An Investigation of Thermoelectric Generators Used as Energy Harvesters in a Water Consumption Meter Application

Zdenek Machacek, Wojciech Walendziuk, Vojtech Sotola, Zdenek Slanina, Radek Petras, Miroslav Schneider, Zdenek Masny, Adam Idzkowski and Jiri Koziorek
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Zdenek Machacek: Department of Cybernetic and Biomedical Engineering, VSB Technical University of Ostrava, 17.listopadu 15, 70800 Ostrava, Czech Republic
Wojciech Walendziuk: Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Bialystok University of Technology, Wiejska 45D, 15-351 Bialystok, Poland
Vojtech Sotola: Department of Cybernetic and Biomedical Engineering, VSB Technical University of Ostrava, 17.listopadu 15, 70800 Ostrava, Czech Republic
Zdenek Slanina: Department of Cybernetic and Biomedical Engineering, VSB Technical University of Ostrava, 17.listopadu 15, 70800 Ostrava, Czech Republic
Radek Petras: Department of Cybernetic and Biomedical Engineering, VSB Technical University of Ostrava, 17.listopadu 15, 70800 Ostrava, Czech Republic
Miroslav Schneider: Department of Cybernetic and Biomedical Engineering, VSB Technical University of Ostrava, 17.listopadu 15, 70800 Ostrava, Czech Republic
Zdenek Masny: Company CODEA, Premyslovcu 30, 709 00 Ostrava, Czech Republic
Adam Idzkowski: Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Bialystok University of Technology, Wiejska 45D, 15-351 Bialystok, Poland
Jiri Koziorek: Department of Cybernetic and Biomedical Engineering, VSB Technical University of Ostrava, 17.listopadu 15, 70800 Ostrava, Czech Republic

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 13, 1-22

Abstract: In this study, we present the results of measuring the performance of selected Peltier cells such as thermoelectric Peltier cooler modules (TEC), thermoelectric micro-Peltier cooler modules (TES), and thermoelectric Seebeck generator modules (TEG). The achieved results are presented in the form of graphs of powering system output voltage or power efficiency functions of the load impedance. Moreover, a technical solution is also presented that consists of designing a water consumption power supply system, using a renewable energy source in the form of a Peltier cell. The developed measuring system does not require additional batteries or an external power source. The energy needed to power the system was obtained from the temperature difference between two sides of a thermoelectric cell, caused by the measured medium which was flowing in a copper water pipe. All achieved results were investigated for the temperature difference from 1 to 10 K in relation to the ambient temperature.

Keywords: DC/DC power converters; energy consumption; energy harvesting; energy measurement; supercapacitors; water flow meter; TEG; TEC; TES (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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