the needle on the compass swings

,proving the change of the direction of the

current. When one of the junctions is strongly heated

thescrew is able to hold a paper clip (figure 4).

, similar thermo magnetscan be

using different parts, such as an Alpacafork and

Motor working on thermocouples in series

Cu junctions(30

couples) in series, heated in a flame . Anefficient

14 2703, turns

Figure 6.Motor running on the power of a

Thermoelectric generator made with five couples ofCu

constantan junctions of Cu–constantanin series, heated

strongly in aflame. When red-hot, a couple gives a

maximumvoltage of about 40 mV.The hot junctions can

be made by twisting theends of 10 cm long wires or, for

a more permanentset-up, soldering them together.[13]

The wires of thecool junctions are inserted in terminal

blocks andsecured with screws as shown

Powerful thermo magnets

Powerful thermo magnets able to withstand theweight of

a person can be built; however,a lathe and a gas welding

torch are required.[17] One of these thermo magnets is

shown infigures and : a thick copper rod has been

Figure 7.Thermo magnet made with a single turn of

athick copper rod and two soldered cupronickel

coins,inserted in an iron core.

Motor running on the power of a

Thermoelectric generator made with five couples ofCu–

constantanin series, heated

hot, a couple gives a

maximumvoltage of about 40 mV.The hot junctions can

be made by twisting theends of 10 cm long wires or, for

up, soldering them together.[13]

The wires of thecool junctions are inserted in terminal

blocks andsecured with screws as shown in figure 6.

Powerful thermo magnets able to withstand theweight of

a person can be built; however,a lathe and a gas welding

torch are required.[17] One of these thermo magnets is

shown infigures and : a thick copper rod has been bent

Thermo magnet made with a single turn of

athick copper rod and two soldered cupronickel

International Journal of Pure and Applied Mathematics Special Issue

411

Figure 8.When heated, the magnetized core can

holdan iron disc from which successive weights can

behung. [19]to fit into a circular groove made in a

cylindricalpiece of iron and two cupronickel coins

have beensoldered to the arms of the rod. Prior to

heating,it can be shown that washers or other flat

pieces ofiron are not attracted, but when one of the

armsis strongly heated the current along the

copperrod is strong enough to make the iron core[18]

anelectromagnet able to hold an iron disc with ahook,

from which successive weights can be hung.The other

arm of the copper rod can be immersedin a cup of

water or ice to increase the temperaturedifference

between the junctions.

When heated, the magnetized core can

holdan iron disc from which successive weights can

into a circular groove made in a

cylindricalpiece of iron and two cupronickel coins

have beensoldered to the arms of the rod. Prior to

heating,it can be shown that washers or other flat

pieces ofiron are not attracted, but when one of the

eated the current along the

copperrod is strong enough to make the iron core[18]

anelectromagnet able to hold an iron disc with ahook,

from which successive weights can be hung.The other

arm of the copper rod can be immersedin a cup of

ease the temperaturedifference

Figure 9.The heat produced after rubbing hands

isenough to run a small motor using

commerciallyavailable Peltier cells.[24]

Peltier cells as thermo generators

A commercially available Peltier cell wi

of junctions can work as a thermoelectricgenerator able

to give relatively high voltages evenwith a small

temperature difference.Figure 9 shows how the motor

turns whenconnected to two Peltier cells in series on a

heatsink, using only the heat created from rubbing[22]

hands together.

Figure 10. Heating a piece of aluminium on the

upperface of two Peltier cells in series, and cooling the

otherface with a heat sink in a tray of water, gives

sufficientpower to supply a portable radio.[14,25]

2. Radio Peltier

The Peltier cells and the heat sink used in theprevious

experiment are put in a plastic tray withwater or ice. A

rectangular piece of aluminiumplaced on the cells is

heated as shown in figure 10.

A voltmeter connected to the cells shows

thepolarity and the value of the voltage, so thatthey can

be connected correctly to the batterycompartment of a

portable radio.

Using the Peltier cells given in footnote 8,

a voltage of around 2.4 V is obtained when thealuminium

reaches about 100 ◦C, and the radiostarts working(with

water at 20 ◦C in the tray).When the heating is stopped

the radio works for awhile until the aluminium cools.

References

[1] www.thermoelectrics.com/introduction.htmchem.c

h.huji.ac.il/eugeniik/history/seebeck.html1010 The radio

The heat produced after rubbing hands

isenough to run a small motor using

commerciallyavailable Peltier cells.[24]

Peltier cells as thermo generators

A commercially available Peltier cell with a largenumber

of junctions can work as a thermoelectricgenerator able

to give relatively high voltages evenwith a small

shows how the motor

turns whenconnected to two Peltier cells in series on a

heat created from rubbing[22]

Heating a piece of aluminium on the

upperface of two Peltier cells in series, and cooling the

otherface with a heat sink in a tray of water, gives

sufficientpower to supply a portable radio.[14,25]

Radio Peltier

The Peltier cells and the heat sink used in theprevious

experiment are put in a plastic tray withwater or ice. A

rectangular piece of aluminiumplaced on the cells is

A voltmeter connected to the cells shows

thepolarity and the value of the voltage, so thatthey can

be connected correctly to the batterycompartment of a

Using the Peltier cells given in footnote 8,

a voltage of around 2.4 V is obtained when thealuminium

he radiostarts working(with

C in the tray).When the heating is stopped

the radio works for awhile until the aluminium cools.

www.thermoelectrics.com/introduction.htmchem.c

h.huji.ac.il/eugeniik/history/seebeck.html1010 The radio

International Journal of Pure and Applied Mathematics Special Issue

412

is a conventional portable model which works

withfour 1.5 V batteries. It is audible from 2.4 V.

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