PHYSICS INVESTIGATORY

PROJECT

THERMOELECTRICITY

Done by:
SHRIRAM S
XI B
 INTRODUCTION
 Thermoelectric (TE) materials have the capability of
converting heat into electricity, which can improve fuel
efficiency as well as provide a robust alternative energy
supply in multiple applications by collecting wasted heat,
and therefore assist in finding new energy solutions.

 First discovered in 1794 by Italian scientist Alessandro

Volta,it is named after the Baltic German physicist
Thomas Johann Seebeck, who in 1821 independently
rediscovered it.

 In 1834, Jean Charles Athanase Peltier discovered the

reverse effect, that running an electric current through
the junction of two dissimilar conductors could,
depending on the direction of the current, cause it to act
as a heater or cooler.
 THERMOELECTRIC MODULES
A typical TEG module consists of between ten and a hundred
thermoelectric elements of type n and type p, electrically
connected in series and thermally in parallel, and interposed
between two ceramic layers, as shown in below Figure. The
p-n pairs are joined by conductive tabs connected to the
elements via a low melting point solder (PbSn or BiSn). When
a temperature gradient occurs between its two junctions, the
TEG converts thermal energy into electrical energy according
to the principle of the Seebeck effect. This flat bulk
architecture is the most widely used and marketed. The
critical challenge in the development of TEGs is the
degradation of original properties brought on by thermal
fatigue, which is in turn caused by thermal expansion and
thermal shock. This degradation can be brutal or progressive
and result in a decrease in service life and efficiency. In fact,
during normal operation of TE devices, the shunts are
periodically heated and cooled and undergo thermal
expansion. The TE materials connected to these shunts can
experience different effects in expansion from temperature
sources, which cause increased stress at the interface
between them. These stresses are generally the main cause
of mechanism failure and consequently the principal reason
why TE materials are not sintered and integrated into shunts.
 THERMOELECTRIC GENERATOR

 The thermoelectric generator is a device, where electric

energy is produced directly from heat energy. They are
also called Seebeck generators since they used the
Seebeck effect to produce power.

 In conventional power plants, like thermal power plants,

nuclear power plants, fuel is used to heat the water.
Generally, coal is burnt in that process.

 After the water starts boiling, and converted into steam,

at high pressure, this steam is used to rotate the turbine
 and hence mechanical energy is converted into electric
energy by Fleming’s law of electromagnetic induction.

 In this process, there is two-stage energy conversion,

first heat energy is converted into mechanical energy
and then mechanical energy is converted to electric
energy. Because of this two-stage process, the efficiency
of the overall system goes down.

 If we can directly convert heat energy to electrical

energy, efficiency will be more. In the thermoelectric
generator, heat energy is directly converted to electric
energy, which has high economic benefits.

 Thermoelectric generators fundamentally use the

thermoelectric principle of operation, which is based on
the temperature gradient.
THERMOELECTRIC GENERATION CONSTRUCTION
 Constructional, it is made of up semiconductor materials
to create the temperature gradient.
 The semiconductor materials used to form
a thermocouple, which creates the temperature gradient
and a potential difference is created.
 For this semiconductor device, both p-type and n-type
materials are used. Metal alloys are formed using this
semiconductor device.
 Metal alloys like Bi2Te3, Sb2Te3 are used to create the
semiconductor path for the flow of charges.
WORKING PRINCIPLE
 The thermoelectric generator working principle is, it
works on the concept of thermoelectric effect or
Seebeck effect.
 As per this effect, when a temperature gradient is
produced between two ends, the electrons start flowing
from one end to another end and create a potential
difference.
 For the creation of the temperature gradient,
thermocouple devices have to be used. Thermocouple
devices are fundamentally semiconductor device which
has high electrical conductivity and low thermal
conductivity. For this, the properties of semiconductor
devices are used.
 They have generally four valence electrons in the
outermost orbit. So they can be either p-type or n-type.
 In an n-type semiconductor, the majority of charge
carriers are the electrons. They are also called donors.
 In p-type semiconductors, the majority of charge carriers
are the holes. Holes are also called the absence of
electrons. The p-type material is also called as acceptors.
So when a p-type and n-type material are connected in a
proper manner, and a temperature gradient is created,
then it forms a potential difference across two points.
 Due to which the electrons start flowing from one end to
another. This creates a thermoelectric generator. The
thermoelectric generator temperature difference is
created by this principle.

Different Types of Generators

 Portable Generators
 Inverter Generators
  Induction Generators
 Industrial Generators
 Gasoline Generators
 Natural Gas Generators
 Diesel Generators.
The classification of thermoelectric generators depends on
the method by which input heat is produced. Different types
of thermoelectric generators are:
Fossil Fuel Generators:
In this type, the heat is generated by burning fossil fuels, the
fossil fuels used for this purpose are natural gas, propane,
butane, etc. Its range is from 10W to 100 W.
Solar Source Generators:
In this type, the heat is produced using solar energy.
Nuclear Fuelled Generators:
In this type, nuclear energy is used to input the heat. Its
power rating is high as compared to other generators. It may
go 1000 W.
ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES
The advantages of thermoelectric generators include the
following:

 Thermoelectric generators have no moving parts which

produce a more reliable device that does not require
maintenance for long periods.
  Thermoelectric generators are all-solid-state devices
that do not require any fluids for fuel or cooling
 Recycles waste heat
 A reliable source of energy
 Lower production cost
The disadvantages of thermoelectric generators include the
following:
 Low efficiency
 Limited applications
 Requires a constant source of heat
 Energy cannot be stored

APPLICATION
 Thermoelectric generators could be used in power
plants and factories to convert waste heat into
additional electrical power and in automobiles as
automotive thermoelectric generators (ATGs) to increase
fuel efficiency.
 The application of the TEG to harvest waste heat from
different sources, i.e., fuel cells, heat exchangers,
photovoltaics, internal combustion engine, electric
vehicles, and hybrid waste heat recovery systems have
been summarized.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
 wikipedia.com
 www.YouTube.com