week 16
- applications and implications
Assignment: plan and document a final project
-what will it do?
It is a Thermoelectric Generator that uses the Peltier's cell technology to transform heat in electricity. When providing a heat source on one of the two sides of the cell and keeping the other one cooled, the temperature difference will generate power. Bigger is the Delta T, higher is the power. As all the devices in this field of energy harvesting, also this one produces a variable energy at a low voltage. As the goal is to deliver energy via USB to our devices, it is topic to boost and convert the electricity produced.
-Who has done what beforehand?
There is a big community on the web applying this technology. In particular I've been close to this field from my experiences in permaculure. Energy harvesting is getting part of natural projects as it rise the level of efficiency of a project. Interesting is also the present: Automotive industry is planning to introduce these TEG modules also into the car for harvesting the amount of heat produced by the engines.
-What materials and components will be required?
Aluminum for the front plate and the central frame;
Corck as insulator (frame and rings);
Pla for the handle;
I recycled a cpu Heatsink;
Iron made screws - better to take a 1m screw-bar so to cut exact measures for the screws;
Electronic equipments, such as cables, terminals.
-Where will they come from?
I decided to buy everything at a store here in BCN, Diotronic, as I witnessing a lot of problem for shipping in acceptable timing from US;
Recycled parts from the Lab;
Peltier cell from Diotronic store;
Corck from Servei Estacị, hardware mart;
PLA from the Lab.
-How much will it cost?
Corck: 2 euro;
Peltier cell: 17,99 euro;
Pla(0,60 euro x 57cmq @ infill 30%): 13,77 euro;
screws: 1,5 euro;
Attiny44: 2,75 euro;
resistor 10k x3: 0,30 euro;
resistor 1k: 0,10 euro;
resistor 430 Homs: 0,10 euro;
resistor 0 Homs: 0,10 euro;
diode: 0,40 euro;
terminal x4: 4,80 euro;
capacito 1uf x2: 0,2 euro;
6 pin male header: 0,40 euro;
bolt: 0,5 euro;
resonator 20mHz: 0,20 euro;
thermistor ntc 10k x2: 2,22 euro;
dc/dc booster: 4,99 euro;
Total (with tax21%) 63,30 euro
-What parts and systems will be made?
Handle;
Frame;
Front plate;
Electronics;
Insulation.
-What processes will be used?
The handle will be 3d printed;
The electronic board will be milled and components welded in the Lab;
The aluminum will be milled with the Modela;
The corch will be laser cutted.
-What tasks need to be completed?
It easyer to say what fase I have completed: the Aluminum front plate and the frame.
Cork: the file is ready, but it is only to find the laser cutter available;
Handle: it will be the the last one, but the file is almost ready, only to be sure of the sizes of the circuits;
Electronics: the main board has been completed successfully, it is to finish the code.
Add two Pla feet to the frame for better sustaining the loads.
Make tests.
-What question need to be answered?
Is this a technology that can be useful and this application suitable for commercial?
As far as I can see, I think the prices of the TEG modules will drop down and their technology will improve very quicly for the new attention of the market on it.
I think that the minimum power for make it an interesting product is 20 watts.
-What is the schedule?
Finish the research on the dc/dc booster and decide for it or a commercial one: until the very last days at disposition;
Printing the handle in Pla: next week;
Cut the cork: in few days, before the end of this week;
Finish the code for sensor and buzzer;
Make some test and record.
How will it be evaluated?
I bet that the aestetic is not going to be the major achievement.
Seriously, this is defenetly a functional application, so I suppose it is going to be evaluated in this way.
My bigger doubt is about the difference between the original idea (with more power, a fan to assist and also a battery charger option) and the final result.
At the moment I have had a good informal evaluation from my tutors.