Thermoelectric power generation: Converting low-grade heat into electricity

This article describes some of the fundamental aspects of thermoelectric power generation, which employs low-temperature heat sources to create electricity. The focus is on a potential system design and viable thermocouple materials. Regarding generator design, a system is proposed that uses forced-air circulation and a multistage heat-exchanger to efficiently convert the heat content of a low-grade heat source into useful electricity. As for thermocouple materials, both p-type Fe-12.8Al-12.7Si and n-type Fe-12.3Al conductors exhibit significant thermoelectric power-conversion capabilities, making them ideal candidates for use in the proposed power-generation system.