THERMOELECTRIC GENERATOR

Introduction: 

A working of Thermoelectric Generator - (TEG) is based on the direct interconversion of heat and electricity, The Seebeck Effect produces an electric current when dissimilar metals are exposed to a variance in temperature. 

Principle:

when two materials are exposed to different temperatures there is a resultant voltage between the two. Thermoelectric generators take heat input at one end of the material and then induce a voltage due to the difference in temperatures between them. 

There have been different materials that are being used in the thermoelectric generators and a majority of them are now using semiconductors. Thermoelectric power generators have the same basic configuration, as shown in the figure.

WORKING MODULE:

 A circuit containing thermoelectric materials which generate electricity from heat directly. A thermoelectric module consists of two dissimilar thermoelectric materials joined at their ends: an n-type (with negative charge carriers), and a p-type (with positive charge carriers) semiconductor. Direct electric current will flow in the circuit when there is a temperature difference between the ends of the materials.