Electric power generation with magnifying

lens using thermo electric generator

 Manojkumar.p
Department of Mechanical engineering
SNS College of engineering
Coimbatore -641107
Email:manojponnusamy96@gmail.com
Abstract—the consumption of electricity gets increasing day
by day with increase in need. Satisfying the people is a major
issue in this current scenario. Our government is doing various
projects to overcome shortage of electricity to resolve this
Problem. We have designed a project, based on generation of
electricity using “Thermo electric generator (TEG) with Fresnel
lens arrangement”. It is designed in the manner that the whole
setup consists of Fresnel lens and it is placed to focus thermo
electric generator (TEG) up to full rotation(360 degree).This
setup provides 12 hours of power supply. When sunray falls over
the Fresnel lens rays, they are collimated and projected to the
thermo electric generator and intense beam produces heat over
the TEG hot end, the cold end is fixed with heat sink to produce
Electromotive Force. The produced emf will be in the form of
variable DC source .Variable DC source can be converted into
constant DC source by using DC charge controller. The DC
supply source will be converted into AC by using inverter .This is
very compact and efficient on comparing to the solar.
Keywords— Thermo electric generator (TEG), Electromotive
Force (EMF), Fresnel lens, Heat Sink
Introduction
The term "alternative energy" (also: renewable energy)
encompasses a variety of power generation sources. Generally,
it refers to electrical power derived from "renewable"
resources such as solar or wind energy, as opposed to "single-
use" resources such as coal or uranium. The most common
forms of alternative energy available for homeowner use today
are solar power, wind power and "micro-hydro" power.
The benefits of using renewable energy sources are
considerable. From an environmental standpoint, solar, wind
and water power are all non-emission power sources. Unlike
coal combustion power plants, no harmful exhaust is produced
when using alternative energy generators. There is also no
worry about toxic or radioactive waste products, as there is
with nuclear power. In addition to the lack of emissions and
waste products, no valuable resources are "used up" with
renewable resource power generation. If every home on earth
were powered with an alternative energy system , it would
never cause a shortage of wind, water or sunlight In recent
years, an increasing concern of environmental issues of
emissions, in particular global warming and the limitations of
Pravin.K
Department of Mechanical engineering
SNS College of engineering
Coimbatore 641107
Email: Pravinkrishnasamy96@gmail.com
Energy resources have resulted in extensive research into
novel technologies of generating electrical power. Electrical
energy has become more important for modern day living
Nowadays, due to the frequent power cut, the electrical power
in remote areas is generated primarily by gasoline motor-
generators. But, most people believe these generators are too
noisy, require too much maintenance, and have high fuel costs.
Thermoelectric power generators have emerged as a promising
alternative green technology due to their distinct advantages.
Thermoelectric power generation offer a potential application
in the direct conversion of waste-heat energy into electrical
power where it is unnecessary to consider the cost of the
thermal energy input. The application of this alternative green
technology in converting waste-heat energy directly into
electrical power can also improve the overall efficiencies of
energy conversion systems. Renewable energy, such as solar
energy, wind energy, hydropower is preferred. But it has
limited use and is dependent on weather and topography. As
an alternate resource of energy, Thermo Electric Generators
can be used for waste heat conversion applications. TEGs are
solid-state devices that directly convert heat energy into
Electrical energy.
I. ELECTRICITY SCENARIOS IN WORLD
In all scenarios, increasing efficiency will result in less
electricity needed for a given demand of power and light. But
demand will increase strongly on account of growing
economy in developing countries and Electrification of
transport and heating. Combustion engines are replaced by
electric drive and for heating less gas and oil, but more
electricity is used, if possible with heat pumps. As transport
and heating become more climate-friendly, the
environmental effect of energy consumption will be more
determined by electricity. This is mainly supplied by burning
fossil fuel which disturbs the natural carbon cycle. The
scenarios arrive at very different results for the environment.
The International Energy Agency expects revision of subsidy
for fossil fuel which amounted to 550 billion dollar in 2013,
more than four times renewable energy subsidy. In this
scenario most half of the increase in 2040 of electricity
consumption is covered by more than 80% growth of
renewable energy. Many new nuclear plants will be
Constructed, mainly to replace old ones. The nuclear part of B. Magnifying lens
electricity generation will not increase much, from 11 to 12%.
The renewable part goes up much, from 21 to 33%. That is not
enough. The IEA warns that in order to restrict global
warming to 2ºC, the carbon dioxide emission must not exceed
1000 gigaton (Gt) from 2014. This limit is reached in 2040
and emission will not drop to zero then.
The World Energy Council sees world electricity consumption
increasing to more than 40,000 TWh/a in 2040. The fossil part
of generation depends on energy policy. It can stay around
70% in the so-called Jazz scenario where countries rather
independently "improvise" but it can also decrease to around Magnifying lens is used to collimate sunlight and magnify
40% in the Symphony scenario if countries work the object magnifying lens has higher focal length when
"orchestrated" for more climate friendly policy. Carbon compared to other conventional Lens. A burning
dioxide emission, 32 Gt/a in 2012, will increase to 46 Gt/a in glass or burning lens is a large convex lens that can
Jazz but decrease to 26 Gt/a in Symphony. Accordingly, until concentrate the sun's rays onto a small area, heating up the
2040 the renewable part of generation will stay at about 20% area and thus resulting in ignition of the exposed
in Jazz but increase to about 45% in Symphony. Surface. Burning mirrors achieve a similar effect by using
II .DESCRIPTION OF PARTS reflecting surfaces to focus the light. A burning glass is a
large convex lens that can concentrate the sun's rays onto a
A. Thermo Electric Generator small area, heating up the area and thus resulting in ignition of
A Thermoelectric generator, or TEG is a solid state device that the exposed surface. Burning mirrors achieve a similar effect
converts heat directly into electrical energy through a by using reflecting surfaces to focus light. The magnification
phenomenon called the Seebeck effect .Thermoelectric of a magnifying glass depends upon where it is placed
generators function like heat engines, but are less bulky and between the user's eye and the object being viewed, and the
have no moving parts. However, TEGs are typically more total distance between them. The magnifying power is
expensive and less efficient. equivalent to angular magnification the magnifying power is
the ratio of the sizes of the images formed on the user's retina
Thermoelectric generators could be used in power plants with and without the lens. Magnifiers are typically
in order to convert waste heat into additional electrical characterized using a "standard" value of 0.25 m. The
power and in automobiles as automotive thermoelectric magnification of a magnifying glass depends upon where it is
generators to Increase fuel efficiency. Another application placed between the user's eye and the object being viewed, and
is radioisotope thermoelectric generators which are used in the total distance between them.
space probes, which has the same mechanism but use
radioisotopes to generate the required heat difference. A
thermoelectric module is a circuit containing thermoelectric C. DC charge controller
materials that generate electricity from heat directly.
A thermoelectric module consists of two dissimilar
thermoelectric materials joining in their ends: an N-type and a
P-type semiconductors. A direct electric current will flow in
the circuit when there is a temperature difference between the
two materials. Generally, the current magnitude has a
proportional relationship with the temperature difference. The
power rating of the thermo electric generator is 12VDefine
abbreviations and acronyms the first time they are used in the
text, even after they have been defined in the abstract.
Abbreviations such as IEEE, SI, MKS, CGS, sc, dc, and rms
do not have to be defined. Do not use abbreviations in the title
or heads unless they are unavoidable. A charge controller limits the rate at which electric current is
added to or drawn from electric batteries. It prevents
overcharging and may protect against overvoltage, which can
reduce battery performance or lifespan, and may pose a safety
risk. It may also prevent completely draining a battery, or
perform controlled discharges, depending on the battery
technology, to protect battery life. The terms "charge
controller" may refer to either a stand-alone device, or to
control circuitry integrated within a battery pack, battery-
powered device, or battery charger. DC charge controller is
used to convert variable Dc voltage into constant DC voltage
and it has a rating of 10 -12V.
D. DC to AC inverter
A power inverter, or inverter, is an electronic device or
circuitry that changes direct current (DC) to alternating current
(AC).The input voltage, output voltage and frequency, and
overall power handling depend on the design of the specific
device or circuitry. The inverter does not produce any power;
the power is provided by the DC source. DC to AC inverter is
used to convert DC voltage into AC voltage .with rating of
12V 600VA .A solar inverter is a balance of system (BOS)
component of a photovoltaic system and can be used for both,
grid-connected and off-grid systems. Solar inverters have
special functions adapted for use with photovoltaic arrays,
including maximum power point tracking and anti-islanding
protection. Solar micro-inverters differ from conventional
converters, as an individual micro-converter is attached to
each solar panel. This can improve the overall efficiency of
the system. The output from several micro inverters is then
combined and often fed to the electrical grid.
E. Heat sink
A heat sink is a passive heat exchanger that transfers the heat
generated by an electronic or a mechanical device into a
coolant fluid in motion. A heat sink transfers thermal energy
from a higher temperature device to a lower temperature fluid
medium. The fluid medium is frequently air, but can also be
water, refrigerants or oil. If the fluid medium is
water, the heat sink is Frequently called a cold plate.
In thermodynamics a heat sink is a heat reservoir that can
Absorb an arbitrary amount of heat without significantly
changing temperature. Practical heat sinks for electronic
devices must have a temperature higher than the surroundings
to transfer heat by convection, radiation, and conduction. The
power supplies of electronics are not 100% efficient, so extra
heat is produced that may be detrimental to the function of the
device. Heat sink is used to dissipate heat from the object in
order to protect the damage of material from heat. Heat sink is
made of aluminum.
F. Sheet metal
Sheet metal is used to concentrate the heat to the
thermoelectric generator. It absorbs the heat generated by the
lens and it transfers the uniform amount of heat to the entire
surface. so helps in generating more power in this setup.
III – FABRICATION PROCEDURE
Our setup consists of three Magnifying lens.
The magnifying lens is placed in the manner to focus the
sunlight at a particular point over the sheet metal.
The magnifying lens is placed by means of a thermocol.
For mounting the lens, three mounting positions are carried
out. They are as Follows:
First lens is placed at an angle of 150˚ obtuse angle to focus
the sunlight between the timings of 7AM to 11.45PM at a
certain distance height.
Second lens is placed at an angle of0˚degree straight angle to
focus the sunlight between the timings 11.45AM to 2PM.
Third lens is placed at an angle of 30 ˚acute angle to focus the
sunlight between the timings 2.00PMto 5.30PM.
In addition to that the sheet metal of dimension 460× 156 mm
is placed to absorb the heat from the magnifying lens.
The Thermoelectric generator is placed at the bottom of the
sheet metal to produce more heat and this position acts as hot
end and other end remains as cold one as it was connected to
heat sink.
Polarity wires are connected to the DC charge controller and
thermoelectric generator.
Thus the power produced by the peltier plate is measured by
the multimeter.
In the above diagram the sheet metal is placed with the
dimension of460× 156 mm for the uniform distribution of
heat.
Below the sheet metal the thermo electric generator is placed
,the hot side remains over the sheet metal and cold side of the
thermo electric generator is connected to heat sink to produce
temperature difference .
Then the produced DC voltage is connected in series with DC
charge controller to produce the constant DC voltage.
Thus produced DC voltage is used to produce the power in
two wheeler head lights. full project with DC to AC inverter enhancement

IV –WORKING PRINCIPLE
Fabrication Of Thermo Electric Generator With Sheet Working flow chart
Metal
When sunray falls over the Magnifying lens rays, they are
collimated and projected to the thermo electric generator
through sheet metal. The sheet metal distributes the heat in an
uniform way and so intense beam produces the heat over the
TEG hot end, the cold end is fixed with heat sink to produce
Electromotive Force. The difference in temperature between
the both the positively charged and negatively charged ions
produces the electric power.

V-OBSERVED RESULT

TIME RESULT
focusing magnifying lens with sheet metal 1.30 0.78 V

1.35 0.80 V

1.40 0.90 V

1.45 1.02 V

1.50 1.4 V
 observed result
design setup with constant dc voltage controller
 VI-DESIGN CALCULATION
Sheet metal VII- REFERENCES
Length =460mm
Width=156mm I. Peltier (1834)."Nouvellesexpériencessur la caloricité des
courants électrique (New experiments on the heat effects of
Thickness=0.5mm
electric currents)".Annales de Chimieet de Physique, 56:
Thermocol
Base length of the apparatus setup 371–386
II. Abhandlungen der KöniglichenAkademie der Wissenschaftenzu
=990mm Width=495mm Berlin(Treatises of the Royal Academy of Sciences in Berlin).
Thickness=1 inch pp. 265–373. ErzedurchTemperatur-Differenz (Magnetic
Lens polarization of metals and minerals by temperature
differences)".Seebeck, T. J. (1825). "MagnetischePolarisation der
Dimensions of lens
Metalle.
holder: III. David Brewster."World of Invention, 2nd ed. Gale Group,
Inner dimension 1999.Reproduced in Biography Resource Center. Farmington
Width=190mm Hills, Mich.: Thomson Gale. 2005.
IV. Smithsonian.August 1999 v30 i5 p30.produced in Biography
Length=250mm Outer
Resource Center. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Thomson Gale.
dimension 2005.^Watson, Bruce. "Science Makes a Better Lighthouse Lens."
Width=288mm
Length=354mm

Centre point of the lens from the thermocol

base: Right side lens: 280mm
Middle side lens: 335mm
Left side lens: 283mm
Angle inclination of magnifying lens: Right
side lens: 150˚ Inclined obtuse angle
Middle side lens: 0˚ Straight angle
Sunset: 6.37 PM at Kurumbapalayam

Weather and humidity on

22Apr2016
Weather: Clear sky
Humidity: 55%
Pressure: 0.8975 atm
Sun rise: 6.07 AM at Kurumbapalayam