Low cost stove-top thermoelectric generator for regions with unreliable electricity supply

During the winter months in regions where constant electric power supply cannot be relied upon, power may be derived parasitically from heating stoves. A proportion of heat from these 20-50 kW wood or diesel-heated stoves may be utilized to drive a thermoelectric generator (TEG) consisting of several commercially available low-cost modules. These are Peltier modules operating in a power generating mode and adapted to the low-flux regime coupled with hot side temperatures of 100-300 degreesC. Two commercially available modules are considered. The generator is then theoretically re-evaluated with the Peltier modules re-designed in order to produce maximum power in a simple and cheap manner allowing easy commercial production using existing technology. A current power target is set at 100 W for a minimum domestic use. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.