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Battery charging considerations in small scale electricity generation from a thermoelectric module

Author

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  • Kinsella, C.E.
  • O’Shaughnessy, S.M.
  • Deasy, M.J.
  • Duffy, M.
  • Robinson, A.J.

Abstract

This project involves the development of a prototype electrical generator for delivering and storing small amounts of electricity. Power is generated using the thermoelectric effect. A single thermoelectric generator (TEG) is utilised to convert a small portion of the heat flowing through it to electricity. The electricity produced is used to charge a single rechargeable 3.3V lithium–iron phosphate battery. This study investigates methods of delivering maximum power to the battery for a range of temperature gradients across the thermoelectric module. The paper explores load matching and maximum power point tracking techniques. It was found that, for the TEG tested, a SEPIC DC–DC converter was only beneficial for temperature gradients less than 100 °C across the TEG. At a temperature gradient of 150 °C, the effective resistance of the battery was close to the internal resistance of the TEG. For temperature gradients in excess of 100°C a DC–DC converter is not suggested and a simple charge protection circuit is sufficient.

Suggested Citation

  • Kinsella, C.E. & O’Shaughnessy, S.M. & Deasy, M.J. & Duffy, M. & Robinson, A.J., 2014. "Battery charging considerations in small scale electricity generation from a thermoelectric module," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 80-90.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:114:y:2014:i:c:p:80-90
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2013.09.025
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Hsu, Cheng-Ting & Huang, Gia-Yeh & Chu, Hsu-Shen & Yu, Ben & Yao, Da-Jeng, 2011. "An effective Seebeck coefficient obtained by experimental results of a thermoelectric generator module," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(12), pages 5173-5179.
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    3. Eakburanawat, Jensak & Boonyaroonate, Itsda, 2006. "Development of a thermoelectric battery-charger with microcontroller-based maximum power point tracking technique," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 83(7), pages 687-704, July.
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    1. Merotto, L. & Fanciulli, C. & Dondè, R. & De Iuliis, S., 2016. "Study of a thermoelectric generator based on a catalytic premixed meso-scale combustor," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 346-353.
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    3. O’Shaughnessy, S.M. & Deasy, M.J. & Doyle, J.V. & Robinson, A.J., 2015. "Performance analysis of a prototype small scale electricity-producing biomass cooking stove," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 156(C), pages 566-576.
    4. Fanciulli, C. & Abedi, H. & Merotto, L. & Dondè, R. & De Iuliis, S. & Passaretti, F., 2018. "Portable thermoelectric power generation based on catalytic combustor for low power electronic equipment," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 215(C), pages 300-308.
    5. Ding, L.C. & Akbarzadeh, A. & Tan, L., 2018. "A review of power generation with thermoelectric system and its alternative with solar ponds," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 81(P1), pages 799-812.
    6. Kütt, Lauri & Millar, John & Karttunen, Antti & Lehtonen, Matti & Karppinen, Maarit, 2018. "Thermoelectric applications for energy harvesting in domestic applications and micro-production units. Part I: Thermoelectric concepts, domestic boilers and biomass stoves," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 519-544.
    7. Compadre Torrecilla, Marcos & Montecucco, Andrea & Siviter, Jonathan & Knox, Andrew R. & Strain, Andrew, 2019. "Novel model and maximum power tracking algorithm for thermoelectric generators operated under constant heat flux," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 256(C).
    8. Raman, Perumal & Ram, Narasimhan K. & Gupta, Ruchi, 2014. "Development, design and performance analysis of a forced draft clean combustion cookstove powered by a thermo electric generator with multi-utility options," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 813-825.
    9. Zhang, Xiaoshun & Tan, Tian & Yang, Bo & Wang, Jingbo & Li, Shengnan & He, Tingyi & Yang, Lei & Yu, Tao & Sun, Liming, 2020. "Greedy search based data-driven algorithm of centralized thermoelectric generation system under non-uniform temperature distribution," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).
    10. Liu, Yi-Hua & Chiu, Yi-Hsun & Huang, Jia-Wei & Wang, Shun-Chung, 2016. "A novel maximum power point tracker for thermoelectric generation system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 306-318.
    11. Ricardo Marroquín-Arreola & Jinmi Lezama & Héctor Ricardo Hernández-De León & Julio César Martínez-Romo & José Antonio Hoyo-Montaño & Jorge Luis Camas-Anzueto & Elías Neftalí Escobar-Gómez & Jorge Eva, 2022. "Design of an MPPT Technique for the Indirect Measurement of the Open-Circuit Voltage Applied to Thermoelectric Generators," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-20, May.
    12. Montecucco, Andrea & Siviter, Jonathan & Knox, Andrew R., 2015. "Constant heat characterisation and geometrical optimisation of thermoelectric generators," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 248-258.
    13. Abedi, H. & Migliorini, F. & Dondè, R. & De Iuliis, S. & Passaretti, F. & Fanciulli, C., 2019. "Small size thermoelectric power supply for battery backup," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    14. Al-Nimr, Moh’d A. & Tashtoush, Bourhan M. & Khasawneh, Mohammad A. & Al-Keyyam, Ibrahim, 2017. "A hybrid concentrated solar thermal collector/thermo-electric generation system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 1001-1012.
    15. Twaha, Ssennoga & Zhu, Jie & Yan, Yuying & Li, Bo, 2016. "A comprehensive review of thermoelectric technology: Materials, applications, modelling and performance improvement," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 698-726.
    16. Gao, Junling & Tang, Kechen & Yan, Yonggao & Zhang, Shimin, 2020. "New method for quickly measuring the maximum conversion power of a thermoelectric module/generator," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 197(C).
    17. Montecucco, A. & Siviter, J. & Knox, A.R., 2017. "Combined heat and power system for stoves with thermoelectric generators," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 185(P2), pages 1336-1342.

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