TEG (Thermoelectric generator) on a refrigerator, recapturing waste heat.

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Presenter Information(s)

Lucas Toth

Abstract or Description

The question prompting the project was if the waste heat from refrigerators could be harnessed to charge a double A rechargeable lithium battery. Four thermoelectric generators bought from Amazon were sautered together and added to a small metal heat sink with thermal paste. Initially, a buck converter was attached to create a stable charge with a lithium battery that required at least 5 volts of electrical charge. After testing initially on the refrigerator compressor, the voltage produced by the teg’s was not large enough to turn on the buck converter and therefore not charge the battery. Another trial using ice and a blow dryer was completed and the thermoelectric generators were still unable to produce enough charge to turn on the buck converter despite the over 100-degree temperature difference. The buck converter was taken off and the charge generated by thermoelectric generators was tested by a voltmeter. After adjustment of the rig to fit onto the top of the fridge compressor, which was the hottest point on the compressor, the trial of whether the device was able to generate charge was tested. After the application of the device to a refrigerator compressor, a boiler, and a separate trial with ice and a blow dryer, the 4 part rig was unable to generate enough voltage to charge the battery in all trials.