Heat Energy Harnessing via Seebeck Generators

Energy is what drives many aspects of everyday life. Humans use the energy from food, cars use energy from fuel, and the many electronic devices that we use every day all use energy in the form of electricity. To produce this energy, there are numerous natural and artificially induced processes that take place. As in, our body naturally processes the food we consume to provide us with energy, cars rely on artificially aided combustion and in the mix, and we also have renewable sources of energy. While all these sources of energy production and consumption are effective and highly useful, they are not entirely efficient. If we were to go running, our body would use energy to help move our muscles in the required manner, but at the same time, our body would produce heat, not all of which is useful. Another interpretation of such a situation is a fire pit on a cold night. It might provide warmth to those around it, but the energy lost to the pit itself and the environment, in general, is quite large.

Inspired to find a solution that can help harness this excess heat energy, we attempt to build a Heat Energy Harnessing Seebeck Generator to address the fire pit situation. The uses of such a concept are vast and can be expanded to a wide range of applications. The prototype is built in such a fashion that one can start a fire in the pan attached to the top of our device and if it is relatively colder towards the bottom of the device, as in if it were placed in snow or if elevated in a manner that cold air would pass from underneath, then from the change in temperature it would be able to generate a voltage using the Seebeck effect from the help of thermoelectric pads sandwiched within the device. The prototype would be able to harness excess heat energy and provide useful electricity, which can then be used for other purposes such as charging a phone. This can be a very practical tool for purposes such as camping and the applications of such a concept are endless.

This paper discusses the process of mind storming the approach towards the solution, followed by the design, material choices, construction choices, and the construction itself of the prototype. While also presenting the results of testing that the prototype has undergone and further applications of such technology.

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Katikaneni, R. R., & Farah, M., & Martinez, C. M., & Burka, K., & ANIAGBOSO, T. C., & Maheswaran, B. (2022, April), Heat Energy Harnessing via Seebeck Generators Paper presented at ASEE-NE 2022, Wentworth Institute of Technology, Massachusetts. 10.18260/1-2--42179

TY - CPAPER
AB - Energy is what drives many aspects of everyday life. Humans use the energy from food, cars use energy from fuel, and the many electronic devices that we use every day all use energy in the form of electricity. To produce this energy, there are numerous natural and artificially induced processes that take place. As in, our body naturally processes the food we consume to provide us with energy, cars rely on artificially aided combustion and in the mix, and we also have renewable sources of energy. While all these sources of energy production and consumption are effective and highly useful, they are not entirely efficient. If we were to go running, our body would use energy to help move our muscles in the required manner, but at the same time, our body would produce heat, not all of which is useful. Another interpretation of such a situation is a fire pit on a cold night. It might provide warmth to those around it, but the energy lost to the pit itself and the environment, in general, is quite large.

Inspired to find a solution that can help harness this excess heat energy, we attempt to build a Heat Energy Harnessing Seebeck Generator to address the fire pit situation. The uses of such a concept are vast and can be expanded to a wide range of applications. The prototype is built in such a fashion that one can start a fire in the pan attached to the top of our device and if it is relatively colder towards the bottom of the device, as in if it were placed in snow or if elevated in a manner that cold air would pass from underneath, then from the change in temperature it would be able to generate a voltage using the Seebeck effect from the help of thermoelectric pads sandwiched within the device. The prototype would be able to harness excess heat energy and provide useful electricity, which can then be used for other purposes such as charging a phone. This can be a very practical tool for purposes such as camping and the applications of such a concept are endless.

This paper discusses the process of mind storming the approach towards the solution, followed by the design, material choices, construction choices, and the construction itself of the prototype. While also presenting the results of testing that the prototype has undergone and further applications of such technology.

AU - Rithvik Rao Katikaneni
AU - Matteo Farah
AU - Carlos Mario Martinez
AU - Kabato Burka
AU - TOBECHUKWU CHIGOZIRIM ANIAGBOSO
AU - Bala Maheswaran
CY - Wentworth Institute of Technology, Massachusetts
DA - 2022/04/22
PB - ASEE Conferences
TI - Heat Energy Harnessing via Seebeck Generators
UR - https://peer.asee.org/42179
DO - 10.18260/1-2--42179
ER -

Heat Energy Harnessing via Seebeck Generators

Paper Authors

Rithvik Rao Katikaneni Northeastern University

Matteo Farah

Carlos Mario Martinez Northeastern University

Kabato Burka

TOBECHUKWU CHIGOZIRIM ANIAGBOSO Northeastern University

Bala Maheswaran Northeastern University

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