Thermoelectric heating stands at the brink of commercialization

Post by antisthenes » Wed, Dec 06, 2023, 1:37 AM UTC

skyfaller wrote: post #7

grecy wrote: post #2

Something I've always thought about. Northern Canada we run our wood stoves for ~8 months a year. Temp on the surface of the stove is 200C to 300C. Outside is -20C to -40C. Let's say an average of 200C temp delta across the TEC. Throw a radiator on the outside of the cabin, use coolant with a tiny pump to circulate. How much power am I going to generate with a square foot (or two) of TECs strapped to the wood stove,…

To steelman your proposal, I should mention that Low-Tech Magazine thinks you're on to something, although they suggest putting the panels on the stove inside the cabin: https://solar.lowtechmagazine.com/2020/05/thermoelectric-sto... I disagree with that article for the simple reason that I do not consider burning wood to be sustainable, or healthy for anything with lungs. Wood should be used for long-lasting constru…

Post by NavinF » Wed, Dec 06, 2023, 1:43 AM UTC

waterheater wrote: post #10

Retric wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Doing that pumps energy outside your house without heating your house. A better option is to use the temperature differential between the stove and your house. You get less electrical power, however waste energy from both the stove and the device still heats your house effectively making a system over 100% efficient. Ie convert 1% of the stoves energy into electricity which you then use to power a fan. The fan‘s wast…

You're not going to achieve an over-unity system. Assuming no other losses, you'll be using 100% of heat energy from the stove. The equation is missing a -1% term somewhere.

Post by pishpash » Wed, Dec 06, 2023, 1:50 AM UTC

NavinF wrote: post #13

waterheater wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're not going to achieve an over-unity system. Assuming no other losses, you'll be using 100% of heat energy from the stove. The equation is missing a -1% term somewhere.

You misunderstood. For comparison, a typical cheap AC has an efficiency (coefficient of performance) of 300%. For every 1W consumed, the AC moves 3W.

Post by pishpash » Wed, Dec 06, 2023, 1:52 AM UTC

waterheater wrote: post #10

Retric wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Doing that pumps energy outside your house without heating your house. A better option is to use the temperature differential between the stove and your house. You get less electrical power, however waste energy from both the stove and the device still heats your house effectively making a system over 100% efficient. Ie convert 1% of the stoves energy into electricity which you then use to power a fan. The fan‘s wast…

You're not going to achieve an over-unity system. Assuming no other losses, you'll be using 100% of heat energy from the stove. The equation is missing a -1% term somewhere.

Post by jfoutz » Wed, Dec 06, 2023, 1:58 AM UTC

antisthenes wrote: post #11

skyfaller wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To steelman your proposal, I should mention that Low-Tech Magazine thinks you're on to something, although they suggest putting the panels on the stove inside the cabin: https://solar.lowtechmagazine.com/2020/05/thermoelectric-sto... I disagree with that article for the simple reason that I do not consider burning wood to be sustainable, or healthy for anything with lungs. Wood should be used for long-lasting constru…

Most burned wood is wood unsuitable for construction. No one goes into the woods and cuts down a 200-year oak to burn in their stove. Short lengths, widths, knots, imperfections, wood waste pressed into pellets, etc. Although you do have a point about it being bad for air quality. Especially old stove installations.