Final year presentation of fourth year research
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This document describes the design and development of a low-cost thermoelectric generator module that converts waste heat into electricity. The module uses the Seebeck effect to induce electricity from a temperature difference between aluminum and graphite strips. Several iterations were tested with improvements like clearer contact points between materials, more couples per slide to produce more power, and variations in strip widths and heights. Testing in an oil bath showed increased voltage output with greater temperature differences applied across the couples. The results demonstrate this simple module's potential as an efficient, renewable energy source from normally wasted heat.
Final year presentation of fourth year research
- 1. Aluminum – Graphite Thermo-electric module Charith S Suriyakula AS/07/08/077 Index # 2001
- 2. Objective • To design and develop a low-cost and low-tech thermo-electric generator module.
- 3. The problem… • Fossil fuel is a limited resource of Earth. Fossil fuels are non- renewable and is a finite resource. • To meet the power demand of the world, people have to discover renewable energy sources. • This is a solution for the expensive and environmentally damaging fossil fuels.
- 4. Renewable energy sources • Main source is sunlight. Also known as Solar energy o Can directly use to light, heat homes and other buildings. o Can be used to generate electricity o Hot water heating • Wind energy is captured by wind turbines to generate electricity • Hydro power is used to rotate turbines and generate electricity
- 5. Waste Heat • In many cases, the efficiency of a process is limited due to the energy loss as heat. • We have to design the process to minimize the heat loss or to make use of the heat loss. • Mechanical engines, computers generate heat which is wasted to air. • The challenge is to convert the waste heat into a applicable energy form
- 6. Heat Electricity ? • Seebeck effect is the phenomenon of inducing electricity from heat • It was first discovered by Thomas Seebeck in 1821 • Modern technology use semiconductor materials to design TEG devices • TEGs are reliable efficient source of electricity
- 7. Objective • To design and develop a low-cost and low-tech thermo-electric generator module. Glass slides Copper wires plastic wood aluminum adhesives paper
- 8. Basic design
- 10. Improvements • The following cases were considered when designing the TEG module o Heat conductivity from “hot” junction to “cold” junction needs to be minimized. o The temperature difference between “hot” and “cold” junctions needs to be maximized to induce higher energy from the module o The contact points of two materials needs to be clearly specified. o More couples = more power
- 11. • More couples in a single glass slide. • Still the contact points were not clearly visible.
- 12. • The aluminum and graphite strips are connected using “L” shaped contact area.
- 15. Results
- 18. Discussion 0.00 0.10 0.20 0.30 0.40 0.50 0.60 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 percouplevoltage(µV) temperature difference (0C) Graph of ‘per couple voltage’ vs. ‘temperature difference when heated using an oil bath (Cell 5 vs. Cell 13) Cell 5 Cell 13 Expon. (Cell 5) Expon. (Cell 13) Strip width comparison
- 19. 0.00 0.50 1.00 1.50 2.00 2.50 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 percouplevoltage(µV) temperature difference (0C) Graph of ‘per couple voltage’ vs. ‘temperature difference when heated using an oil bath (Cell 01 vs. Cell 07) Cell 01 Cell 07 Expon. (Cell 01) Expon. (Cell 07) Strip height comparison