Design, fabrication and feasibility analysis of a thermo-electric wearable helmet

Abstract

This paper presents a wearable thermoelectric generation system which is applied to a helmet. It involves the use of the relatively high temperature difference between the local effect of the head skin and the ambient to generate electricity for powering the LEDs. Meanwhile, the mathematical model of the thermoelectric generator (TEG) and the heat transfer process of the thermo-electric system are established and analyzed.The properties of the head underneath the helmet are also investigated and analyzed. Furthermore, the commercially available modules have been tested and the performance of energy conversion of it has been evaluated experimentally. And the models are verified via the experiments. Models of TEG matched with LED have been certified by the experiment results are presented to optimize the number of the TEG for maximum output and the related circuits are designed. The thermo-electric wearable helmet is manufactured. In addition, the performance of the system under different environmental conditions are evaluated and predicted. The results indicate the feasibility of the wearable thermoelectric generation system and give hints for future improvement of the wearable devices using outside under different environmental conditions. IntroductionWith the high-speed development of the industrialization, the global environmental deterioration and the energy crisis are threatening the long-term steady development of mankind. Thus, governments of all countries have devoted their attentions to the research of the green environmental protection energy like the solar energy, the wind energy, the biomass energy, the geothermal energy and the ocean energy. However, the thermal energy from human body as a huge potential energy is often neglected.Compared with some other energy, the thermal energy from human body is rather unique for being common and stable.Without the chemical reaction, gas emissions, and any moving parts, the thermoelectric generator (TEG) is environment-friendly and maintenance-free. Thus compared to conventional energy conversion systems, thermoelectric generators (TEG) theoretically offers a number of advantages and shows great potential in many field. [1][2][3][4][5][6]. In particular, parts of some applications are focused on the pursuit of energy harvesting from unused sources like mechanical vibrations and wasted heat [2,4,[7][8][9][10].In more details, the thermoelectric modules are commonly used to produce electricity from heat absorption restricted to aero-spatial and automotive industries, in particular, small thermoelectric generator devices used to power localized autonomous sensors [11,12]. However, limited study focused on utilizing the thermal energy from human body for the quantity giant and without the influence by weather and geography. And with the rise of wearable devices microelectronic devices, how to provide long-term, stable and efficient power for them is a key promising technology. In 1999, Kishi et al. [13] put forward a wrist-watch with thermoelectric generators (TEGs...

Si and SiGe Nanowire for Micro-Thermoelectric Generator: A Review of the Current State of the Art

“…Heat dissipation from the human body has been considered as an excellent source of heat energy. As the skin on the wrist has a relatively constant temperature of 36.5 • C, it would be possible to utilize this heat for wearable TEGs (Lv et al, 2016). Meanwhile, the temperature difference between the skin and the internal body can reach a maximum of 8 • C, sufficient to generate a microwatt level of electricity with µTEG (Ben Amar et al, 2015).…”

Methodological reviews and analyses on the emerging research trends and progresses of thermoelectric generators

“…As the cycling speed is increased, the body heat arises and produces more voltages to power up the diodes. This power application is genuinely accomplished without the involvements of any intermediate step‐up circuits …”

“…This power application is genuinely accomplished without the involvements of any intermediate step-up circuits. 235 Efforts to light up diodes are becoming very convincing in proving the thermoelectric power applications. 183,185,193 Additionally, there is a recent attempt to charge storage capacitors using thermoelectric generators, with the help of boost converter circuits, which then turn on the Bluetooth low-power microcontroller.…”

“…Leonov et al suggested that reasonably about 0.05 to 0.1 mW (with 1 to 1.5 V) is required to power up commercial low‐power electronic components. Recently, Lv et al successfully proved the potential of lighting up diodes by a bicycler. This is done through attaching commercial thermoelectric generators and diode circuits into a helmet.…”

Experimental Study and Performance Analysis of a Portable Atmospheric Water Generator

“…A typical TEC device has two sides, and when a DC electric current flows through the device, it brings heat from one side to the other so that one side gets cooler (cold side) while the other gets hotter (hot side). Without any moving parts, refrigerant or emission gases, TEC devices can work quietly, reliably and be environmental-friendly [9,10]. Additionally, TEC devices also possess the advantages of small size, light weight and direct-current (DC) driven by photovoltaic (PV) panels.…”