OK, this isn't exactly a totally new idea (others are pursuing it), but I think it is worth mentioning.

I live in a cold, northern climate where it is below zero (farenheit) for a good portion of the year. As we live in a rural area, our heat (as well as that of many others) comes from an oil-burning stove that burns fuel oil. One of the things that has always struck me as wasteful about these stoves is that a great deal of the heat that is produced by combustion of the oil is just blown out to the atmosphere via the exhaust pipe.

My idea is to use thermoelectric modules (see http://www.geocities.com/ResearchTriangle/Facility/9209/components/thermoelectric_modules.html for an explanation of how these things work) to convert some of this waste heat into electricity. The modules I have researched (see http://hi-z.com/manual.pdf) will convert about 5% of the thermal energy that runs through them into electricity at a temperature differential between the hot and cold side of 200 degrees C (392 degrees F), producing a minimum of 14 watts of power. Several of these in series would be more than enough to charge a 12V car battery.

The neccessary temperature differential could be easily supplied as outside temps reach 20 to 50 (F) below here in the winter and the exhaust from the oil heater is probably around 200 - 350 F degrees (although I am just guessing here, as I have yet to actually measure this). Therefore, using just an air-cooled (fin-type) heat sink would probably be sufficient.

This idea could probably also work on the exhaust systems of vehicles, athough a water-cooled heat sink might be needed.

What do you think of this idea or comment?
(You can change your vote at any time)

I agree

No opinion

I disagree