Geothermal sources-based thermoelectric power generation: an attempt to enhance the rural electrification in southern Tunisia

Abstract

The paper deals with the first assessment of a R&D project devoted to the investigation and the exploitation of the power production potentialities of a renewable source widely available in southern Tunisia, that is the geothermal water. The conversion of this power could be achieved considering thermoelectric (TE) systems. In the manner of PV systems, TE ones have been the subject of substantial implementation of MPPT strategies. Within this trend, the work develops a comparison between three strategies: (i) the direct, (ii) the P&O, and (iii) the incremental MPPTs.

Early fever detection on COVID-19 infection using thermoelectric module generators

“…Between 100-525 W of heat is released from the skin to the environment [7], and that thermal power can be converted using thermoelectric generators (TEG) directly into an electric current [8]. TEG devices have been used in a different context as thermoelectric solar generation systems [9], thermal energy harvesting for IoT devices and wearables [10], hybrid photovoltaic-TEG systems [11], [12], waste heat recovery from exhaust gas applications [13], small scale geothermal sources [14], even in space exploration with radioisotope heat fuel application like the last rover send by NASA Mars Mission (Perseverance) among others [15]. The standard sensor technologies for skin temperature measure sometimes require electronics and outer power supply like batteries or AC power [16] using TEG modules, the system could produce the necessary amount of energy to sense and report an early fever state, with no outer energy supply.…”