Thermoelectric generator - candle and cold water

[Pirate88179]

I ordered the 400 watt  device from the link that Mags posted above.  This should be fun to play with.

Bill

[conradelektro]

I built a second thermogenerator with the two Peltier elements I had from my first build.

Two such elements http://uk.farnell.com/multicomp/mcpe-127-10-13/peltier-cooler-38-1w/dp/1639751

The output is not better than with my first try (see at the beginning of this thread), it is about 80 mA at 1,3 Volt (about 0,1 Watt) with two candles. I tested and measured the thermogenerator with a Joule Thief circuit driving a 1 Watt 220 Volt Led bulb.

The cold water container holds about 2,5 Liters (evacuation tube with a diameter of about 110 mm, length about 320 mm.

See the attached photos. To go any further I have to order bigger elements which are capable of handling higher temperatures of up to 250 Centrigrades.

Greetings, Conrad

[Magluvin]

I built a second thermogenerator with the two Peltier elements I had from my first build.

Two such elements http://uk.farnell.com/multicomp/mcpe-127-10-13/peltier-cooler-38-1w/dp/1639751

The output is not better than with my first try (see at the beginning of this thread), it is about 80 mA at 1,3 Volt (about 0,1 Watt) with two candles. I tested and measured the thermogenerator with a Joule Thief circuit driving a 1 Watt 220 Volt Led bulb.

The cold water container holds about 2,5 Liters (evacuation tube with a diameter of about 110 mm, length about 320 mm.

See the attached photos. To go any further I have to order bigger elements which are capable of handling higher temperatures of up to 250 Centrigrades.

Greetings, Conrad

Hey Conrad

The 80ma 1.3v , was that on a load?

Can you show what you have there? Its hard to tell what is what other than some heat sink, water bucket and wires.  I just want to see how the heating and cooling are done here. It might be better to have the element on the side of the container, with the candle burning under fins of a heat sink, with a thin metal shield to help hold the heat in that area.  And the rising heat wont heat the water unnecessarily more than the cold side of the chip provides it. A vid i saw on YT the guy had the candle burning right under the bare chip, with a fan and sink on top.  Ill see if I can find it.

Thanks for showing

Are you using 2 chips here?  If so, the 2 chips will transfer more heat to the water, there by keeping the 'hot' side colder, thus less output.

If you just use 1, and get better results, then what you need for 2 is 2 candles. ;]

MaGs

[Pirate88179]

I received my 400 watt unit the other day.  I also got another smaller unit that has no specs I can find.  The only thing i did was hook one up to an old AA battery just for fun and...one side got really hot and the other very cold, very fast.  The 400 watt unit is rated at 12 volts input.  Probably designed for the coolers.

As soon as I get a chance, i will add some heat sinks and see what kind of power I can get from these units.  I know they are not supposed to be very efficient but, the concept is very cool.  Just another fun thing to play around with.

Bill

[Magluvin]

I received my 400 watt unit the other day.  I also got another smaller unit that has no specs I can find.  The only thing i did was hook one up to an old AA battery just for fun and...one side got really hot and the other very cold, very fast.  The 400 watt unit is rated at 12 volts input.  Probably designed for the coolers.

As soon as I get a chance, i will add some heat sinks and see what kind of power I can get from these units.  I know they are not supposed to be very efficient but, the concept is very cool.  Just another fun thing to play around with.

Bill

Hey Bill

Thats a huge one.  ;]  Its like 10 times the power that mine, from a 6pak cooler. I dont know what they use those for. Big fridge.  Da Big Freeze.

I never tried a AA on one. ;] Sounds good for testing. Cuz 12v with the chip between the fingers, ya might get burned and frost bite. Seriously. Not a toy. ;]

Just be sure to have heat sinks that make contact with the whole surface of  the module. Portions that are not in contact will get very hot or cold, wasting what your trying to accomplish. ;] And maybe hurt the module with hot spots. A flat bare of copper or aluminum then ad sinks with fins.



Mags