Implementation and Analysis of Electricity Generation by Thermoelectric

Abstract

This paper presents an implementation and analysis of producing electricity by thermoelectric principle. The paper describes an experimental thermoelectric prototype to investigate the electric generation. Firstly, the appropriated design of the thermoelectric unit is constructed as a laboratory prototype to measure performance of the electricity generated under the condition of on-load and no-load. All parameters are recorded such as voltage (V), current (A), and both sides temperature range (ΔT). Secondly, the power output of the prototype is analyzed. The experimental, results shows that while no-load temperature range (ΔT) from 0 – 110°C, the output voltage (V) was up to 1.17 V at 110 °C and with 2 Ω-loads the output current (I), voltage (V), and power (W) were 212.6 mA, 0.850 V and 180.71 mW respectively. For 10 thermoelectric source connected in series, while no-load and 2 Ω-loads, the output voltage (V) was at maximum of 13.57 V and minimum of 1.213 V at 110 °C. This can be seen that the voltage output from the power output is fluctuated. Therefore a proper design of buck-boost converter is necessary to stabilize the output voltage for purpose of charging battery application.