Seebeck Solar Water Pump and Generator

[sm0ky2]

Hi guys.
I recently came across an article from Panasonic explaining a new method/style of using the Seebeck effect to generate electricity.
So I thought I would engineer a simple build at home model, not using their technology,
but rather modifying the idea, and taking it to the home front in a DIY project that anyone can build for a low cost.
I have not yet built this, as I just got done designing it a few minutes ago, but I will begin when I have the resources and materials available to me in the near future.
But until then, I want to share this information with everyone, and feel free to build one of your own to help push it along.
  (or put a nail in its' coffin if it proves to be uneconomical)

so here we go..
Basically, we will use the inner diameter of a tube to transfer heat through the junction material.
To do this, I chose materials that can be easily found and fitted at your local hardware store for just a few dollars.

We will also add a small water pump, a solar collector, and a reservoir from which to pump the water.

Sounds simple enough?

Let's begin then

[sm0ky2]

First I will draw a picture (see below) to give the general idea, then we shall get into greater detail about how to actually do it.

Now, it doesn't have to look exactly like I have shown here, this is just for visualization, and may not resemble the physical appearance of the final product.

[sm0ky2]

little explanation of the diagram:: I show 4 junctions in this pile, but the actual number will be as many as necessary to operate the water pump, and provide any excess power the user needs for their application.

1) Solar heat collector - this can be of any various design convenient to the user, its basic function is to collect heat from the sun and transfer it to copper pipes (5).

2) + terminal copper wires.

3) the - wires.

For increase current connect units in parallel, to increase voltage connect units in series.

4) some non-copper metal pipe, which is physically and electrically connected to copper pipes (5) and copper fittings (6).
    probably steel pipe or some other dissimilar metal, this pipe should be sealed from water going inside, i.e. empty/ air filled.

5) Copper pipes, physically and electrically connected to steel pipes (4), each having a wire lead on the outer end.
    these pipes are sealed and filled with water - it may be necessary to leave some air for expansion upon heating
    these pipes take on heat from the solar collector

6) Copper fittings, physically and electrically connected to steel pipes (4), each having a wire lead on the outer end.
    these fittings are connected by plastic tubings (7) to allow cold water (8 ) to flow through them.

7) Plastic tubings, connected to copper fittings (6) to allow water to pass through tubing to fitting to the next tubing, etc.
     these tubing sections are intended to electrically insulate the copper fittings from each other.
    [ I was cautioned by an associate here, about the electrical conductivity of water, an insulator may be necessary on the inside of the copper fitings]

(8 ) blue line indicates cold water flowing through the junction

[sm0ky2]

with a sufficient number of thermocouples and solar heat collectors, we will be able to power a small water pump which will in turn cool down the copper fittings, increasing performance of the device, and allowing it to sustain generation until the sun goes down.

At the same time, water will be pumped from the reservoir to another location ( or back into the reservoir?)

maybe it would make sense to pump it uphill some ways, and let it fall back down into the reservoir, while operating some kind of water wheel to act as a demonstrational "load/waste", in addition to the water pump, or just in a circle back to the pool.

Assuming the reservoir is large enough, it should stay at a few degrees below ambient, maintaining a constant cool-side temperature of the circuit.

the water inside the heated pipes will act as a thermal storage, holding some heat that has been collected, and assist in transferring the heat to the steel pipes without allowing the copper to cool down. This will maintain a somewhat constant hot side temperature, varying with degrees of sunlight collected.

The heated pipes can be arranged in a circle, and the cooling pipe can be arranged in a larger circle around them, making the whole unit a compact ring, which can be replicated multiple times to scale up the operation.

This project is in the concept phase, until I or someone else begins an actual build.
and I welcome any analysis, criticism, advice, ridicule, praise, or indifference anyone wishes to impart. Thank you.

                            Sm0ky2

[sm0ky2]

Here's one possible arrangement, which can be compact, with the solar collector in the center.
+ and - leads connected in series and parallel to match requirements of the water pump + load