Thermoelectric power generation device: article

This paper presents a device that can generate electricity by using heat. Thermoelectric module is used as a mechanism to convert heat into electricity. In order to produce a useable output power, a step-up circuit was constructed and implemented together with the module. A small and portable power generation device was successfully designed that can generate voltage up to 5.6V with efficiency of 70%. The performance of the device had been analyzed by manipulating the temperature difference between the two sides of thermoelectric module. I-V curve was also obtained and it shows that the maximum performance of the device can be achieved when the voltage and current is at its medium level. The device can be used to power up almost any electronic devices which require 5V operating voltage; microcontroller, sensor, smartphone-charger, LED and etc.