CONVERSION OF DISSIPATED HEAT ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL
ENERGY IN I.C ENGINES
1
RAVI KUMAR .R, 2MADHU H .J, 3SANDEEP STANLEY, 4BACHU SIVAKUMAR REDDY,
5
LOKESH REDDY .M, 6CHANDRA SHEKHARA .G
1,2
Asst, Prof., 3,4,5,6UG students,
Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Bangalore Technological Institute, Bangalore, India
E-mail: 1ravi.kr727@gmail.com, 3san.stanley11@gmail.com, 4bsivakumar.mech@yahoo.com
Abstract: Engine life and effectiveness can be improved with effective cooling. The cooling mechanism in the air cooled
engine is mostly dependent on the fin design of the cylinder head and block in sufficient removal of heat from engine. This
will lead to high thermal stress and increase in engine efficiency. In this project work, we are using the thermoelectric
material (peltier) which absorbs the heat from the engine fins, and then it converts the absorbed heat energy into electrical
energy of around 3-4Volts. This electrical energy which is obtained is in the form of Direct Current (D.C). Since this
obtained D.C current cannot be used for our requirements, it has to be converted into Alternate Current (A.C) with the help
of charge controller. This A.C output is stored by using super capacitor and it can be used according to the requirements like
vehicle head lamps, indicators, horn, tail lamps etc. Thus pollution and performance of the engine can be stringently
improved by waste heat recovery. If this technology is applied in all petrol as well as diesel engines then the performance as
well emission can be improved in both the engines.
thermoelectric power generator operating based on
Seebeck effect is shown in Figure. Heat is transferred
at a rate of QH from a high-temperature heat source
maintained at TH to the hot junction, and it is rejected
at a rate of QL to a low-temperature sink maintained
at TL from the cold junction. Based on Seebeck
effect, the heat supplied at the hot junction causes an
electric current to flow in the circuit and electrical
power is produced. Using the first-law of
thermodynamics (energy conservation principle) the
difference between QH and QL is the electrical power
output. It should be noted that this power cycle
intimately resembles the power cycle of a heat engine
(Carnot engine), thus in this respect a thermoelectric
power generator can be considered as a unique heat
engine.
I. PELTIER TECHNOLOGY
The reverse of the Seebeck effect is also possible: by
passing a current through two junctions, you can
create a temperature difference. This process was
discovered in 1834 by scientist named Peltier, and
thus it is called the Peltier effect. This may sound
similar to Joule heating described above, but in fact it
is not. In Joule heating the current is only increasing
the temperature in the material in which it flows. In
Peltier effect devices, a temperature difference is
created: one junction becomes cooler and one
junction becomes hotter. Although Peltier coolers are
not as efficient as some other types of cooling
devices, they are accurate, easy to control, and easy to
adjust. Peltier effect devices are used coolers for
microelectronic devices such as microcontrollers and
computer CPUs. This use is very common among
computer hobbyists to help them in over-clocking the
microprocessors for more speed without causing the
CPU to overheat and break in the process.
II. THERMOELECTRIC CONVERSION
PROCESS
The basic theory and operation of thermoelectric
based systems have been developed for many years.
Thermoelectric power generation is based on a
phenomenon called “Seebeck effect” discovered by
Thomas Seebeck in 1821. When a temperature
difference is established between the hot and cold
junctions of two dissimilar materials (metals or
semiconductors) a voltage is generated, i.e., Seebeck
voltage. In fact, this phenomenon is applied to
thermocouples that are extensively used for
temperature measurements. Based on this Seebeck
effect, thermoelectric devices can act as electrical
power generators. A schematic diagram of a simple
Fig A: Concept of Thermoelectric Power Generator
III. COMPONENTS OF OUR PROJECT
A. ENGINE
A 2-stroke petrol engine is used for the dissipation of
heat. The heat energy dissipated from the engine fins
is used for the conversion process.
Proceedings of 13th IRF International Conference, Bengaluru, India, 24th May 2015, ISBN: 978-93-85465-20-8
76
Conversion Of Dissipated Heat Energy Into Electrical Energy In I.C Engines
B. Thermoelectric material (Peltier)
This material facilitates the conversion of heat energy
into electrical energy. This material is mounted on the
engine fins such that the heat source is facing towards
the fins and the heat sink is exposed to the
atmosphere for cooling purpose.
C. Charge controller
The charge controller helps to convert Direct Current
(D.C) into Alternating Current. It consists of
microcontroller which is programmed to convert D.C
to A.C.
5.
6.
around 3-4Volts. This electrical energy which is
obtained is in the form of Direct Current (D.C).
This direct current (D.C) obtained has to be
converted into alternate current (A.C) with the
help of charge controller.
This A.C output is stored by using super
capacitor and it can be used according to the
requirements like vehicle head lamps, indicators,
horn, tail lamps etc.
V.
EXPERIMENTAL OUTCOME
D. Super capacitors
Super capacitors also known as Electric Double
Layer Capacitors (EDLCs) or ultra-capacitors. They
have a high energy density when compared to
conventional capacitors, typically thousands of times
greater than a high capacitance electrolytic capacitor.
For example, a typical electrolytic capacitor will have
a capacitance in the range of tens of mille-farads. The
same size super capacitor would have a capacitance
of several farads. Larger super capacitors have
capacitance up to 5000 farads.
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E. Light Emitting Diode (LED)
A LED bulb is used for the output. A light-emitting
diode (LED) is a semiconductor light source. LEDs
are used as indicator lamps in many devices and are
increasingly used for other lighting.
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It converts waste heat into electricity.
No moving part, no noise, reliable and free of
maintenance, good to be used for making
generators for remote sites.
It can be used with any fuel or heat source.
Being virtually weightless and small in
construction, the module can be used to make a
mini size generator.
It can replace the battery in vehicles.
They are extremely and silent in operation since
they have no mechanical moving parts and
require considerably less maintenance;
They are capable of operating at elevated
temperatures;
They are suited for small scale and remote
applications
It is eco-friendly in nature.
They are not position dependent; and
They are flexible power sources.
IV.
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METHODOLOGY
Construction
1.
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The thermoelectric material (peltier) is mounted
on the fins of the engine with the help of glue or
bonding material.
A digital thermometer is mounted on the wooden
base which shows the temperature reading at the
fins of the engine.
This Thermoelectric material is connected to the
charge controller by using wires which in turn is
connected to the super capacitor.
A LED bulb is mounted on the wooden base; this
LED bulb uses the electrical energy supplied
from the super capacitor.
A switch is used to operate the LED bulb i.e.; to
switch on and switch off the bulb.
An ignition switch is mounted on the wooden
base to stop the engine.
Fig B : Assembly of model
CONCLUSION
•
Working
1. Start the engine with the help of rope drive.
2. Let the engine to run for about 2min, so that the
heat is liberated from the engine.
3. The digital thermometer shows the temperature
reading at the fins of the engine.
4. The thermoelectric material (peltier) absorbs the
heat from the engine fins, and then it converts the
absorbed heat energy into electrical energy of
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With The temperature difference between the hot
and cold junctions of TEG increased as the
engine speed or the coolant temperature increase.
The output voltage, according to the peltier
effect, also increased as the temperature
difference increase. Therefore, the output power
and thermal efficiency can be improved.
High efficiency heat exchanger is necessary to
increase the amount of heat energy extracted
from engine fins.
Proceedings of 13th IRF International Conference, Bengaluru, India, 24th May 2015, ISBN: 978-93-85465-20-8
77
Conversion Of Dissipated Heat Energy Into Electrical Energy In I.C Engines
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[7] P. Sai Chaitanya, B. Suneela Rani, K. Vijaya Kumar,
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[9] Jose Rui Camargo and Maria Claudia Costa De Oliveira,
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[10] Zdzisaw Juda, “ADVANCED BATTERIES AND
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The unused heat from the engine fins is extracted
using thermoelectric material (peltier) and
converted into electrical energy. (3-4 volts)
This electrical energy is stored in supercapacitor
and used according to the requirements like
vehicle horn, indicators etc.
Thus we can efficiently convert unused heat into
useful electrical energy, this improves the
cooling effect as it absorbs the heat at fins and
improves engine efficiency.
Therefore we can replace the battery with this
arrangement and can be used for long time
efficiently.
The study also identified the potentials of the
technologies when incorporated with other
devices to maximize potential energy efficiency
of the vehicles. Thus according to the peltier
effect the heat energy liberated from the engine
fins is utilized and convert into electrical energy.
Pollution and performance of engine is
stringently improved by waste heat recovery. If
this technology is applied for all petrol as well as
diesel engine then performance as well emission
can be improved.
REFERENCES
[1]
C. Ramesh Kumar, Ankit Sonthalia and Rahul,
“EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON WASTE HEAT
RECOVERY FROM AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION
ENGINE USING THERMOELECTRIC TECHNOLOGY,
GOEL Automotive Research, SMBS, VIT University,
2011.
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Proceedings of 13th IRF International Conference, Bengaluru, India, 24th May 2015, ISBN: 978-93-85465-20-8
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