Fabrication of New Thermoelectric Block Floor for Power generator

Abstract

This was the study and designing of the thermoelectric block floor for power generator that are normally used for footpaths, traffic islands, and gardening together with solar radiation heat. Physically, this thermoelectric block is an octagonal block with a size of 19.8 × 19.8 × 6 cm. The block was composed of two layers. The upper layer received the solar radiation and produced the thermoelectric module heat by synthesizing thermoelectric materials and creating 4 thermoelectric modules from Bi2Te3 for one composition set where an aluminum sheet was used for cooling. Additionally, the lower layer was exposed to the ground with low temperature to produce the usable electric power. The efficiency of this electric power was tested with the solar radiation heat of the thermoelectric block floor and by the Thai Industrial Standards (TIS) 827-2531: Interlocking Concrete Paving Blocks. After installing the thermoelectric block floor at the Faculty of Industrial Technology, Sakon Nakhon Rajabhat University, it was found that the block was usable as defined by TIS 827-2531: Interlocking Concrete Paving Blocks; meanwhile, the test on the electric power of the thermoelectric block floor indicated that the maximum electric potential difference was 73.91 mV where the temperature difference was 6.2 K measured from the surface of the block. In addition, the maximum electric power was 88.25 mV where the solar radiation was 1124.5 W m-2. Notably, this electric power of the thermoelectric block floor was directly variable following the solar radiation value. However, if used for power generator or as an alternative energy for engineering activities, the thermoelectric block should be properly designed and developed to produce higher level of electric power and more of them should be created for both series circuit and parallel circuit.