Materials and Methods

This section provides the specific procedures and techniques used to assemble

the parts and tools needed for this research. It includes the process and system made by

the researcher in achieving the desired outcome of product. The electricity is produced

using well established technology in a process involving thermal energy.

Materials

The materials used in the experiment are 2 Heatsinks, System fan, TEG module,

DC - DC converter, Thermal Conductive Paste, USB port/USB charging module, Battery

and Battery place holder. An organized and clean workplace is needed to avoid any

hazards that increases the risk of accident. Parts are assembled using several electronic

equipment.

Procedure

Assembly of parts

 Identify which is the cold and hot side of the TEG module.

 Attach the first heat sink to the hot side of the TEG Module using thermal

conductive paste which increase the heat transfer.

 The second heat sink, assisted by a fan, were attached to the opposite side also

with a thermal conductive paste, keeping the other side of the module ventilated

and create a heat differential.

  The varying current and voltage produced are converted to a stable voltage and

then stored in batteries.

 Connect the DC-DC converter to the TEG module.

 Connect all the parts for the battery holder.

 Connect the battery holder to the appropriate connections on the battery charger

board this includes USB port/charging module and system fan.

 In the last step, solder the battery charger to the output of the DC-DC converter.

Preparation of container

 For the upper part, the material used is copper for effective direct heat conductivity.

It is malleable, ductile, and an excellent conductor of heat and electricity.

 Then wood for the lower part and insulator for heat and electricity.

 The container follow the model shape and pattern for the holder of parts. The

measurement of the container is presented below.

Instrument

The product undergoes different evaluations to test its feasibility. A Voltmeter is

used to know the capability of the product to charge a mobile phone. To achieve a full

state of charging a Lithium-Ion Battery of Mobile phones, 4.2V is the least standard supply
of voltage. The time span of attaining a fully-charged mobile battery from the product and

a normal charger is also compared.

Technical Information and Working Principle

The Thermo-Electric Generator (TEG module) or also known as Poltier module

converts waste heat directly into electrical energy using the Seebeck effect. This

phenomenon was discovered by Thomas Johann Seebeck in the 1800s. The Seebeck

effect is a phenomenon in which a temperature difference between two dissimilar

electrical conductors or semiconductors produces a voltage difference between the two

substances. When heat is applied to one of the two conductors or semiconductors, heated

electrons flow toward the cooler one. If the pair is connected through an electrical circuit,

direct current (DC) flows through that circuit. The voltages produced by Seebeck effect

are small, usually only a few microvolts (millionths of a volt) per kelvin of temperature

difference at the junction. If the temperature difference is large enough, some Seebeck-

effect devices can produce a few millivolts (thousandths of a volt). The Seebeck effect is

responsible for the behavior of thermocouples, which are used to approximately measure

temperature differences or to actuate electronic switches that can turn large systems on

and off. This capability is employed in thermoelectric cooling technology. Commonly used

thermocouple metal combinations include constantan/copper, constantan/iron,

constantan/chromel and constantan/alumel. One side of the TEG module is exposed to

waste heat whilst the other side is cooled creating a temperature difference. Heat

energizes the semiconductors which in their turn create a positive and negative electron

flow (respectively P- and N- channel).