The Utilization of Heat Pipe on Cold Surface of Thermoelectric with Low-Temperature Waste Heat

Abstract

Thermoelectric (TE) modules are a thermo-element device that can harness the heat and convert it into electrical energy. As an electrical generator system, TE has several advantages i.e not noisy, easy maintenance, relatively small, lightweight and environmentally friendly because it does not produce pollution. In this paper, the research about the performance of TE modules that used for electric generator has been done. TE modules utilize low temperature waste-heat from a solar cell that simulated with a combination of a bulb and a collector plate. TE modules which tested are single and double modules, in which for double modules, connectivity Thermal-Series was used. Parameters of performance such as output power generated are determined by measuring the temperatures difference and the voltages difference at the test module as well as using several equations. The results show that the distance of heat source and load applied will greatly affect the performance of thermoelectric generator (TEG) modules. The results showed that the number of modules and loading will greatly affect the performance of TEG modules. The use of heat pipes generate a far greater power 4-6 times on the single TE Module (0.84 mW) than without heat pipe (0.14 mW), and a double TE modules that uses heat pipe will became 4 times larger (1.48mW) than without heat pipe (0.37mW).