A Novel Thermoelectric Generator for the Detection of Electrical Equipment

Abstract:

Semiconductor thermoelectric generators have a series of advantages, such as compact volume, high-level reliability, and effective power generation in the presence of temperature difference. In many occasions, as a result of high voltage, electrical equipments can't be measured by the way of direct contact. In order to avoid equipment faults caused by low-voltage contact, a thermoelectric generator which uses waste heat of electrical equipments in service was designed. Electrical equipments often operate below 400K, and in this condition Bi₂Te₃ shows an outstanding performance of power generation. In order to solve the problems of little temperature difference and output power on steady-state, two methods were introduced. On the one hand, the temperature difference can be increased by filling with thermal insulation padding between the p-n junctions and using a heat sink in the cold side, and on the other hand, the output voltage and power will be augmented by increasing the number of p-n junctions. These methods have been proved effectively by simulation and experiment with promising outcomes.

• Periodical: Materials Science Forum (Volumes 743-744)
• Pages: 105-110
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/MSF.743-744.105
• Online since: January 2013
• Authors: Hong Tao Yu, Zhi Feng Zhang, Qing Quan Qiu, Qiang Sun, Guo Min Zhang, Shao Tao Dai
• Keywords: Electrical Equipment, Output Performance, Power Management, Thermoelectric Effect, Thermoelectric Generator

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