Cool Idea (pun intended)! I wonder if TEGs could be used to capture waste heat from power plant stacks to run support equipment?

Ronseto,

In the 50s the Soviets were using this method in remote areas to provide filament and plate voltages for radios. They used the waste heat from their kerosene lamp.

The method has been around since the mid 19th century.

Propane fired thermopiles ran telephone system microwave repeaters in the mountains during winter.

There was a Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator used on Fairway Rock in the Bering Straits Alaska from early 1960s for about 30 years to power some sensing and telemetry equipment. Some are used in remote areas. The Soviets ran lighthouses in the Arctic with them.

Most are used in our space program. An isotope is used on the mars rover to keep its temperature sensitive systems from freeze damage.

Jon

TEGs and TECs are essentially exactly the same thing (Peltier cells). You can get them at MUTR:-

http://www.mutr.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=1009613

for just over £4 (about $6). There must be places in the US which do them for a similar price.

But on reflection this is a 5 Watt (electric output) device, so 200 or 600 Watts is pretty impressive.

It's a good technology. I've been using TEG's at remote RTU sites for a while now.

http://www.globalte.com/

3-4 yrs ago, i saw a demonstration, i think it was a doe project, that stacked a bunch of thermoelectric peltier devices up on the exhaust stack of a diesel semi-truck. They were able to throw away the vehicles alternator, resulting in better fuel economy for the truck. I believe the cost was around $10,000us, but, over the life of the truck, this was repaid with better milage. Pretty expensive alternator,huh.I have actually been collecting these devices out of roadkill and yardsale $2 12volt coolers and have several of them. i plan to use them to run a few led lights off the exhaust of my wood chip burner.or to charge a few small batteries. I believe they make different ones that react with different temperature ratios as well

These items are pretty cool. They can be used on large or small scale. On large scale, tests have been done using cool ocean depths and hot sunny land to have good temp differentials. On a small scale I proposed using one with the hot end on a wood burning stove and the cold end outside. Just Google Peltier devices.

The TEG isn't a NEW technology it's just a constructive use of OLD technology. A sterling engine is what is being used; although it is hybridized. It can also be found as a Differential Heat Engine or Pump.

The basics needed are a large variance in hot and cold and the pump will work. There are numerous executive toys that have a sample of this engine that work off of your coffee mug. It's a cool thing to see and can be used, with some modifications, for practical uses.