High-Performance Wearable Bi2Te3-Based Thermoelectric Generator

Abstract

Wearable thermoelectric generators (w-TEGs) convert thermal energy into electrical energy to realize self-powering of intelligent electronic devices, thus reducing the burden of battery replacement and charging, and improving the usage time and efficiency of electronic devices. Through finite element simulation, this study successfully designed high-performance thermoelectric generator and made it into wearable thermoelectric module by adopting “rigid device—flexible connection” method. It was found that higher convective heat transfer coefficient (h) on cold-end leads to larger effective temperature difference (ΔTeff) and better power generation performance of device in typical wearable scenario. Meanwhile, at same h on the cold-end, longer TE leg length leads to larger ΔTeff established at both ends of device, larger device output power (Pout) and open-circuit voltage (Uoc). However, when the h increases to a certain level, optimization effect of increasing TE leg length on device power generation performance will gradually diminish. For devices with fixed temperature difference between two ends, longer TE leg length leads to higher resistance of TEGs, resulting in lower device Pout but slight increase in Uoc. Finally, sixteen 16 × 4 × 2 mm2 TEGs (L = 1.38 mm, W = 0.6 mm) and two modules were fabricated and tested. At hot end temperature Th = 33 °C and cold end temperature Tc = 30 °C, the actual maximum Pout of the TEG was about 0.2 mW, and the actual maximum Pout of the TEG module was about 1.602 mW, which is highly consistent with the simulated value. This work brings great convenience to research and development of wearable thermoelectric modules and provides new, environmentally friendly and efficient power solution for wearable devices.

Flexible Thermoelectric Wearable Architecture for Wireless Continuous Physiological Monitoring

“…The solution was mixed on a magnetic stirring plate at 600 rpm. Afterward, 21,30 ZT = (S 2 × σ)T/k. The Cu sheet was used to laser cut the Cu electrodes for a 6 × 2 mm dimension.…”

“…Based on manufacturer-provided thermoelectric properties and our homemade test setup, the thermoelectric parameters such as electrical conductivity (σ) and Seebeck coefficient (S) of n-type Bi 2 Te 3 were 1250 S·cm –1 and 190 μV·K –1 , and those for p-type were 1100 S·cm –1 and 201 μV·K –1 . The following equation calculates the figure of merit ZT for n-type and p-type as 0.74 and 0.98 at 298 K, respectively: , ZT = ( S 2 × σ) T / k . The Cu sheet was used to laser cut the Cu electrodes for a 6 × 2 mm dimension.…”

Recent Progress in Self-Powered Sensors for Structural and Human Monitoring Systems Using Thermoelectric Energy Harvesters

“…It is found that the actual maximum power output of the TEG was about 0.2 mW and the actual maximum power output of the TEG module was about 1.602 mW at the hot end temperature T h = 33 o C and the cold end temperature T c = 30 o C, which are in good agreement with the simulated values. This study provides great convenience for the research and development of wearable thermoelectric modules and provides a new, environmentally friendly, and efficient power solution for wearable devices [19].…”

Energy Sources of Mobile Robot Power Systems: A Systematic Review and Comparison of Efficiency

“…This could be used as the first approximation of energy demand for a human-size walking robot. The 80 kg DURUS robot uses an onboard 2.2 kWh lithium-polymer battery [18], and the BigDog robot uses a small internal combustion engine from a go-kart (11 kW) to drive a hydraulic pump and electric generator [19]. However, the BigDog robot's internal combustion drive was deemed too noisy for military applications, which redirected development toward an allelectric drive.…”

“…Biological sources of power can generate other challenges, chances, and threats [24]. Waste heat can also be converted back into electrical energy using the thermoelectric effect [19].…”