Seebeck effect, using Peltier module to generate electricity

I used the CP1-12726 TEC module to generate electricity this is a large module with 127 thermoelectric elements about 15.4V max and will take a max of 26A the first module in the introduction of this video is a TEC1-12709 it has the same 127 thermoelectric elements just a bit smaller so it will have the same max voltage but only use a max of 9A but used as generator will generate the same voltage at the same temperature difference just the short-circuit current will be probably about 3x lower so about 500mA at 1.2V if used in the same way as in the video example.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Seebeck
• effect
• Peltier
• module
• generate
• electricity
• thermoelectric
• elements
• CP1-12726
• 26A
• TEC1-12709
• 9A
• generator
• green
• energy
• renewable
• sun
• diy
• power
• howto
• TEG

[moonreft]

Very nice. You know what I was talking about then.!

[electrodacus]

@moonreft Yes, the only problem is with temperature it dose not need to exceed 70C with solar will need some storage of heat storage like a large piece of concrete and when the temperature gets to 70C the you take the mirrors away so the temperature will not go higher.

If you have large enough heat storage you can continue to produce electricity even during the night from the heat stored. 

[summ22]

does it have to be two different types of metal? wikipedia says that, but here, it looks like the same type of metal??

[electrodacus]

@summ22 There are two different type of semiconductor in the peltier element so yes it needs to be two different metals.

You are probably referring to the two aluminium heatsinks that do not have a role in the generation of electricity except they transmit heat to the peltier element sandwiched in between the two aluminium heatsinks.

Inside the peltier there are 127 junction of different type of semiconductor connected in series hope this helps.

[Jewinthewell]

what were the dimensions of the module you had between the adhered heat sinks, and where did you get that module?

[electrodacus]

@Jewinthewell 50x50mm is the CP1-12726 26A search for "400W peltier" there is a guy in USA that sells this and others this one is about 33$

[summ22]

@electrodacus

thanks

yes, i was referring to the heatsinks. i thought it was the only type of metal used

[electrodacus]

@rewtnode Yes no problem it will work great is extremely similar with solar photo voltaic cells.

[rewtnode]

Can you put several of these elements electrically in series? (I suspect yes, don't see why not).

[electrodacus]

@hmpeter The higher the difference between input and output of a DC-DC converter the lower the efficiency will be.

The 90%+ efficiency need to have input half or more of the output voltage.

Where are you thinking of using this thermo-electric generators?