Electrical Current Generation Using SI Engine Waste Exhaust Heat in a Thermoelectric Generator

Abstract

An experimental study was conducted to generate electrical power from the waste heat of a four-stroke single-cylinder, air cooled SI engine. This study was accomplished by installing a single module thermoelectric generator (TEG) between the hot surface of the engine muffler and a heat sink. The experimental results showed that the maximum voltage generated was 5 volts at an engine speed of 2,500 rpm with a 121 °C difference in temperature between the two sides (hot and cold) of the TEG. The engine fuel consumption was 0.7 L/hr, with a maximum temperature on the hot side of 195 °C.