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THERMO ELECTRIC ENERGY
BASED PROCESSES
1000024694, WORKING, APPLICATION,…
INTRODUCTION
Thermoelectric energy conversion is the process of directly converting heat into electricity using thermoelectric materials. This phenomenon is based on the Seebeck effect, Peltier effect, and Thomson effect, which describe how temperature differences can generate electrical power or how electrical currents can create heating or cooling effects
PRINCIPLE
Seebeck Effect :
• When two different conductive materials are joined at two junctions and a temperature difference exists between them, an electric voltage is generated.
• This phenomenon is used in thermoelectric generators (TEGs), where heat energy from a source (e.g., waste heat, solar heat) is converted into electrical power.
Peltier Effect :
• When an electric current passes through a thermoelectric material composed of two dissimilar conductors, heat is absorbed at one junction and released at the other.
• This principle is used in thermoelectric coolers (TECs), which provide solid-state cooling for applications like refrigeration, electronics cooling, and temperature control.
Thermoelectric Power
Generation (TEGs)
APPLICATION
- Waste heat recovery in industries and automobiles.
- Power generation in remote areas using solar heat.
- Space missions (e.g., radioisotope thermoelectric generators or RTGs used in NASA missions).
Thermoelectric
Cooling (TECs)
WORKING
- Uses the Peltier effect to create a temperature difference.
- When an electric current flows through the junction of two different materials, heat is transferred, leading to cooling on one side and heating on the other.
Waste Heat
Recovery
EXAMPLE
- Automobile exhaust systems can generate electricity to charge batteries.
- Power plants can improve efficiency by converting excess heat into usable power.
Wearable Thermoelectric
Energy Harvesting
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APPLICATION
- Wearable electronics such as smartwatches and medical sensors.
- Military applications where soldiers use body heat-powered gadgets.
ADVANTAGES
- No moving parts, reducing wear and maintenance.
- Environmentally friendly, as they do not emit greenhouse gases.
- Compact and lightweight, making them ideal for portable applications.
- Can operate in harsh environments (e.g., deep space, high temperatures).
- Silent operation, unlike mechanical generators.*
LIMITATIONS
- Low efficiency (typically 5–10%), making large-scale power generation challenging.
- High cost of thermoelectric materials, which limits widespread adoption.
- Need for high-temperature gradients to generate significant power.
FUTURE
- Researchers are working on improving the efficiency of thermoelectric materials by:
- Developing new materials (e.g., nanostructured thermoelectrics) with higher efficiency.
- Enhancing manufacturing techniques to reduce costs.
- Integrating thermoelectric systems with renewable energy sources for better sustainability.
- Future applications could include self-powered sensors, improved energy recovery in industrial systems, and even large-scale thermoelectric power plants.
WORKING
- Uses the Seebeck effect to convert waste heat into electricity.
- Thermoelectric materials (such as bismuth telluride) are placed between a hot and a cold surface.
- A temperature difference drives electrons, generating voltage and producing electrical power.
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APPLICATION
- Portable refrigeration and cooling devices.
- Electronic component cooling (e.g., in computers and laser diodes).
- Medical applications (e.g., cooling devices for organ preservation).
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CONCEPT
Waste heat from engines, furnaces, or industrial processes is captured and converted into electrical energy using thermoelectric generators.
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