Icing Tests Research Articles

Study on icing characteristics of bundled conductor of transmission line based on shadowing effect analysis

Icing on transmission lines significantly threatens the safety and stability of power system. Particularly for bundled conductors, the shadowing effect of the upwind conductor on the downwind one affects airflow and droplet distribution, leading to unique icing characteristics. This paper employs numerical simulations and icing tests to investigate the icing shadowing effect of bundled conductors. Firstly, the distributions of airflow and droplets around the bundled conductor are solved by the Eulerian-Eulerian two-phase flow model. Then, by solving mass and thermodynamic balance equations, the icing mass and shape accreted on the bundled conductors under various icing conditions are obtained. Further, two novel parameters, the shadowing coefficient and the offset angle, are introduced to quantify the shadowing effect's impact on ice mass and shape. The findings indicate that the ice mass ratio on the downwind conductor to the upwind conductor is influenced by wind speed, wind angle, bundle spacing, conductor diameter, and droplet parameters. In most cases, the ratio is less than 1; however, under certain wind angles, this ratio exceeds 1. The shadowing effect also impacts the ice shape on the downwind conductor, inducing an additional offset in the ice shape. The magnitude of this offset angle is also correlated with environmental parameters. Finally, the accuracy of our numerical simulations is validated by the outcomes of natural icing tests.

An Investigation into Using CFD for the Estimation of Ship Specific Parameters for the SPICE Model for the Prediction of Sea Spray Icing: Part 2—The Verification of SPICE2 with a Full-Scale Test

A hybrid CFD–ML model for the prediction of sea spray icing, SPICE2, was developed in Part 1 of this study in Deshpande et al., 2024. The SPICE2 model is an extension of the ML model, SPICE, where some of the variables required for icing rate predictions: local wind speed, spray duration, spray period, and spray flux, are computed from CFD simulations. These, along with the air and water temperatures, and the salinity from the metocean data are used for the prediction of icing rates at different locations on a moving vessel. The existing full-scale icing measurements proved to be not detailed enough for the purpose of the verification of sea spray icing prediction models and the verification of the SPICE2 required distribution of sea spray icing data on the vessel surface in addition to the vessel design for simulation. A full-scale sea spray icing test was conducted in 2018 by Sundsbø et al. on a fully enclosed lifeboat equipped for the Goliat field in the Barents Sea. The 3D design of the same lifeboat, together with the corresponding metocean conditions and ship characteristics was used for the simulation of the vessel-specific parameters required for the verification of the icing rate and distribution prediction from the SPICE2 model against the measured distribution of sea spray icing rates on the lifeboat surface. The availability of the 3D model of this lifeboat, in addition to the fact that the icing measurements from this test were detailed enough to attempt a model verification served the purpose of validating the SPICE2 model. The icing rates measured on this lifeboat are used for the full-scale validation of the SPICE2 model that is proposed in Part 1 of this study. It was seen that the icing rates predicted by SPICE2 concurred with 9 of 13 selected locations on the lifeboat. The ones which did not showed very little deviation from the measurements. The icing rate and distribution prediction with SPICE2 were satisfactorily validated against full-scale icing measurements. This is a first attempt in modelling sea spray generation using CFD and further research into CFD for the estimation of spray flux is suggested.

Experimental Study on Ice Shedding Behaviors for Aero-Engine Fan Blade Icing during Ground Idle

Fan blade icing can affect efficiency and aerodynamic stability, and the shed ice may be sucked into the core of the engine, causing adverse effects or even damage to the compressor components. Ice accretion and shedding are among the key issues in engine design and tests. But they have not been clearly understood. In this work, ice shedding from rotating aero-engine fan blades during continuous icing is experimentally investigated under the relevant airworthiness requirements. The phenomena of icing and ice shedding under different ambient temperatures and engine speeds are recorded to obtain the ice-shedding time and the characteristic length of the residual ice. Force analysis is used to understand the corresponding behavior. The degree of ice-shedding balance Db is defined to explore the symmetry of ice shedding. The results show that the shedding time is significantly affected by the rotational speed, and the characteristic length will first shorten and then grow as the ambient temperature decreases. When the ice shedding is completed instantaneously, Db will show a violent shock. There is a critical ambient temperature, below which the ice accretion will worsen significantly as temperature decreases. For aero-engine fan blade icing tests during ground idle, the critical ambient temperature ranges from −5 ∘C to −9 ∘C. In order for the ice to shed faster, the engine speed has to reach a threshold. This study can shed light on the preliminary characteristics of ice shedding from rotating components and provide guidance and a data basis for the numerical simulation of fan blade icing and the design of an aero-engine.

Hyperbranched Vanillin‐Based Composite Coating: Achieve Efficient Icephobicity in High Humidity and Dynamic Environments

AbstractDespite tremendous advancements in icephobic coating technology, icephobic efficacy frequently declines or completely disappears in low temperatures, high humidity, and dynamic environments. Here, a hyperbranched vanillin‐based composite coating with efficient icephobic properties (HVIC) is prepared by combining vanillin‐based phosphazene compounds with oil‐stored SiO2 through imine bonds‐ HVIC exhibits excellent hydrophobicity, with a water sliding angle of 9°. This coating's exceptional slippery performance imparts outstanding non‐adhesive, self‐cleaning characteristics, and deicing properties (τice: 8.2 kPa). It is noteworthy that HVIC performs exceptional anti‐icing and anti‐frosting in low‐temperature and high humidity environments. Compared with superhydrophobic coatings (SHC), the icing delay time of HVIC is 9.1 times that of SHC, and the frosting time is extended by roughly 300%. Most importantly, the HVIC‐treated propeller experienced two ice‐shedding events during the 200s dynamic icing test, while SHC completely lost its icephobic performance. This excellent dynamic icephobic performance can ensure the normal operation of the equipment while reducing energy consumption. The HVIC also exhibits significant UV shielding, antibacterial, flame retardant, self‐healing, and recyclability properties. The HVIC is regarded as having significant potential for application due to its easy and scalable approach.

Effects of Caffeinated Chewing Gum on Ice Hockey Performance after Jet Lag Intervention: Double-Blind Crossover Trial.

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of caffeinated chewing gum on the physical performance of elite ice hockey players after a jet lag intervention. Fourteen national-level (age: 25.2 ± 5.4; height: 176.5 ± 5.3; weight: 78.1 ± 13.4) ice hockey players were tested late at night after a full day awake schedule with jet lag. A randomised, double-blind experimental design was employed in which participants either chewed caffeinated gum (CAF) containing 3 mg/kg caffeine or a caffeine-free placebo gum (PLA) for 10 min prior to undertaking a series of on-ice and off-ice tests. The off-ice tests included grip force, the counter-movement jump (CMJ), and the squat jump (SJ). The on-ice tests included a 35 m sprint, the S-Shape agility test, and the Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test (Yo-Yo IR1 test). The CMJ height (CAF: 47.2 ± 4.4; PL: 45.9 ± 3.5; p = 0.035; Cohen's d = 0.32) and SJ height (CAF: 46.7 ± 4.1; PL: 44.9 ± 3.8; p = 0.047; Cohen's d = 0.44) were found to be significantly higher in the CAF than in the PL trial. However, there were no significant differences (p > 0.05) in grip force, as well as in the 35 m sprint, the S-Shape agility test, and the Yo-Yo IR1 test. The present study found that, following a jet lag intervention, although the consumption of caffeinated gum resulted in an increase in vertical jump height, it had no impact on performance in the ice tests. The results of this study may help coaches and athletes consider the need for caffeine supplementation when experiencing jet lag.

Experimental analysis of ice crystal size–velocity correlation in icing wind tunnel with digital holographic particle tracking velocimetry

The ice crystal icing in aero-engines poses a significant threat to aircraft flight safety, and investigating the correlation between ice crystal size and velocity in icing wind tunnels is essential for correlating ground tests with flight conditions. In this paper, a digital holographic particle tracking velocimetry system is developed and integrated with an icing wind tunnel, and the ice crystal size and velocity are simultaneously measured in experiments at four different wind speeds. The velocity difference between the ice crystal and wind has been experimentally observed, and it increases with both the ice crystal size and wind speed. The normalized velocities of the ice crystals by the wind speeds decrease with size, and the maximum velocity difference in the experiments reaches 28% of the wind speed. Additionally, quantitative correlations between ice crystal size and normalized velocity based on the power function and polynomial model are established. The relationship between the particle Reynolds number of ice crystal and size is also analyzed, resulting in the development of a model based on the power function, and the power index ranges from 1.51 to 1.64. These findings will provide valuable assistance in the calibration and commissioning of the ice crystal simulation system in icing wind tunnels, as well as in exploring the correlation between ground icing tests and flight and in developing corresponding models.

Parametric investigation of aerodynamic performance degradation due to icing on a symmetrical airfoil

Ice accretion on lifting surfaces induces an aerodynamic penalty in lift and drag on an aircraft. This performance degradation depends on the geometric features, type, and surface characteristics of the accreted ice on the airfoil. In the present work, we propose a set of two-parameter, low-order models to represent some of the typical ice topologies: glaze, rime, and horn. The parametric space is swept for all types of ice to isolate the aerodynamic changes causing performance degradation on a canonical symmetrical airfoil, which is the representative airfoil used by the National Research Council of Canada's platform for ice accretion and coatings tests with ultrasonic readings platform for in-flight icing tests. The three ice topologies show a self-similar trend between the stall angle of attack and the ice thickness, with the horn-type of ice imparting the greatest drag and lift penalty due to strong boundary layer separation. The relative effect of ice roughness plays a secondary role in performance degradation, and in some cases, the roughness causes a thicker and more resilient boundary layer, which can, under very specific icing conditions, enhance the aerodynamic performance.

Static- vs Impact-Ice-Shear Adhesion on Metals and a Self-Lubricating Icephobic Coating

To characterize the performance of icephobic coatings for aerospace applications, various shear-based techniques have been used. Generally, these techniques are conducted in conjunction with comparison tests on metals. In this study, a review of the various approaches for measuring adhesion for static and impact ice for metal and icephobic surfaces was done. This review indicated that many details of the test conditions either varied significantly among studies or were omitted. To address this uncertainty, new measurements were taken to examine in-situ ice-shear-adhesion strength for impact and static ice with various surfaces, using a consistent icing-research-tunnel facility with well-characterized and detailed test conditions. The results for the two different metals tested revealed a significantly higher ice adhesion for static ice compared to that for impact ice. However, the tested self-lubricated icephobic coating significantly reduced ice adhesion strength for both impact and static ice and this performance was retained after multiple icing tests. Based on the methodology review and the current experimental study results, it is recommended that future ice adhesion studies fully characterize the following: the apparatuses for shear measurement, which include protocols and procedures used; the surface chemistry and roughness; the thermal conditions of the air, water, and surface; and for impact ice, the droplet conditions such as velocity and size in order to ensure repeatability within a study and comparison across studies.

An overview of icing scaling parameters for supercooled large drop icing conditions in icing wind tunnels

Aircraft icing is a serious threat to flight safety, especially the abnormal ice accumulation on the wing surface under the icing conditions of supercooled large droplets (SLD). Icing wind tunnel test is one of the main means of conducting research on aircraft icing, and the icing scaling law is the theoretical basis for selecting the similarity of characteristic parameters. In order to deeply understand the problems related to icing similarity in icing wind tunnel test under SLD icing conditions, the test capabilities on SLD icing conditions for the existing ice wind tunnel and the common similar parameter scaling methods were reviewed. The icing similarity transformation of SLD icing test was emphasized and the advantages, disadvantages, and applicability of each icing scaling law were analyzed. It can provide some references for the SLD icing wind tunnel test for large civil aircraft.

Superhydrophobic Surfaces with Excellent Ice Prevention and Drag Reduction Properties Inspired by Iridaceae Leaf.

The anti-icing and drag-reduction properties of diverse microstructured surfaces have undergone extensive study over the past decade. Nonetheless, tough environments enforce stringent demands on the composite characteristics of superhydrophobic surfaces (SHS). In this study, fresh composite structures were fabricated on a metal substrate by nanosecond laser machining technology, drawing inspiration from the hardy plant Iridaceae. The prepared sample surface mainly consists of a periodic microrhombus array and irregular nanosheets. To comprehensively investigate the effect of its special structure on surface properties, three surfaces with different sizes of rhombic structures were used for comparative analysis, and the results show that the SH-S2 sample is optimal. This can significantly delay the freezing time by an impressive 1404 s at -10 °C while revealing the sample surface anti-icing strategy. In addition, the rheological experiments determined over 300 μm of slip length for the SH-S2 sample, and the drag reduction rate of the surface reaches nearly 40%, which is well aligned with the results of the delayed icing experiments. Finally, the mechanical durability of the SH-S2 surface was investigated through scratch damage, sandpaper abrasion, reparability trials, and icing and melting cycle tests. This research presents a new approach and methodology for the application of SHS on polar ship surfaces.

Abnormalities of the Descending Inhibitory Nociceptive Pathway in Functional Motor Disorders.

Pain is a common disabling non-motor symptom affecting patients with functional motor disorders (FMD). We aimed to explore ascending and descending nociceptive pathways with laser evoked potentials (LEPs) in FMD. We studied a "bottom-up and top-down" noxious paradigm applying a conditioned pain modulation (CPM) protocol and recorded N2/P2 amplitude in 21 FMD and 20 controls following stimulation of both right arm and leg at baseline (BS) (bottom-up), during heterotopic noxious conditioning stimulation (HNCS) with ice test (top-down) and post-HNCS. We found a normal ascending pathway, but reduced CPM response (lower reduction of the N2/P2 amplitude) in FMD patients, by stimulating both upper and lower limbs. The N2/P2 amplitude ratio*100 (between the HNCS and BS) was significantly higher in patients with FMD than HC. Our results suggest that pain in FMD possibly reflects a descending pain inhibitory control impairment, therefore, providing a novel venue to explore the pathophysiology of pain in FMD. © 2024 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

A New Composite Material with Energy Storage, Electro/Photo-Thermal and Robust Super-Hydrophobic Properties for High-Efficiency Anti-Icing/De-Icing.

All weather, high-efficiency, energy-saving anti-icing/de-icing materials are of great importance for solving the problem of ice accumulation on outdoor equipment surfaces. In this study, a composite material with energy storage, active electro-/photo-thermal de-icing and passive super-hydrophobic anti-icing properties is proposed. Fluorinated epoxy resin and MWCNTs/PTFE particles are used to prepare the top multifunctional anti-icing/de-icing layer, which exhibited super-hydrophobicity with water contact angle greater than 155° and conductivity higher than 69Sm-1. The super-hydrophobic durability of the top layer is verified through tape peeling and sandpaper abrasion tests. The surface can be heated by applying on voltage or light illumination, showing efficient electro-/photo-thermal and all-day anti-icing/de-icing performance. The oleogel material at the bottom layer is capable to absorb energy during heating process and release it during cooling process by phase transition, which greatly delayed the freezing time and saved energy. The icing test of single ice droplet, electro-/photo-thermal de-icing and defrosting tests also proved the high efficiency and energy saving of the anti-icing/de-icing strategy. This study provided a new way to manufacture multi-functional materials for practical anti-icing/de-icing applications.

PERSPECTIVE: Targeted development and optimization of small-molecule ice recrystallization inhibitors (IRIs) for the cryopreservation of biological systems

Despite the routine use of cryopreservation for the storage of biological materials, its outcomes are often sub-optimal (including reduced post-thaw viability, recovery, and functionality) due to the damage caused by uncontrolled ice growth. Traditional cryoprotective agents (CPAs), including dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), fail to prevent damage caused by ice growth and concerns over CPA cytotoxicity have fostered an increased interest in developing improved CPAs and cryoprotection strategies. The inhibition of ice recrystallization by natural antifreeze (glyco)proteins [AF(G)Ps] to improve cryopreservation outcomes has been examined; however, the ice binding properties of these substances and their challenging large-scale production make them poor CPA candidates. Therefore, the development and deployment of biocompatible, small-molecule ice recrystallization inhibitors (IRIs) for use as CPAs is a worthwhile objective. Extensive structure-activity relationship studies on AF(G)Ps revealed that simple carbohydrate derivatives could inhibit ice recrystallization. It was later discovered that this activity could be fine-tuned by delicately balancing the molecule’s hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity. Current generation small-molecule IRIs have been meticulously designed to avoid binding to the surface of ice and subsequent biological testing (for both cytotoxicity and cryopreservation efficacy) has demonstrated significant improvements to the cryopreservation outcomes of several cell types. However, an individualized cell-specific approach for the simultaneous assessment of multiple cryopreservation outcomes is necessary to realize the full potential of IRIs as CPAs. This article provides a detailed overview of the development of small-molecule carbohydrate-based IRIs and highlights the crucial cell-specific biological considerations that must be taken into account when assessing cryopreservation outcomes.

Droplet supercooling in marine icing tests

Droplet supercooling in marine icing tests is studied theoretically using established correlations for convection and evaporation. The effect of freestream turbulence on heat and mass transfer is included through an empirical modification to the Nusselt and Sherwood numbers. Droplets are shown to cool following a modified exponential decay, with the trajectory length and shape determined by a thermal mixing length and a cooling exponent. The space needed for supercooling is shown to increase with (droplet diameter)1.8, and also depend on wind speed, injection speed and ambient temperature. Turbulence at realistic offshore levels shortens cooling distances by up to 50%. A reanalysis shows that previous marine icing tests have typically reached supercooling higher than 80% of cooling potential for small droplets up to 100–200 μm, and possibly up to 300–400 μm in long setups at low wind speeds if boosted by turbulence or a contracting tunnel; larger droplets have been significantly undercooled compared to field conditions.

Growth characteristics and influence analysis of insulator strings in natural icing

Icing flashover of insulator strings has always been a serious factor threatening the safety and stability of the power grid. Researchers have simulated icing based on an artificial climate chamber, but it cannot fully simulate the growth process of insulator strings during the icing period in the natural environment. The icing growth characteristics of insulator strings in the natural environment are not clear. In this paper, three kinds of porcelain insulators were tested in the Xuefeng Mountain natural icing test base of Chongqing University. The results show that the freezing rain, alternating icing of freezing rain and freezing fog can cause the insulator stings to form glaze and mixed rime, and the icing degree on the windward side is more serious than leeward side. The higher the test environment's precipitation, humidity and wind speed, the faster the insulator strings’ icing speed. And there are also some influences of the ambient temperature on the icing morphology in this test. The icing thickness on the windward side of the insulator shed will gradually increase. The number of icicles of insulators is positively correlated with the diameter of insulator sheds. The icing mass of insulator strings is seriously affected by their shed structure.

Quantifying the ice test in halitosis patients

AbstractObjectivesOdor is in the oral air when halitosis occurs orally. Because oral gases shrink when cooled, oral halitosis disappears when a piece of ice is placed in the patient's mouth. This physical phenomenon provides a basis for distinguishing oral from non‐oral halitosis but has yet to be quantified.Material and methodsThe records of 29 halitosis patients were retrospectively analyzed. Gas concentrations were measured with a portable gas detector (IBRID‐MX6) before and after cooling the mouth with 1 × 1 × 2 cm ice for 30 s. Patients were asked to rate their halitosis. Tongue temperature and oral gas concentrations were compared with paired t‐tests and one‐way ANOVA.ResultsThe tongue cooled by an average of 13.09°C with ice (from 36.0 to 22.4°C). The mean values of the concentrations of VOC, NH3, H2S, and H2 decreased proportionally with cooling: 74.10%, 77.51%, 81.26%, and 96.12%, respectively. The self‐reported halitosis score decreased from 4 to 0 (n = 29, p < 0001).ConclusionsIt can be concluded that the ice test suppresses oral gases in sufficient quantity to detect oral halitosis.

Phyllostachys Viridis-Leaf-like MLMN Surfaces Constructed by Nanosecond Laser Hybridization for Superhydrophobic Antifogging and Anti-Icing.

In nature, many species commonly evolve specific functional surfaces to withstand harsh external environments. In particular, structured wettability of surfaces has attracted tremendous interest due to its great potential in antifogging and anti-icing properties. Phyllostachys Viridis is a resistant low-temperature (-18 °C) plant with superhydrophobicity and ice resistivity behaviors. In this work, with inspiration from the representative cold-tolerant plants leaves, a unique multilevel micronano (MLMN) surface was fabricated on copper substrate by ultrafast laser process, which exhibited superior superhydrophobic characteristics with the water contact angle > 165° and rolling angle< 2°. In the dynamic wettability experiment, the rebound efficiency of the droplet on the MLMN surface reached 20.6%, and the contact time was only 10.6 ms. In the condensation experiment, the nucleation, growth, merging, and bouncing of fog drops on the surface was distinctly observed, indicating that rational texture structures can improve the antifogging performance of the surface. In the anti-icing experiment, the freezing time was delayed to 921 s at -10 °C, and the freezing time of salt water reached a staggering 1214 s. Moreover, the mechanical durability of MLMN surfaces was confirmed by scratch damage, sandpaper abrasion, and icing and melting cycle tests, and their repairability was evaluated for product applications in practice. Finally, the underlying antifogging/anti-icing strategy of the MLMN surface was also revealed. We anticipate that the investigations offer a promising way to handily design and fabricate multiscale hierarchical structures with reliable antifogging and anti-icing performance, especially in saltwater-related applications.

Fabrication of Superhydrophobic Coatings by Using Spraying and Analysis of Their Anti-Icing Properties

Ice accumulation on glass insulators is likely to cause faults such as flashover, tripping and power failure, which interfere with the normal operation of the power grid. Accordingly, superhydrophobic coatings with great anti-icing potential have received much attention. In this study, three superhydrophobic coatings (PTFE, Al2O3 and SiO2) were successfully prepared on glass surfaces by using one-step spraying. The microscopic morphology, wettability, anti-icing and anti-glaze icing properties of the superhydrophobic coatings were comparatively analyzed. The results indicated that the PTFE coating had a densely distributed rough structure, showing a contact angle of 165.5° and a sliding angle of 3.1°. The water droplets on the surface could rebound five times. Compared with the Al2O3 and SiO2 coatings, the anti-icing performance of the PTFE coating was significantly improved. The freezing time was far more than 16 times that of glass (4898.7 s), and the ice adhesion strength was 9 times lower than that of glass (27.5 kPa). The glaze icing test in the artificial climate chamber showed that the icing weight of the PTFE coating was 1.38 g, which was about 32% lower than that of the glass. In addition, the icing/melting and abrasion cycles destroyed the low-surface-energy substances and nanostructures on the surface, leading to the degradation of the anti-icing durability of the PTFE coatings. However, the PTFE coating still maintained excellent hydrophobicity and anti-icing properties after UV irradiation for up to 624 h. The superhydrophobic coatings prepared in this work have promising development prospects and offer experimental guidance for the application of anti-icing coatings on glass insulators.

Gut microbiota dysbiosis alters chronic pain behaviors in a humanized transgenic mouse model of sickle cell disease.

Pain is the most common symptom experienced by patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) throughout their lives and is the main cause of hospitalization. Despite the progress that has been made towards understanding the disease pathophysiology, major gaps remain in the knowledge of SCD pain, the transition to chronic pain, and effective pain management. Recent evidence has demonstrated a vital role of gut microbiota in pathophysiological features of SCD. However, the role of gut microbiota in SCD pain is yet to be explored. We sought to evaluate the compositional differences in the gut microbiota of transgenic mice with SCD and nonsickle control mice and investigate the role of gut microbiota in SCD pain by using antibiotic-mediated gut microbiota depletion and fecal material transplantation (FMT). The antibiotic-mediated gut microbiota depletion did not affect evoked pain but significantly attenuated ongoing spontaneous pain in mice with SCD. Fecal material transplantation from mice with SCD to wild-type mice resulted in tactile allodynia (0.95 ± 0.17 g vs 0.08 ± 0.02 g, von Frey test, P < 0.001), heat hyperalgesia (15.10 ± 0.79 seconds vs 8.68 ± 1.17 seconds, radiant heat, P < 0.01), cold allodynia (2.75 ± 0.26 seconds vs 1.68 ± 0.08 seconds, dry ice test, P < 0.01), and anxiety-like behaviors (Elevated Plus Maze Test, Open Field Test). On the contrary, reshaping gut microbiota of mice with SCD with FMT from WT mice resulted in reduced tactile allodynia (0.05 ± 0.01 g vs 0.25 ± 0.03 g, P < 0.001), heat hyperalgesia (5.89 ± 0.67 seconds vs 12.25 ± 0.76 seconds, P < 0.001), and anxiety-like behaviors. These findings provide insights into the relationship between gut microbiota dysbiosis and pain in SCD, highlighting the importance of gut microbial communities that may serve as potential targets for novel pain interventions.

A novel experimental design for free energy from the heat-gaining panel using multi-thermoelectric generators (TEGs) panel

Thermoelectric generators (TEGs) panel is used to produce electrical energy by converting thermal energy into electrical energy depending on the temperature differences (ΔT) between the two sides of the panel, which can generate electrical power over 24 h for different climate conditions (hot, cold, wet or dry). The TEGs panel was designed using Solidworks and the prototype of the TEGs panel was carried out in this study for practical testing and evaluation. The TEGs panel performances and the limitation, including parameters such as power generation, efficiency, response time was studied. In this study, the TEGs panel was exposed to sunlight and cubic ice to consider temperature variations throughout the day. The results showed that the TEGs panel generates electric powers of 8.04437 W and 80.40171 W during the cubic ice and sunlight tests, respectively, for temperature differences (ΔT) of 18 °C and 3.3 °C. The electric power from this test can be used to charge a small mobile phone. It was indicated that the theoretical results by the MATLAB program are closely resemble the laboratory results. Furthermore, the correction ratio for the power of MATLAB validation was 6.59%, while the correction ratio for the efficiency was 5.46%. The response time of the system was ranged from 2 to 6 min, which it is indicating the time needed for the TEGs panel to respond effectively to changes in temperatures. After incorporating the correction ratios from MATLAB simulation, the results showed that the maximum electric power and a maximum efficiency (η) are 57.44 W and 13.5%, respectively, when the temperatures difference (ΔT) reaches 70 °C. This study presents a prototype of a versatile power generator (TEGs panel) offers free energy which can be utilising in insulation of building walls and power generation at the same time.