![]() 'Slight' issue is the fact that BTU is a unit of energy, while watts are a unit of power, and they can't directly be converted.īTU is a unit of heat (energy) and it stands for the British Thermal Unit. Watts to BTU and BTU to Watts conversions are commonly required when calculating the power of devices that are used for air heating and cooling, like various AC units and electric heaters. When the compatibility factor from one segment to the next differs by more than a factor of about two, the device will not operate efficiently.Watts to BTU and BTU to Watts Conversions Generally, the current magnitude is directly proportional to the temperature difference: Direct electric current will flow in the circuit when there is a temperature difference between the ends of the materials. A thermoelectric module consists of two dissimilar thermoelectric materials joined at their ends: an n-type (with negative charge carriers), and a p-type (with positive charge carriers) semiconductor. Thermoelectric module Ī thermoelectric module is a circuit containing thermoelectric materials which generate electricity from heat directly. One of the key advantages of thermoelectric generators outside of such specialized applications is that they can potentially be integrated into existing technologies to boost efficiency and reduce environmental impact by producing usable power from waste heat. The durability and environmental stability have made thermoelectrics a favorite for NASA's deep space explorers among other applications. ![]() Thermoelectric generators have no moving parts which produce a more reliable device that does not require maintenance for long periods. ![]() The solid-state design allows for operation in severe environments. Thermoelectric generators are all-solid-state devices that do not require any fluids for fuel or cooling, making them non-orientation dependent allowing for use in zero-gravity or deep-sea applications. However, the manufacturing processes of nano-materials are still challenging.Ī thermoelectric circuit composed of materials of different Seebeck coefficient (p-doped and n-doped semiconductors), configured as a thermoelectric generator. This can be achieved by creating nanoscale features such as particles, wires or interfaces in bulk semiconductor materials. Today, the thermal conductivity of semiconductors can be lowered without affecting their high electrical properties using nanotechnology. Some of these materials have somewhat rare elements which make them expensive. The efficiency of a given material to produce a thermoelectric power is simply estimated by its “ figure of merit” zT = S 2σT/κ.įor many years, the main three semiconductors known to have both low thermal conductivity and high power factor were bismuth telluride (Bi 2Te 3), lead telluride (PbTe), and silicon germanium (SiGe). The measure of the magnitude of electrons flow in response to a temperature difference across that material is given by the Seebeck coefficient (S). Having low thermal conductivity ensures that when one side is made hot, the other side stays cold, which helps to generate a large voltage while in a temperature gradient. These materials must have both high electrical conductivity (σ) and low thermal conductivity (κ) to be good thermoelectric materials. Thermoelectric materials generate power directly from the heat by converting temperature differences into electric voltage. In 1834, Jean Charles Athanase Peltier discovered the reverse effect, that running an electric current through the junction of two dissimilar conductors could, depending on the direction of the current, cause it to act as a heater or cooler. The flow of charge carriers between the hot and cold regions in turn creates a voltage difference. At the heart of the thermoelectric effect is the fact that a temperature gradient in a conducting material results in heat flow this results in the diffusion of charge carriers. In 1821, Thomas Johann Seebeck rediscovered that a thermal gradient formed between two dissimilar conductors can produce electricity.
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