Design and testing of a locally made loop-type thermosyphonic heat sink for stove-top thermoelectric generators

Abstract

The performance of a thermoelectric generator, among other aspects, depends on the use of an effective heat sink. While forced cooling using either air or water (or other coolants) is efficient, it is parasitic on the generated power and/or bulky and inconvenient. Heat pipes are known to be highly effective heat transport devices. Coupled to a thermoelectric generator, these can be used to give acceptable power output. Basing the cooling on water gives low-cost, simplicity, safety, together with good performance. In this work, the design and general performance of a small single-module thermoelectric generator configured for a stovetop waste-heat application and coupled to a locally-made thermosyphonic loop-type heat sink was undertaken. Development and performance cctesting gave mixed results and further numerical and experimental study is under way.