Output voltage characteristic of heat pipe sink thermoelectric generator with exhaust heat utilization of motorcycles

Abstract

Nowadays the great challenge to energy engineers is how to develop new and renewable energy sources to reduce the use of fossil fuels. In this direction, the research focuses on the recycle of wasted heat energy on a motorcycle exhaust gas into electrical energy using the concept of seed back. Recycle energy using this concept on a motorcycle is done because the bike has the energy efficiency of ± 35 – 40 % while the rest were dumped unceremoniously in the form of heat energy that is issued through the exhaust. This research aims to know the characteristics of the output voltage heat pipe sink thermoelectric generator utilizing waste heat of the motorcycle. This research has been done on the measurement of the output voltage is generated by the thermoelectric module series TECI-12706B type SP1848-27145 SA as a heat pipe sink thermoelectric generator to produce electrical energy. This research was conducted to know the output voltage from 4 thermoelectric modules arranged in series or parallel. furthermore this thermoelectric generator will be the main energy source for SSUPER-BT devices. Stages of the research done by performing laboratory and road testing. In laboratory testing, simulation of thermoelectric generator made using aluminium rods contain Heater. two sides of the aluminium coupled to thermoelectric modules, heat pipe and CPU fan. in each experiment, the thermoelectric modules strung together in series or in parallel. The results showed on the TEGs with 4 thermoelectric modules in series were able to produce higher output voltage and current compared to TEGs with 2 thermoelectric modules with output voltage reaching 15.7 volts and 7.7 volts respectively. The TEGs circuit with 4 thermoelectric modules produces 72.6% greater power than TEGs with 2 thermoelectric modules.