07/10/2019 - S & T

KEY POINTS

·        Thermoelectric power generators are the devices which used to convert temperature difference between two junctions into electrical energy. A working of thermoelectric generator is based on Seebeck effect.

·        According to which, a loop of two dissimilar metal develops an emf when the two junctions are kept at different temperature. That is why it is also referred as Seebeck Power Generation.

Challenges in Scaling up the generator

·        The materials used must have high electrical conductivity and ideally, low thermal conductivity.

·        The high electrical conductivity allows easy current flow, while the latter ensures differences in temperature don’t quickly equalise. Most such materials are very expensive and less efficient.

·        Requires relatively constant heat source.

·        Lack of customer/industry education about thermoelectric generators.

·        Low energy conversion efficiency rate.

Advantages over solar energy

·        They have no moving parts, which means less maintenance is required.

·        Solar energy provides intermittent power while thermoelectric generator provides continuous source of energy.

·        The amount energy required by the generator is very minimal.

·        They also don’t need fuel, or lubricants, and they can convert waste heat into electricity, which could be a big deal with cars and many industrial processes.

·        NASA and other space agencies use these extensively. These devices are also more efficient in space, where there is a big temperature difference between something kept in direct sunlight, versus something kept in shade.

·        IoT mostly uses low-powered sensors and another advantage is the lack of need for maintenance.

TN ku

Kindly review

Pls review.  Thanks