Development and testing of a domestic woodstove thermoelectric generator with natural convection cooling

Abstract

A thermoelectric generator was fitted to the side of a domestic woodstove. The generator was driven using one or more thermoelectric modules designed to give significant power at a reasonable cost. The thermoelectric generator was air cooled by natural convection using a commercially available heat sink. Testing was undertaken under a controlled woodstove firing rate and temperatures, and open circuit voltages were monitored over extended periods. The maximum steady state matched load power was 4.2 W using a single module. The use of multiple modules with a single heat sink was found to reduce the total power output relative to the single module case as a result of reduced hot to cold surface temperature differences.