Energy and Power Engineering, 2013, 5, 237-240
doi:10.4236/epe.2013.54B046 Published Online July 2013 (http://www.scirp.org/journal/epe)
A Thermoelectric Generator Manufacture Research Based
on Oscillating-Flow Heat Pipe Technology
Jieting Wei1, Yu Gu2, Yang Liu2
1Changchun Institute of Technology, Changchun,China
2Northeast Dianli University, Jilin,China
Email: wjt8876@126.com
Received April, 2013
ABSTRACT
Oscillating heat pipe is a new type of heat transfer. It not only has simple structure, non-pollution and low maintenance
cost, but also has high heat transfer efficiency. Semiconductor thermoelectric generation technology is also an environ-
mental technology. This article combines these two kinds of technology. By means of this generate electricity way, we
make a set of system and the related experiment. Then we do some research on the feasibility of this system.
Keywords: Oscillating Heat Pipe; Thermoelectric Power Generation; Solar Energy
1. Introduction
Solar energy is a renewable green energy universal ex-
isted on earth. Its Application value is huge. If we make
good use of it and convert light energy into electrical
energy, we can replace the current fossil energy, because
of its low pollution and waste.
Solar thermoelectric generation is a kind of green en-
ergy. The heat energy converts into electrical energy di-
rectly. Research on thermoelectric power generation was
first started in the middle of the twentieth Century, with
the problems of environmental pollution and oil and
natural gas energy depletion of mainstream trend is be-
coming more and more serious, People began to study
energy on this work, no noise, no exhaust waste, envi-
ronmentally sound technology. The United States, the
European Union, the developed country in the world at-
taches great importance to the study of thermoelectric
power generation technology in civil field [1].
2. Principle
Solar thermoelectric generation is the use of the ther-
moelectric effect. The thermoelectric effect based on
thermoelectric materials at both ends of the carrier mo-
tion, so as to realize the conversion of energy forms [2].
As shown in Figure 1, The P type and N type two dif-
ferent types of thermoelectric material is connected with
the formation of PN junction. One side of this junction is
in the condition of high temperature, the other side is at a
low temperature state. PN type material high temperature
side concentration is higher than the low temperature
side. In the driving concentration gradient, electron dif-
fusion spread to the low temperature side. Thus the for-
mation of electromotive force has been made.
Capillary bend into oscillation flow heat pipe. It con-
sists of the evaporation heating section, adiabatic section
and condenser section. The heating section absorbs heat.
The heat is transferred to the condensation section
through the adiabatic section. Because of the tube vac-
uum, the refrigerant evaporation temperature is low, and
vaporization speed is fast. When heating, because the
heating period of absorption heat to make the tube steam
column becomes larger. At the same time, there are new
bubbles made. The bubble bigger push pipe steam col-
umn and liquid column flow. When the liquid and vapor
column after condensation segment, heat is released and
steam shrinks, because of the temperature of heating sec-
tion and condensing section. The bubble expands in the
heating section and shanks in the condensation side. Re-
ciprocating flow formed in the cold end pressure
Figure 1. Principle of thermoelectric power generation.
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