Abstract

Nowadays the world has experiencing global warming due to excessive

energy release into atmospheres. Today, a lot of research being conducted
on ways to recover or reused the energy losses. An experimental
investigation has been carried out to identify the most suitable cooling
system techniques to achieve a stable and sustainable power output. Four
types of Thermoelectric Module (TEM) was fitted and tested on different
cooling system techniques. Testing was conducted using a candle flame as
a heat source to produce a suitable temperature with the maximum
temperature of 200°C. An electronic circuit is used to provide a constant
and sufficient power. The use of suitable cooling system and Thermo
Electric Module (TEM) was found by investigating the module parameters
such as the temperature different of hot to cold side, number of thermo
elements and internal resistance. This research contributes an important
role in saving energy and reducing the dependency to primary energy
sources (AC power or battery).

Introduction
It is essential for future generations to reduce the quantity of global energy
consumed, and this can only be achieved through technological
development and use of diversified renewable energy sources i.e. solar,
wind, hydropower, in addition to the energy sources currently used. Among
these different energy sources, thermoelectricity is currently emerging as a
common and promising alternative energy source for the future. Their use
is becoming of more interest, as they offer the advantages of recycling
waste energy. This means transforming the heat from industry, or road
transport into electricity, thus increasing system efficiency and decreasing
operating costs and environmental pollution. Since the discovery of
thermoelectricity (TE) in 1821 by Seebeck, researchers have been trying to
understand and control this phenomenon. Peltier did exactly this in 1834 by
discovering the opposite effect and Lord Calvin in 1851 formulated the laws
that link these two phenomena. In the following century, in 1909, Edmund
Altenkirch correctly calculated, for the first time, the energy efficiency of a
thermoelectric generator now known as figure of merit.
Thermoelectric Electric Modules
A typical TEG module consists of between ten and a hundred
thermoelectric elements of type n and type p, electrically connected in
series and thermally in parallel, and interposed between two ceramic
layers, as shown in below Figure. The p-n pairs are joined by conductive
tabs connected to the elements via a low melting point solder (PbSn or
BiSn). When a temperature gradient occurs between its two junctions, the
TEG converts thermal energy into electrical energy according to the
principle of the Seebeck effect. This flat bulk architecture is the most widely
used and marketed. The critical challenge in the development of TEGs is
the degradation of original properties brought on by thermal fatigue, which
is in turn caused by thermal expansion and thermal shock. This
degradation can be brutal or progressive and result in a decrease in service
life and efficiency. In fact, during normal operation of TE devices, the
shunts are periodically heated and cooled and undergo thermal expansion.
The TE materials connected to these shunts can experience different
effects in expansion from temperature sources, which cause increased
stress at the interface between them. These stresses are generally the
main cause of mechanism failure and consequently the principal reason
why TE materials are not sintered and integrated into shunts.

Thermoelectric Generator
The thermoelectric generator is a device, where electric energy is produced
directly from heat energy. They are also called Seebeck generators since
they used the Seebeck effect to produce power. In conventional power
plants, like thermal power plants, nuclear power plants, fuel is used to heat
the water. Generally, coal is burnt in that process. After the water starts
boiling, and converted into steam, at high pressure, this steam is used to
rotate the turbine and hence mechanical energy is converted into electric
energy by Fleming’s law of electromagnetic induction. In this process, there
is two-stage energy conversion, first heat energy is converted into
mechanical energy and then mechanical energy is converted to electric
energy. Because of this two-stage process, the efficiency of the overall
system goes down. If we can directly convert heat energy to electrical
energy, efficiency will be more. In the thermoelectric generator, heat energy
is directly converted to electric energy, which has high economic benefits.
Thermoelectric generators fundamentally use the thermoelectric principle of
operation, which is based on the temperature gradient.
Thermoelectric Generator Construction
Constructional, it is made of up semiconductor materials to create the
temperature gradient. The semiconductor materials used to form
a thermocouple, which creates the temperature gradient and a potential
difference is created. For this semiconductor device, both p-type and n-type
materials are used. Metal alloys are formed using this semiconductor
device. Metal alloys like Bi2Te3, Sb2Te3 are used to create the
semiconductor path for the flow of charges.

Working Principal
The thermoelectric generator working principle is, it works on the concept
of thermoelectric effect or Seebeck effect. As per this effect, when a
temperature gradient is produced between two ends, the electrons start
flowing from one end to another end and create a potential difference. For
the creation of the temperature gradient, thermocouple devices have to be
used. Thermocouple devices are fundamentally semiconductor device
which has high electrical conductivity and low thermal conductivity. For this,
the properties of semiconductor devices are used.

They have generally four valence electrons in the outermost orbit. So they
can be either p-type or n-type. In an n-type semiconductor, the majority of
charge carriers are the electrons. They are also called donors. In p-type
semiconductors, the majority of charge carriers are the holes. Holes are
also called the absence of electrons. The p-type material is also called as
acceptors. So when a p-type and n-type material are connected in a proper
manner, and a temperature gradient is created, then it forms a potential
difference across two points. Due to which the electrons start flowing from
one end to another. This creates a thermoelectric generator. The
thermoelectric generator temperature difference is created by this principle.
Different Types of Generator
The classification of thermoelectric generators depends on the method by
which input heat is produced. Different types of thermoelectric
generators are:

Fossil Fuel Generators:

 In this type, the heat is generated by burning fossil fuels, the fossil fuels
used for this purpose are natural gas, propane, butane, etc. Its range is
from 10W to 100 W.

Solar Source Generators:

In this type, the heat is produced using solar energy.

Nuclear Fuelled Generators:

In this type, nuclear energy is used to input the heat. Its power rating is
high as compared to other generators. It may go 1000 W.
Advantages & Disadvantages
The advantages of thermoelectric generators include the following:

 Economically friendly
 Recycles waste heat
 A reliable source of energy
 Lower production cost
The disadvantages of thermoelectric generators include the following:
 Low efficiency
 Limited applications
 Requires a constant source of heat
 Energy cannot be stored

Instrument used:-
 Plywood
 aluminum plate
 peltier module
 thermal paste
 candle
 dc motor
 steel or aluminum bowl
 Screws or nails
 Hammer\
 Ice cube or cold water
 Fan

Application
The applications of thermoelectric generators include the following:

 Electronics
 Space applications
 Renewable energy sources
 Gas pipelines
 Radio communication
Bibliography
 wikipedia.com
 Google search engine
 KNOWLEDGECYCLE.IN
 www.YOUTUBE.COM
 https://www.watelectrical.com