Thermoelectric Generator
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Efficiency
- 5-8% - []
DIY Builds
- 14 Watts hackaday - [1]
Industry Standards
- 45W for $500 - [2]. Fan cooled.
- 100W max hot side temp is 300C? - [3]
- 70W - max hot side temp is 840F? -
- 60W liquid cooled - [4] - Don't exceed 900F on hot side.
- 50W siberian from a small stove - [5]
- 100W - German - http://thermalforce.de/engl/product/module/index.php
- 200W Swedish - [6]
- 500W Firevolt
Individual Modules
Links
- Key link -Thermoelectrics offer to be competitive with other alternative sustainable energy sources - [9]
- Published report on a 150W initial design, which put out 14W in reality. -[http://www.harding.edu/olree/2009-10/senior%20design%20-%20final%20reports/thermoelectric%20generator/thermoelectric_generator_-_final_report.pdf
- Design paper on TEGs - [10]
Technical Design
- Best Resource as a Design Guide - tight packing fraction of modules appears to be a key requirement for higher power applications - [11] - as also seen in Firevolt.
- DOE design report - 500w on a 200 degree differential from car exhaust - [12]
Conclusions
- If accessible modules put out 3W (5% of 60W) and cost $2, then we have a 70 cent per watt cost in TEG modules at maximum efficiency. This translates to a practical 100W system at $70 in peltier cells, plus balance of system for heating and cooling. If a stove is used, and the cold water side is based on a simple radiator (which adds minimally to space heating) - the cost is feasible. Pump - [13] - 6W draw, but pump could probably be smaller. $20. Baseboard radiators for cool water heat rejection - $40x2. Aluminum heat sinks - that's the most expensive part - so use simple 1/8"x2"x2" square steel tubing at a dollar per pound. Should be doable at low cost of approximately $250 in parts, making this very competitive with PV prices. A 100W system can produce as much power as a 400W PV system that assumes 6 hrs of light per day. Equivalent PV cost of 65 cents per watt.