Contribution of A. F.

The Seebeck effect has been used for small-scale electricity generation for quite a long time. Before the advent of solar panels, this was a fairly common way to obtain at least some electrical power. Many people still remember the so-called “partisan” bowler hat. With the help of such a pot it was possible to power a radio station. A pot of water was placed on the fire. Thermocouples were installed inside the bottom of the pot. Due to the heat flow from the fire to the water through thermocouples, the user received an electric current.
A modern analogue of the “partisan” bowler hat:

Thermoelectric "guerrilla" pot

At one time, kerosene lamps with a similar effect with an electric power of about 5 W were also widely used.
Kerosene lamp with a thermoelectric generator installed on it:

Kerosene thermoelectric lamp

Currently, decades later, similar products have begun to be produced by both Chinese and American companies. However, they have a significant drawback. The thermoelectric modules used there are manufactured using Peltier element technology, and not Seebeck thermoelectric battery technology. As a result, these products are very short-lived.
From time to time you hear how inventive people try to obtain autonomous electricity by something like “covering the furnace with Peltier elements.” However, they do not take into account that it is not enough to heat the thermoelectric module. It is necessary to pass through it as much heat as possible. That is, on the one hand, it is effective to heat, and on the other, it is very effective to cool. And the higher the temperature difference, the more percent of the heat will be converted into electricity. You can purchase ceramic thermoelectric modules online, which are sold as generator thermoelectric modules. But you need to understand that in order for such a thermoelectric module to show at least 80% of the power declared on it, it must be cooled with a constant flow of cold water through a carefully adjusted aluminum plate. Of course, such cooling is unlikely in household devices. And in any case, the service life of such thermoelectric generator modules is extremely low due to the discrepancy between the technologies used for their production and the operating conditions. Namely, a large temperature difference compared to Peltier elements. Generator modules, which are manufactured using technology designed for long-term operation in real conditions and with high efficiency, you can see on our website on the Thermoelectric Generator Module page.
Another product of our development, intended for everyday use. This is an electric energy furnace or a generator furnace. This is a thermoelectric generator mounted in a solid fuel stove. Designed for heating with natural circulation of liquid coolant. Such a furnace can provide the consumer with electricity with a peak electrical power of up to 2 kW (voltage 220 V), as well as 5-7 kW of thermal energy.
Schematic of a generator furnace with a thermoelectric generator.

TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF GENERATOR FURNACE

Electrical power at peak - 2 kW

Constant nominal electrical power - 150 W

Voltage - 12 V and 220 V

Thermal power - 5-7 kW

Heating - liquid

Cost - from 48,000 rubles.

There is also an option for gas fuel. We have developed a gas heating boiler with thermoelectric power generation.
Scheme of operation of a thermoelectric generator - gas heating boiler.

Hello everyone.
I present to you another set for assembling a visual aid for physics lessons, the electricity section, or just a model of a fan with a thermoelectric generator. Contains an electric motor and a power source in the form of a Peltier element. This visual aid shows how you can use alternative energy sources, and simply broadens your horizons. You can call it a toy, but with a reservation, because hot water is used. So, for those who are interested, please refer to the cat.

According to Wikipedia, a Peltier element is a thermoelectric converter, the operating principle of which is based on the Peltier effect - the occurrence of a temperature difference when an electric current flows. In English-language literature, Peltier elements are designated TEC (from the English Thermoelectric Cooler - thermoelectric cooler).
Many have already heard about such elements, and some have already used them for their own purposes. A clear example of the use of a Peltier element is a water cooler in an office. Cooled water is obtained using a Peltier element.
But in our case it should be the other way around. We must get electricity from this element.
In this case, the opposite effect of the Peltier effect, called the Seebeck effect, will help us.
The Seebeck effect is the phenomenon of the occurrence of EMF in a closed electrical circuit consisting of series-connected dissimilar conductors, the contacts between which are at different temperatures. The Seebeck effect is also sometimes simply called the thermoelectric effect.
Simply, when one side of the element is heated or cooled, electricity is generated. This particular constructor is designed to use the Seebeck effect and by assembling it we will obtain a thermoelectric generator.
A striking example of a thermoelectric generator that became widespread in the post-war years is the TGK-3 thermogenerator:


The source of heat and, incidentally, light was an ordinary kerosene lamp. The developed fins provided the maximum possible temperature difference for generating electricity.
An earlier version of the TG-1 thermogenerator was used during the Great Patriotic War from 1943 in partisan formations and was a good help for batteries and car-based generators.

Partisan bowler hat

When the Great Patriotic War began, physicists at the Leningrad Institute of Physics and Technology developed the TG-1 thermoelectric generator, known as the “partisan pot,” specifically for partisans and sabotage groups thrown behind enemy lines. The work on its creation was led by one of Ioffe’s colleagues, Yuri Maslakovets, who became interested in thermoelectric phenomena in semiconductors even before the war. TG-1 really looked like a cauldron, was filled with water and placed on a fire. The semiconductor materials used were a compound of antimony with zinc and constantan, a copper-based alloy with the addition of nickel and manganese. The temperature difference between the fire flame and the water reached 300° and was sufficient to generate current in the thermoelectric generator. As a result, the partisans charged the batteries of their radio station. The power of TG-1 reached 10 watts. The generator was launched in March 1943 at Research Institute 627 with Pilot Plant No. 1.

We have become familiar with the purpose and principle of operation, now let’s move on to our designer.

Delivery and packaging:

Delivery by transport company in 19 days.


I hoped that with such packaging nothing would happen to me.


Standard packaging from a double bag with parts poured inside.

Opening the package:
Plywood base, several identical bars. Some of them are used as legs. Bar for the stand. Polypropylene latch for fastening the electric motor. The electric motor itself and a tube of glue. This photo does not include a container with a lid for cold water. More on this later.


A glass with a lid for hot water. Made of aluminum, transfers heat well. Dimensions 60x60 mm. The power plant of the set was hidden inside the glass - a Peltier element with an installed radiator. The capacity of the glass is at least 100 milliliters.

Instructions:

You don’t have to follow these instructions when assembling, because the cat has lost all the parts.

A little bit of tar:

Even though the plastic box was in a separate bag, it was still damaged. I took out the fragments and glued them in place using dichloroethane. There were traces left, I smoothed them out a little with sandpaper.

Electricity source - Peltier element:
Unfortunately, there is either no marking, or there was one, but on the other side.


The element is glued to a radiator measuring 40x40x20 mm and has 11 fins.
By the way, a similar radiator can be obtained from the bridge (north or south) of an old motherboard.


Interesting detail, doesn't remind you of anything?


Yes, this is a 1 inch polypropylene pipe holder. However, it copes with fixing the electric motor with a bang.


The electric motor is very weak. Operating voltage 5 Volts.
100% of the same can be obtained by disassembling an old CD-Rom in which the motor is responsible for moving the tray.


The fan is 3-bladed, diameter approximately 55 mm. Slides directly onto the motor shaft.
For some reason it reminded me of Carlson, who lives on the roof.


The glue this time is actually identified as PVA. Not frozen. Glues well and quickly.

Build process:

We fix the legs on the base. We install a block that limits the movement of the bath.
We fix the bath with double-sided tape and then fix the long bar perpendicular to the base. Next, using PVA glue, we fix the polypropylene clamp with a motor with a fan pre-installed in it. For reliability, you can fix it with a small screw.
Electrical part - we connect the wires of the electric motor by color with the wires of the Peltier element and insulate them with heat-shrinkable tubing.
At this point the assembly can be considered complete.

To start the designer, you need to pour cold water into a transparent container about 2/3 full, lower the radiator with its ribs down and place an aluminum cup on top into which we already pour hot water. For a better visual effect, it is better to pour boiling water. In any case, the greater the temperature difference, the more power the generator will give to the motor and the higher the fan speed will be.

The bath is fixed to the base using PVA glue. According to the instructions, it was necessary to use double-sided tape. But since I treated the surface with sandpaper, it stuck just fine. There is no need for a pressure bar.


I made a small mistake during assembly. The screw touched a rectangular block. I had to move the motor forward a little. Also, the block could not be installed.

Let's try. Does not work! A slight push on the blade and the fan quickly picks up speed.


Our temperature is: 5 and 72 degrees Celsius, respectively.
In this case, the voltmeter shows 0.8 Volts. This is the value under load in the form of an electric motor.


The tachometer recorded a maximum speed of about 1400 per minute.

For better contact of the cup with the Peltier element, I used heat-conducting paste, which I bought once on Aliexpress.


With its use, it is not necessary to push the fan impeller. The motor spins up on its own.
You can increase the efficiency a little and level the bottom of the cup. Although it is stamped and does not look wrinkled, its surface can be improved with fine sandpaper and a flat surface.
Hurray, now it works independently and with less temperature difference!
Want more?! Run the engine, the speed will increase a little. You can also increase the temperature difference.

The video demonstrates the assembled layout from all sides, as well as in working condition.
The rest of the video, starting at 1:28, is about assembly.

Warning:
Due to the use of hot water, it is highly advisable to carry out test runs under adult supervision.
A glass made of aluminum can be as hot as the water inside. Either cover it with self-adhesive insulating material, or handle it with gloves or pliers.
The motor power is weak, so if it hits your fingers with the impeller, it’s okay. It won't hurt.

Conclusions:
Interesting, simple set. You can keep your child busy for the evening and broaden his horizons. Not everyone can play toys on the phone.
Wooden parts are high-quality sawn. There are also no burrs. Wood - linden or aspen.
The designer is designed for children from primary school and above. The accuracy and precision of assembly does not affect the final result.
I recommend using a soldering iron to solder wires. An alternative is to twist the wires.
Difficulties were caused by fixing the column to the base; either you had to wait longer for the glue to set, or use a screw.

The platform is quite universal. Instead of a Peltier element, you can use, for example, photocells or make a reversible option - an electric motor generates electricity and powers, for example, an LED.
Or you can make a boat using a foam body. You'll get an airboat. As a table fan, the idea is hardly feasible.
As you noticed, many parts can be obtained locally. All that remains is to buy a Peltier element and do everything yourself.
That's all. Thank you for your time.

The product was provided for writing a review by the store. The review was published in accordance with clause 18 of the Site Rules.

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Have you seen the ballerina? She's spinning and making her eyes dazzle. Ugh!
Tie a dynamo to your leg! Let it provide electricity to underdeveloped areas!
(A. Raikin)
I wanted to write about how scientists propose to charge devices during expeditions, using special stoves that convert heat into electricity. For example, BioLite CampStove. Compact, weighing only 1 kg and easily fits into a backpack. Price 129$

Then I remembered about Thermofor and its Indigirka stove, which produces a power of 60 W at a voltage of 12 volts.

Then we found more
Hatsuden-Nabe from Japanese TES NewEnergyCorporation. This is a pan with a USB port, and it can convert otherwise wasted heat into power to charge your phone (or any other USB gadgets.

and again, and again, and...
I started digging further and here’s a little story about how useful it is in our time to “rediscover” discoveries.

The beginning of the 30s of the 20th century can be considered a true revival of thermoelectricity and thermoenergetics, and its initiator was Academician A.I. Ioffe. He put forward the idea that with the help of semiconductors it is possible to take a real step towards converting thermal (including solar) energy into electrical energy. This led to the creation in 1940 of a photocell for converting light energy into electrical energy.

The first practical application of semiconductor thermoelements was carried out in the USSR during the Great Patriotic War under the direct leadership of A.I. Ioffe. It was the now widely known “partisan pot” - a thermal converter based on thermoelements made of SbZn and constantan. A temperature difference between the junctions of 250-300°C was ensured by the fire of the fire while the temperature of the cold junctions was stabilized by boiling water. Such a device, despite its relatively low efficiency (1.5-2.0%), successfully provided power to a number of portable partisan radio stations. The “Partisan Kettle,” like another similar device, the “teapot,” developed an electrical power of about 10 watts.
Around the same time, here is this very entertaining device. An adapter was installed on an ordinary kerosene lamp, which made it possible to power a radio receiver, as in the photo or Ilyich’s light bulb.

The once “widely known, “partisan bowler”” is now unknown to almost anyone, just like academician A.I. Ioffe. It is clear that in the middle of the last century, the energy industry was developing so rapidly that it seemed that just a little more and the plan to electrify the entire country would lead to the fact that an outlet could be found even in a dense forest.

Unfortunately, the country is no longer a cake, there is no plan, and almost an entire industry, undeservedly forgotten, is once again finding its niche. It’s not clear why these cries about “invented”, “innovation”, etc.?

o 1/ Our photo shows physicists who took part in the demagnetization of ships in Sevastopol. On the right is I.V. Kurchatov, in the center is Yu. S. Lazurkin (now Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, head of the sector of the Institute of Atomic Energy named after I.V. Kurchatov,

People's militia fighter, professor at Leningrad University K. F. Ogorodnikov.

Corresponding member of the USSR LI P. P. Kobeko, who created a new insulating substance - escapon, which was of great defensive importance, in the laboratory, at a twisting machine.

A group of Leningrad scientists led by Academician A.F. Ioffe created and built a “partisan pot” - a thermoelectric generator - at one of the Moscow factories. The “partisan pot”, like another similar device – the “teapot”, developed

E. O. Paton (right) at the test site while testing tanks welded using his method.

At the headquarters of Soviet aviation science - the Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute named after N. E. Zhukovsky. In the photo (from left to right): corresponding member of the Spider Academy (now academician, president of the USSR Academy of Sciences) M. V. Keldysh, aircraft designer S. V. Ilyushin and meritorious

Academician V.I. Vernadsky dictates his latest work.

Chief Surgeon of the Red Army N.N. Burdenko in one of the front-line hospitals in the first months of the Great Patriotic War.

Mine watch of physicists

On August 9, 1941, the scientific director of one of the laboratories of the Institute of Physics and Technology, Professor (now academician) Anatoly Petrovich Aleksandrov, and the later famous scientist and organizer of science, Igor Vasilyevich Kurchatov, flew from Leningrad to Sevastopol. In Sevastopol, they became involved in the work on the practical implementation of the method developed at the institute for protecting ships from magnetic mines, which was carried out by a group of scientists and representatives of the Navy since the beginning of July.

The essence of the method was to demagnetize the ship, or more precisely, to compensate for the vertical component of its own magnetic field. It was precisely this component that the fuses of German magnetic mines were designed for. Compensation for the magnetic field was carried out using windings located throughout the ship, through which an electric current was passed. Subsequently, a simpler, winding-free demagnetization method was developed for small ships and submarines.

Statistics have shown that demagnetizing ships sharply reduces the likelihood of them being hit by magnetic mines. Soon these works received full recognition from military sailors. Not a single ship was sent to sea without a “visa” from scientists - without demagnetization and checking the residual magnetic field.

At the end of August, A.P. Alexandrov left Sevastopol in order to organize work on demagnetization of ships in the Northern Fleet. I.V. Kurchatov remained the leader of the Sevastopol group. In November, on the Volga submarine floating base, the group was transferred from besieged Sevastopol to Poti. In 1942, I.V. Kurchatov went to Kazan, where at that time the Leningrad Institute of Physics and Technology was located, and in 1943 he headed a team of scientists who began developing Soviet nuclear weapons.

high thermoEMF and low thermal conductivity.

At the beginning of the war, a “partisan boiler” was created in Ioffe’s laboratory - a thermoelectric generator to power portable radio stations. It was a pot with thermocouples located on the outside of the bottom. Their flammable joints were in the fire of the fire, and the cold ones, attached to the bottom of the pot, were cooled by water poured into it.

Careful selection of materials and the use of regeneration have now made it possible to increase the efficiency of the thermoelement to 15%. At the beginning of the century, conventional power plants had this efficiency, but now it has more than tripled. There is currently no place for a thermoelement in the large-scale energy sector. But there is also small energy. Several tens of watts are required to power a radio relay station on a mountain top or a marine signal buoy. There are also remote places where people live who require electricity and heat. In such cases, thermoelements heated by gas or liquid fuel are used. It is especially valuable that these devices can be placed in a small underground bunker and left completely unattended, only once a year or less often to replenish the fuel supply. Due to the low power, its consumption at any efficiency turns out to be acceptable, and besides... there is no choice.

Doctors have found an interesting application for thermoelectric generators. For more than two decades, thousands of people have worn an implanted cardiac pacemaker placed under the skin. The energy source for it is a tiny (thimble size) battery of hundreds of thermocouples connected in series, heated by the decay of a harmless isotope. A simple operation to replace it is performed every 5 years.

Electron is produced in Japan

A watch that is powered by a thermoelement from the heat of the hand.

Recently, an Italian company announced the start of work on an electric car with a thermoelectric generator. This current source is much lighter than batteries, so the mileage of a thermoelectric car will be no less than that of a conventional one. (Recall that electric cars are capable of traveling ISO km with one charge.) It is believed that through various tricks, fuel consumption can be made acceptable. The main advantages of the new type of crew are absolutely harmless exhaust, silent movement, the use of the cheapest liquid (and possibly solid) fuel, and very high reliability.

In the 1930s, the work on thermoelements carried out in our country was widely known. This is probably why the writer G. Adamov described in his novel “The Secret of Two Oceans” the Pioneer submarine, which received energy from battery cables. This is what he called thermoelectric generators made in the form of long cables. With the help of a buoy, their hot junctions rose to the upper layers of the ocean, where the temperature reaches 20-25°C, and the cold junctions were cooled by deep-sea water with a temperature of 1-2°C. This is how the fantastic “Pioneer”, a boat capable of giving a hundred points ahead of the current nuclear ones, charged its batteries.

Is this real? There are no reports of direct experiments of this kind in the press. However, something interesting happened. A 1000 kW thermoelectric generator has been created, generating energy from the heat of hot underground springs. The temperature difference between the hot and cold junctions is 23°C, as in the ocean, the specific gravity is 6 kg per 1 kW - much lower than that of the power plants of conventional submarines. Are we on the verge of a new energy revolution, a new age of electricity?