Performance Study on Thermoelectric Voltage Generation Using Infrared Light Source

Authors

  • S.Y. Goh Faculty of Electronic and Computer Engineering, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Hang Tuah Jaya, 76100 Durian Tuggal, Melaka, Malaysia.
  • S.L. Kok Faculty of Electronic and Computer Engineering, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Hang Tuah Jaya, 76100 Durian Tuggal, Melaka, Malaysia.

Keywords:

Convex Lens, Energy Harvesting, Seebeck Effect, Temperature Gradient, Thermoelectric (TE) Module,

Abstract

Thermoelectric (TE) module is energy harvester that transfer heat to electrical energy. However, it can be complemented with photovoltaic (PV) cell by using sunlight as source and convert into electrical energy. This is due to the fact that the spectrum of sunlight from ultraviolet (UV) to infrared (IR) is not fully utilized, whereby at the IR light spectrum PV cell does not perform at its optimum in conversion into electrical energy. However, IR spectrum produces heat, which is good for TE module. In this paper, the experiment will carry out in the lab. IR light bulb is used to simulate the IR spectrum from sunlight. Besides, a convex lens is used to focus the light beam from IR light. Therefore, the light is focused and can obtain higher temperature. When the temperature is increased, the voltage output of the TE module will also be increased. In the experiment, two different covers are put on the top of TE module which is aluminium sheet and heat sink. The performance study of TE module is focused on open circuit voltage output of the module. The comparison is also made to investigate the voltage output of TE module with cover and without cover and it is found out that a voltage of 0.35V can be achieved at a temperature difference of only 12 C when using a heat sink to spread the heating source uniformly on the TE module.

References

L.Kutt and M.Lehtonen, "Automotive waste heat harvesting for electricity generation using thermoelectric system – An overview,” in IEEE 5th International Conference on Power Engineering, Energy and Electrical Drives (POWERING), Sept 2015, pp. 55-62.

I.Toshihiko and Y.Hiroaki, "Effect of heat pipes to suppress heat leakage for thermoelectric generator of energy harvesting,” in Renewable Energy Research and Applications (ICRERA), 2012, pp. 1-4.

J.Chen, J.Klein, Y.J.Wu, S.X.Xing, R.Flammang, M.Heibel, and L.Zuo, “A Thermoelectric Energy Harvesting System for Powering Wireless Sensors in Nuclear Power Plants,” in IEEE Transaction on Nuclear Science, vol. 5, Oct. 2016, pp. 2738-2746.

Rajeh.B.K and Kiran.B, "Development of prototype for waste heat energy recovery from thermoelectric system at Godrej vikhroli plant," in Nascrent Technologies in the Engineering Field (ICNTE), 2015 International Conference, Jan 9-10, 2015, pp. 1-6

Jaumot.F, “Thermoelectric effect,” in Proceedings of the IRE, 1958, vol. 46, no.3, pp. 538-553.

Basel.I.I and Wael.H.A, "Thermoelectric Power Generation Using Waste-Heat Energy as an Alternative Green Technology,” in Recent Patents on Electrical Enginnering 2009, 2008, pp. 28-29.

P. Dziurdzia, Sustainable Energy Harvesting Technologies – Past, Present and Future, Cracow: AGH University of Science and Technology, 2011, pp 109-116.

Downloads

Published

2018-05-31

How to Cite

Goh, S., & Kok, S. (2018). Performance Study on Thermoelectric Voltage Generation Using Infrared Light Source. Journal of Telecommunication, Electronic and Computer Engineering (JTEC), 10(2-2), 43–46. Retrieved from https://jtec.utem.edu.my/jtec/article/view/3957