Results of research and development of a 1 W thermoelectric generator for cell phones are presented. A physical model of the generator with catalytic combustion of gas fuel is proposed. A computer simulation method is used to determine the optimal parameters of the thermopile, catalytic heat source, and microgenerator heat rejection system whereby the efficiency of gas combustion heat conversion into electrical energy is a factor of two higher compared with existing analogs. The generator design is described, and results of experimental research on its parameters and the charging rate of cell phone batteries with capacity of 900 mA h to 1600 mA h are given. In the self-contained operating mode of various low-power devices, the elaborated thermoelectric generator with a catalytic heat source is an alternative to traditional sources of chemical energy.

The use of thermoelectric generators (TEGs) in heating systems enables autonomous supply of power to automatic safety devices, creation of optimized gas mixtures, and automation and precise temperature control of exhaust gas and heat carriers. It is particularly important to make heating systems independent of the district electric grid. Results of research and development efforts on a TEG for supplying power to electric devices of self-contained heating and boiler systems are presented. A TEG physical model is proposed, and results of computer simulation and optimization of its basic power and design parameters are given. Two TEG design variants (single and double sided) are considered. Their advantages and shortcomings are discussed. On the basis of theoretical calculations, a prototype TEG for a 10.5-kW boiler is built. At water heating system temperatures from 35°C to 80°C, the TEG electric power is 50 W to 65 W, which is used to supply a circulation pump for forced liquid heat carrier delivery (30 W to 40 W) and a fan for removal of fuel combustion products from the boiler's smoke chamber (5 W to 7 W).

Micro- and nano-structural organization and its influence on the efficiency of catalysts used in the heat sources for permeable thermoelectric generators were investigated. Two types of catalyst were studied–elemental platinum on aluminum oxide granulate Pt/Al₂O₃ and mixed transition-metal catalyst on fibrous silicon dioxide Co–Cr–Pd–Sr/SiO₂. The distribution of active components in catalytic structures which contribute to the maximum combustion completeness of organic fuel in heat sources was investigated. Practically full conversion of hydrocarbons was achieved already with 1 mass.% of platinum in the Pt/Al₂O₃ catalyst with sub-μm- and nm-sized particles placed at the input of the gas-air mixture into the channel of the permeable thermoelement. The propane-butane conversion rate of 97% for the catalyst Co–Cr–Pd/SiO₂ with was further enhanced by addition of 0.5 mass.% of Sr. The catalytic centers are formed by CoCr₂O₄ nanocrystals (10 to 40 nm in size) with Pd promotor in form of single crystals on the fibrous SiO₂ matrix.

Results of research and development of thermoelectric generator for power supply to self-contained telemetry systems of gas-distributing stations are presented. Results of simulation and optimization of its basic power parameters are given. The generator design is described and results of its experimental studies are given.

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