Electrical, thermomechanical and cost analyses of a low-cost thermoelectric generator

ABSTRACT:The present work highlights the progress in the field of flexible thermoelectric generator (f-TEGs) fabricated by 3-D printing strategy on the typing paper substrate. In this study, printable thermoelectric paste was developed. The dimension of each planer thermoelectric element is 30mm*4mm with a thickness of 50 μm for P-type Bismuth Tellurium (Bi2Te3)-based/ poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) leg. A single thermoleg with this dimension can generate a voltage of 5.38 mV at a temperature difference of 70 K. The calculated Seebeck Coefficient of a single thermoleg is 76.86 μV/K. This work demonstrates that low-cost printing technology is promising for the fabrication of f-TEGs.

Download Full-text

Enhancing NASA's Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator Using Highly Efficient Thermoelectric Materials

Maneto Undergraduate Research Journal ◽

10.15367/m:turj.v3i1.318 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Jeff Houtmann

Keyword(s):

Thermoelectric Materials ◽

Thermoelectric Generator ◽

Low Cost ◽

Space Exploration ◽

Energy Conversion Efficiency ◽

Fuel Production ◽

Project Proposal ◽

New Material ◽

Plutonium Fuel ◽

The Ideal

This project proposal aims to enhance NASA’s Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (MMRTG) by identifying and analyzing new material technologies that have been researched for their excellent thermoelectric properties at higher temperatures. By choosing the most efficient thermoelectric material available, the MMRTG’s energy conversion efficiency will be greatly improved as thermoelectric generator efficiencies are largely determined by the properties of the materials within the thermocouple devices used to convert the heat into energy. A project that focuses on enhancing the MMRTG is imperative for the future of space exploration as there is global shortage of plutonium fuel production, limiting future missions to available supplies. A more efficient generator will minimize the use of this fuel while maximizing power output, allowing for increased mission capabilities and better conservation of the scarce plutonium fuel. In this report, lanthanum telluride, Yb14MnSb14, and a multiple-filled skutterudite (SKD) compound are analyzed for their excellent thermoelectric performance. The multiple filled SKD compound is chosen as the ideal material to enhance the MMRTG based on the low cost and low risks associated with the material while producing a nearly identical efficiency relative to the other candidates. Keywords: eMMRTG, MMRTG, thermoelectric materials, thermoelectric generator, efficiency

Download Full-text

A Low Cost Thermoelectric Generator for Small Satellites

AIAA Scitech 2019 Forum ◽

10.2514/6.2019-1521 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Vaios Lappas ◽

Antonios Tsourdos ◽

Stavros Kindylides ◽

Vasilis Kostopoulos

Keyword(s):

Thermoelectric Generator ◽

Low Cost ◽

Small Satellites

Download Full-text

A low-cost printed organic thermoelectric generator for low-temperature energy harvesting

Renewable Energy ◽

10.1016/j.renene.2020.11.158 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Muhammad Shakeel ◽

Khalid Rehman ◽

Salman Ahmad ◽

Mohsin Amin ◽

Nadeem Iqbal ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Energy Harvesting ◽

Low Temperature ◽

Thermoelectric Generator ◽

Low Cost

Download Full-text

Optimal Design and Simulation of a Cross-Plane Micro-Thermoelectric Generator

Key Engineering Materials ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/kem.503.240 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 503 ◽

pp. 240-243 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Xiao Liang Zhu ◽

De Sheng Li ◽

Ben Dong Liu ◽

Jiang Zhe

Keyword(s):

Thermoelectric Generator ◽

Low Cost ◽

Saturated Calomel Electrode ◽

Element Analysis ◽

Flexible Polymer ◽

Mems Technology ◽

In Series ◽

Micro Thermoelectric Generator ◽

P Type ◽

Releasing Process

This paper presents a new way to design a low-cost micro-thermoelectric generator (μ-TEG) which can be fabricated by using electrochemical and MEMS technology. The overall dimension of the μ-TEG is about 13mm × 13mm × 0.4mm, which contains 128 p- and n-type pairs of semiconductors connected electrically in series and thermally in parallel. The p-type antimony telluride (Sb2Te3) and n-type bismuth telluride (Bi2Te3) with an optimal thickness of 20μm were designed to deposit in a flexible polymer mold formed by photolithographic patterning of Polyimide (PI) with a three electrode configuration. Simulations of the thermocouple with PI mold were carried on, using finite element analysis. The analysis shows the possibility to achieve 3.5 mV while the difference in temperature is 10K and the thickness of the silicon substrate is 400μm, which reveals that the output power of the thermocouple without releasing process is only 4% lower than the one with the releasing process. Therefore the PI mold is not removed, considering the potential for easier fabrication and lower cost. The deposition parameters were also studied and optimized for the best thermoelectric performance. In our experiments, the n- and p-type semiconductors could be obtained when the voltage and current are around 50mV versus saturated calomel electrode (SCE) and 40 mA, respectively.

Download Full-text

Low-cost flexible thin film thermoelectric generator on zinc based thermoelectric materials

Applied Physics Letters ◽

10.1063/1.4909531 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 106 (7) ◽

pp. 073901 ◽

Cited By ~ 55

Author(s):

Ping Fan ◽

Zhuang-hao Zheng ◽

Yin-zhen Li ◽

Qing-yun Lin ◽

Jing-ting Luo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Thin Film ◽

Thermoelectric Materials ◽

Thermoelectric Generator ◽

Low Cost

Download Full-text

A Thermoelectric Energy Harvesting Scheme with Passive Cooling for Outdoor IoT Sensors

Energies ◽

10.3390/en13112782 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (11) ◽

pp. 2782 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Daniela Charris ◽

Diego Gomez ◽

Angie Rincon Ortega ◽

Mauricio Carmona ◽

Mauricio Pardo

Keyword(s):

Temperature Gradient ◽

Low Power ◽

Thermoelectric Generator ◽

Low Cost ◽

Geographic Location ◽

Metal Plate ◽

Environmental Sensors ◽

Available Energy ◽

Thermoelectric Energy Harvesting ◽

Dissipative Material

This paper presents an energetically autonomous IoT sensor powered via thermoelectric harvesting. The operation of thermal harvesting is based on maintaining a temperature gradient of at least 26.31 K between the thermoelectric-generator sides. While the hot side employs a metal plate, the cold side is attached with a phase-change material acting as an effective passive dissipative material. The desired temperature gradient allows claiming power conversion efficiencies of about 26.43%, without efficiency reductions associated with heating and soiling. This work presents the characterization of a low-cost off-the-shelf thermoelectric generator that allows estimating the production of at least 407.3 mW corresponding to 2.44 Wh of available energy considering specific operation hours—determined statistically for a given geographic location. Then, the energy production is experimentally verified with the construction of an outdoor IoT sensor powered by a passively-cooled thermoelectric generator. The prototype contains a low-power microcontroller, environmental sensors, and a low-power radio to report selected environmental variables to a central node. This work shows that the proposed supply mechanism provides sufficient energy for continuous operation even during times with no solar resource through an on-board Li-Po battery. Such a battery can be recharged once the solar radiation is available without compromising sensor operation.

Download Full-text

Low cost stove-top thermoelectric generator for regions with unreliable electricity supply

Renewable Energy ◽

10.1016/s0960-1481(02)00024-1 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 28 (2) ◽

pp. 205-222 ◽

Cited By ~ 80

Author(s):

R.Y. Nuwayhid ◽

D.M. Rowe ◽

G. Min

Keyword(s):

Thermoelectric Generator ◽

Low Cost ◽

Electricity Supply

Download Full-text

Testing of proposed design of stove-powered thermoelectric generator using natural and forced air cooling

Advances in Mechanical Engineering ◽

10.1177/1687814020987761 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 168781402098776

Author(s):

Zuzana Murčinková ◽

Marek Kosturák ◽

Jozef Ferenc

Keyword(s):

Mobile Phone ◽

Temperature Difference ◽

Thermoelectric Generator ◽

Low Cost ◽

Air Cooling ◽

Measuring Device ◽

Led Lighting ◽

Limited Access ◽

Forced Air ◽

Prototype Design

This paper presents the prototype design, implementation and testing of a thermoelectric generator unusually applied to the fireplace stoves. The tested low-cost thermoelectric generator can be used as an alternative low source of electricity in areas with limited access to public electricity networks. Moreover, inclusion of a thermoelectric generator in the fireplace stove structure is novelty and interesting accessory in offer for customer. This study focuses on testing and determining the output values of voltage and current of the initial design using the natural and forces air cooling. The results are obtained by developed measuring device for that testing. The low-cost thermoelectric generator provided the power of 1.5 W at temperature difference 94°C using forced air cooling. Thus a thermoelectric generator prototype design is suitable for powering LED lighting and fans or recharging a mobile phone battery.

Download Full-text