Low-Power Energy Harvesting with a Thermoelectric Generator through an Air Conditioning Condenser

Abstract

Thermoelectric generators (TEG) are the devices that convert heat into usable electricity. TEGs are made from thermoelectric modules which are solid-state integrated circuits that employ three established thermoelectric effects known as the Peltier, Seebeck and Thomson effects. TEGs require heat as an energy source and TEGs can generate power as long as there is a heat source such as gas or oil flame, stove, camp fire, industrial machinery, and furnace. Two air conditioning condenser units are investigated to determine where most temperature differences occur during the operation of condenser. For this purpose, several thermometers are placed inside the condenser unit to conduct the measurements. Measurements have been done during day and night time considering outdoor temperature to compare temperature variations inside the condenser unit based on outside temperature. A team of students with the renewable energy projects background installed a thermoelectric generator inside an air conditioning condenser unit. The study dealt with efficiency, power generation capability/capacity, cost, size, potential consumer applications, and system installation complexity to generate power. The balance of the system included the number of the components that go into the system. The test results of the potential applications with TEGs will be shared with academia.