Generating electricity from your wood stove?
 

http://www.hi-z.com/websit13.htm

I came across this the other day, never heard of this technology and am amazed at how cheap the parts seem to be if you want to build one yourself. Anyone have any hands on experience with this concept? It could be perfect for my family's pellet stove if it does indeed work.

I looked around on here to see if anybody else has mentioned it before, couldn't find any posts. If I'm mistaken and there is a thread somewhere I'd appreciate being pointed in the right direction.

Re: Generating electricity from your wood stove?
 

The same company has an example of this "thermoelectric" generator utilizing the waste heat of the engine of a class 8 diesel truck!

http://www.hi-z.com/websit07.htm

Re: Generating electricity from your wood stove?
 

Looks like they are using peltier devices to generate the power. You could find these in the surplus market and build yourself.

The fans are there to make sure the temp. differential stays there, the 'cold' side of the device needs to stay cool in order to generate the power.

Do a search for sterling engines. Much cooler tech!

Re: Generating electricity from your wood stove?
 

http://www.peltier-info.com/info.html

here you go.

http://www.thsengineering.com/surplus/tec.html

Re: Generating electricity from your wood stove?
 

Thanks for the link, interesting info.

Re: Generating electricity from your wood stove?
 

great leads, much appreciated.

Re: Generating electricity from your wood stove?
 

Cool stuff,
A few weeks ago, one of the posters linked to a free energy site. One of the technologies was by a company attempting to make energy from the warm/cold difference in the depth of lakes and oceans.

The 1000 watt tractor trailer muffler is interesting. Make a dual stack exhaust, add a couple extra batteries and a D.C. auxillary motor to drive power steering and air conditioners to remove even more horsepower loss from the engine.

Wonder what one of the mufflers would "cell" for?

Re: Generating electricity from your wood stove?
 

You may want these:

http://www.varmaraf.is/engl/prod.htm

http://www.sitechina.com/thermoelectric/Pspec.html

http://www.teenergy.fi/index_en.htm

They were also a common item on furnaces (sometimes coal) of a certain era. The 12v ran the thermostat without house power. They may still be available through HVAC suppliers.

The problem with TE seems to be a few: one, need huge temperature differentials to get adequate power. Of course, if it's close to the furnace, then it's hard to get the ice. If it's outside in the ice, it's hard to get enough heat. Also they can burn up like other semiconductors, so they can't be TOO hot--like under a freznel lens. The power they generate is marginal. If you get a water-based one, like varmaraf, then impure water clogs the fins. You can use them on a woodstove to circulate water for free, but that's all the power they have. A solar panel or thermosiphon would work more reliably at less cost.

Some have put them on a kero lantern or bonded into a saucepan (water is fixed temp and insures no meltdown). One plus: all are reversible, which is what most 12v coolers are. They're horribly inefficient compared to compressors, but can heat or cool in the same unit. If you could find one of these junked, it would have the needed parts.

Good luck. I haven't found a way to use them compared to a stirling engine (solar hot box or lens) but maybe you will.

TS