CANDLE LIGHT POWER FAN

Capstone Project Presentation

Sushant DubeySanjeev Dubey

Shri Kant Sudhakar Tiwari

THERMOELECTRIC POWER

The thermoelectric cooler (TEC) powered by a candle light. It started as an experiment of

how much power can be achieved from one candle.

But liked the idea and it worked really well so I built this electric-mechanical ornament.

It did not use a high temperature TEG-module, but instead a cheap TEC-module.

That can still handle 200 degrees Celsius which is good enough.

But liked the idea and it worked really well so I built this electric-mechanical ornament.

It did not use a high temperature TEG-module, but instead a cheap TEC-module.

PRINCIPLE

It is based on the thermo electric effect

The thermoelectric effect is the direct conversion of temperature differences to electric voltage

and vice versa.

A thermoelectric device creates voltage when there is a different temperature on each side.

This effect can be used to generate electricity, measure temperature or change the temperature

of objects.

The term "thermoelectric effect" encompasses three separately identified effects: the Seebeck

effect, Peltier effect and Thomson effect.

CONCEPT It is also called a peltier element and when you use it as a generator it's called seebeck

effect.

The module generates power to drive a motor and the motor fan/air flow will cool the

upper heat sink.

Higher temperature difference => increased output power  => increased motor RPM =>

increased air flow => increased temperature difference

The motor start to turn at about 15 degrees difference, which to my surprise worked

when I just went outdoors with it and the upper heat sink got cooler than the basement.

MATERIAL REQUIREMENT

TEC Module

Heat Sinker

DC Motor

Candle

Electric Fan

Aluminum sheet

Control Unit

Stand

Copper wire

Re -chargeable battery(10 v)

TEC MODULE

The thermoelectric module is based in Bi2Te3 .

The electricity is generated when the temperature difference through modules

increases, and generator efficiency of converting thermal energy into

electricity also increase.

A Peltier cooler can also be used as a thermoelectric.

HEAT SINKER

Made of material with good thermal conductivity, generally aluminum alloys,

and also has a geometric structure.

Increases the surface area of the housing,

Increase heat dissipation.

Increase useful life.

DC MOTOR

The motor is a device used to convert electrical energy into

mechanical energy .E.g. AC Motors, DC Motors, induction

motors, Conventional DC motors

ELECTRIC FAN

To suck the air from the atmosphere by the fan which is

connected to the heat sinker acting as a coolant and let the

aspirated air and release it by the fan.

ALUMINIUM PLATE

It is a silvery-white , soft, non-magnetic , malleable metal .

low density metal .

ability to resist corrosion .

Good electrical and thermal conductivity.

CONTROL UNIT

A control unit operates by receiving input information which converts it into

control signal .

Then sent to the central processor .

The computer processor then tells the accompanying hardware which perform

operations .

Performs a function depending on the type of CPU, because of the variation

of the architecture between different manufacturers.

LITERATURE REVIEW Glatz et al. - Introduced a wafer fabrication process level based on the novel polymer

micro thermoelectric power generators for application to non-planar surfaces.

Rowe - He reported that thermoelectric power generator based on the waste heat is used

in a domestic central heating system with the modules located between the heat source

and the water jacket. In this application, the heat output provided by the burner gas / oil

passes through the generator before reaching the exchanger hot water central heating

Taguchi - Invented a thermoelectric power generator exhaust gas based for an

automotive application .

Min and Rowe - Reported in 1994 that generator consists of a series of modules

sandwiched between the transport channels and hot water cold.

CONSTRUCTION

Other heat sinks, TEC/TEG, motor, fan, thermal paste, bolts and base plate can be used.

A TEC or TEG module (smaller dimension than upper heat sink base plate). Specifications are

not that important but make sure it can handle high temperature.

Many modules are only 100 degrees C and then you need to modify the construction as it gets

warmer than that.

One hot side that is not hotter than TEC max-temp (My candle flame never touches the surface)

One cold side, an efficient heat sink (heat pipes) are a good choice

Good thermal paste to maximize temperature difference

FUTURE SCOPE

It can be classified in micro and macro scale depending upon conversion of potential

energy into electric power.

Future developments in these applications tend to move towards the Nano technology.

To develop more new thermoelectric unit geometries and configurations.

To focus on finding the most appropriate thermoelectric materials that could handle

higher temperatures from various industrial sources of heat at a feasible cost with

acceptable performance.

FEASIBILITY STUDY

A feasibility analysis usually involves a thorough evaluation of the operational (need),

financial and technical aspects of a proposal.

Facts considered in the feasibility analysis were :-

i. TECHNICAL FEASIBILITY :- Technical feasibility deals with the hardware and

software requirements.

ii. ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY :- This feasibility study have tangible and intangible

benefits prefect by comparing the development and operating costs.

iii. BEHAVOIRAL FEASIBILITY :- This analysis involves how it will work when installed

and assessment of the political environment and management in which it operates

ADVANTAGES

Extremely reliable and silent operation.

No moving parts .

Require much less maintenance.

 Simple, compact and safe .

 Very small and almost weightless .

Capable of operating at high temperatures.

Suitable where there is little or no electricity.

Environmentally friendly .

DISADVANTAGES

The major drawback thermoelectric power generator is relatively low

conversion efficiency.  

Complexity in terms of installation.

APPLICATION

Domestic waste heat.

Residual heat from the exhaust gases generated by the motor applications .

Industrial waste heat Applications.

The waste heat from the incineration of solid waste applications .

RESULT

Aluminium plate hot temperature - 100-150 degrees Celsius.

Voltage and current with one candle- 0.4V and 0.25A so .1w output power.

Voltage and current with two candle- 0.54A and 0.67V. so 0.36W output

power.

A candle produce- 25 watts.

Efficiency 0.7%.

FUTURE SCOPE

Tend to move towards the Nano technology.

Focus on finding the most appropriate thermoelectric materials that could

handle higher temperatures.

Heat conversion at a feasible cost with acceptable performance.

Development of new flexible thermoelectric materials .

CONCLUSION

Devices that either convert heat directly into electricity .

Effective method of waste heat recovery.

Used by the military, medical, industrial, consumer, scientific / laboratory, and

telecommunications organizations.

Promising alternative green technology.

THANK YOU

QUERIES