Thermoelectric Generator - Uses

Uses

Thermoelectric generators can be applied in a variety of applications. Usually, thermoelectric generators are used for small applications where heat engines (which are bulkier but more efficient) such as Stirling engines would not be possible.

• Many space probes, including the Mars Curiosity rover, generate electricity using a thermoelectric generator whose heat source is a radioactive element. For more details, see the article: Radioisotope thermoelectric generator.
• Cars and other automobiles produce waste heat (in the exhaust and in the cooling agents). Harvesting that heat energy, using a thermoelectric generator, can increase the fuel efficiency of the car. For more details, see the article: Automotive Thermoelectric Generators.
• In addition to in automobiles, waste heat is also generated in many other places, such as in industrial processes and in heating (wood stoves, outdoor boilers, cooking, oil and gas fields, pipelines, and remote communication towers). Again, the waste heat can be reused to generate electricity. In fact, several companies have begun projects in installing large quantities of these thermoelectric devices. Some companies include Sheetak, Thermal Electronics Corp., Custom Thermoelectric, Marlow Industries, tecteg MFR., wellentech and TEG Power. Other companies are developing consumer-level applications to capture the energy commonly wasted during cooking. A handful of USB cooking pots have emerged, such as the Hatsuden Nabe thermoelectric cookpot Stealth Power Systems, and the PowerPot. Wood stove TEG12VDC-24AIR and TEG12VDC-24LIQUID TEG Generators producing enough power to trickle charge 12VDC and 24VDC batteries. Thermal Electronics Corp.
• Microprocessors generate waste heat. Researchers have considered whether some of that energy could be recycled. (However, see below for problems that can arise.)
• Solar cells use only the high frequency part of the radiation, while the low frequency heat energy is wasted. Several patents about the use of thermoelectric devices in tandem with solar cells have been filed. The idea is to increase the efficiency of the combined solar/thermoelectric system to convert the solar radiation into useful electricity.