Paper Title
Solid State Thermoelectric Generator (SSTEG) - A Renewable Passive Heat Source
Abstract
Abstract - This work proposes the concept of an electric power generator that uses the phenomenon of thermoelectricity, transforming temperature difference into electric potential. The temperature difference necessary for the generator excitation is obtained through two distinct phenomena, coming from natural and inexhaustible sources: heating by solar concentration and cooling by geothermal exhaust. A reduced computational version of the system was made capable of providing an analysis of its thermal performance. About the simulation, the boundary conditions were applied based on the results found in the literature review, reaching a realistic behavior of the temperature variation. Finally, the same conditions adopted in the simulation were artificially reproduced in a real prototype. A thermographic analysis of the system’s behavior was carried out, in addition to the capture of information in real time through an acquisition system. The physical system response was similar to the virtual system. In the physical system, a real thermoelectric cell was inserted, used for electric power generation, obtaining an electrical power of approximately 600 mW delivered to a resistive load of 4 ohms, under a temperature difference of approximately 60°C.
Keywords - Solid State Thermoelectric Generator, Solar Heater, Geothermal Heat Sink.