In the year 1821, Thomas Seebeck observed
that, when heat is transferred between two objects, an electromagnetic field is
created. Since then, scientists have been experimenting with the electromagnetic
field. They have been able to convert electromagnetic field into electricity
with the advent of Heat Electricity
Generators. Thermoelectric generators have a large scale application in
fields which range from household appliances to spacecraft technology. So how
does this technology work? Heat
Electricity Generators are devices which work in a similar way to solar
panels but coverts heat, instead of sunlight, directly into electricity. A
thermoelectric generator is generally made of bismuth telluride semiconductor
junctions which are only millimeters thick. This varies hugely from the
bimetallic junctions that were previously in use as they were much thicker.
Thermoelectric generators do not usually have any moving parts, other than a
fan, and can be used in a wide variety of applications for generating
electricity.
How do Thermoelectric Generators work?
A Thermoelectric
generator has a piece of metal such as bismuth tellurium, through which heat is
transferred. The metal is highly heat resistant and has a low thermal
conductivity. When the heat goes through the piece of metal, it gets converted
into electricity and can then be transmitted to a conductor or even directly to
an electric device. Usually, a number of thermoelectric generators are
connected to each other in a series for the purpose of generating as much
electricity as possible.
Advantages
There are
numerous advantages of thermoelectric generators. Mainly for the reason, that
thermoelectric generators enable systems to restore heat that is otherwise
wasted in the form of either exhaust or mechanical waste. Thus they are
environmentally friendly. In addition, thermoelectric generators retrieve heat
that occurs naturally, such as the heat churned out from geothermal vents,
volcanoes, hot springs, or high-atmosphere applications. Usually, heat is not purposely
produced for a thermoelectric generator, as this would result in an overall
loss of electricity and other resources. Thermoelectric generators are most
efficient when it is needed to retrieve heat over 250 degrees Celsius. Also
these devices can be applied to any heat source regardless of their size,
ranging from a water heater to manufacturers equipment.
Applications
Thermoelectric
generators are utilized in a wide variety of applications, but usually in
situations where there are few energy sources or a great deal of heat goes in
waste otherwise. Thermoelectric generators are most significantly used in the
aerospace industry for powering space shuttles, space probes, and satellites
with the heat produced from the radioactive decay which radioactive substances generate.
Such types of thermoelectric generators are known as a Radioisotope Thermal
Generators (RTG). Scientists are carrying out experiments for also using
thermoelectric generators in automobiles to utilize the wasted heat that is
produced from exhaust fumes and cooling agents.
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