Waste Heat Energy Recovery from Reciprocating Engine Using Thermoelectric Generator

Abstract

This paper is covered waste heat energy recovery at SH1900 gasoline portable electric generator by using a thermoelectric generator (TEG). Thermoelectric is universally known as a device that can directly convert heat to the electricity. Voltage and current will be generated by the thermoelectric when temperature difference existing between the two surfaces of TEG. The exhaust system of the gasoline portable engine generator was used as the waste heat source. A single TEG1-199-1.4-0.5 Thermoelectric generator with the dimension of 40mm × 40mm was placed at the exhaust surface to harvest the waste heat from engine generator surface. Four tests were conducted to see the effect of the voltage and current generated on the temperature difference between cold source and hot source of TEG. The electric current generated through the temperature difference is then can be used to power an auxiliary device or to be stored.