Indian Journal of Science and Technology

Abstract

Low-grade waste heat recovery has emerged as a need for both efficient and sustainable approach. Till now conventional systems have failed to provide any assistance in harnessing and efficient conversion of low-grade to medium grade heat because of their huge sizes, high investment in land and equipment, complexity in design and scarcity in their availability. Researchers are now trying to solve these problems with the use of thermoelectric generators. These solid-state semiconductor devices can convert heat fluxes into DC output by maintaining a certain temperature gradient across its surfaces. Depending on the device and its rating power output increases with the rise in temp gradient. Objective: To identify errors with TEG module and if possible to perform investigation on it. Method/Statistical Analysis: In this method, two different positions were used. Firstly, one heat input surface was upside (hot side up) and second with heat input from below (Hot side down). This change in position will affect the convective motion of trapped air molecules and effect (if any) could be noticed. Findings: For hot side down position, there was an increment of 0.22% voltage output, 0.44% more power output and 0.521% increment in See beck coefficient observed in comparison with hot side up position.

Keywords: Low-grade Waste Heat Recovery, Semiconductor Device, Solar Pond, Sustainable, Temperature Gradient, Thermoelectric Generator