help! I need to get current from Heat.

R

Raymond

Guest
Hey People, I hope one of you can help.

I need a way to generate current (low voltage) from a fairly constant
heat source. Probably need about 3 watts. The heat will be around 200
degrees F., maybe hotter, but always fairly constant. I've been told
about, and have done some reading, on thermocouples and, I understand
that many thermocouples, are called a thermopyile (pile?), but, my
problem is that I can't find anything that generates anything more in
output than milliamps, like, 20. (I'm not stuck on thermocouple
technology either.)

Can anyone help? I'd be VERY appreciative. p.s. (don't say
steam...thnx)

Feel free to e-mail me at rrgoldstein@yahoo.com
 
For this technology what you will find is what is available. You would have
to use a lot of these, and put them in the proper series parallel
configuration as if they were small batteries. You will need a lot of them
to have any appreciable current. This is why they are not very popular.

Check the temperature ratings of these. I think that 200 F may be at the
very bottom of where these start to work.

--

Greetings,

Jerry Greenberg GLG Technologies GLG
=========================================
WebPage http://www.zoom-one.com
Electronics http://www.zoom-one.com/electron.htm
=========================================


"Raymond" <rrgoldstein@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:97b022fc.0311271543.1b2cad93@posting.google.com...
Hey People, I hope one of you can help.

I need a way to generate current (low voltage) from a fairly constant
heat source. Probably need about 3 watts. The heat will be around 200
degrees F., maybe hotter, but always fairly constant. I've been told
about, and have done some reading, on thermocouples and, I understand
that many thermocouples, are called a thermopyile (pile?), but, my
problem is that I can't find anything that generates anything more in
output than milliamps, like, 20. (I'm not stuck on thermocouple
technology either.)

Can anyone help? I'd be VERY appreciative. p.s. (don't say
steam...thnx)

Feel free to e-mail me at rrgoldstein@yahoo.com
 
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=thermoelectric+generator

Have Fun!
Rich

"Raymond" <rrgoldstein@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:97b022fc.0311271543.1b2cad93@posting.google.com...
Hey People, I hope one of you can help.

I need a way to generate current (low voltage) from a fairly constant
heat source. Probably need about 3 watts. The heat will be around 200
degrees F., maybe hotter, but always fairly constant. I've been told
about, and have done some reading, on thermocouples and, I understand
that many thermocouples, are called a thermopyile (pile?), but, my
problem is that I can't find anything that generates anything more in
output than milliamps, like, 20. (I'm not stuck on thermocouple
technology either.)

Can anyone help? I'd be VERY appreciative. p.s. (don't say
steam...thnx)

Feel free to e-mail me at rrgoldstein@yahoo.com
Click to expand...
 
On 27 Nov 2003 15:43:26 -0800, rrgoldstein@yahoo.com (Raymond) wrote:

Hey People, I hope one of you can help.

I need a way to generate current (low voltage) from a fairly constant
heat source. Probably need about 3 watts. The heat will be around 200
degrees F., maybe hotter, but always fairly constant. I've been told
about, and have done some reading, on thermocouples and, I understand
that many thermocouples, are called a thermopyile (pile?), but, my
problem is that I can't find anything that generates anything more in
output than milliamps, like, 20. (I'm not stuck on thermocouple
technology either.)

Can anyone help? I'd be VERY appreciative. p.s. (don't say
steam...thnx)

Feel free to e-mail me at rrgoldstein@yahoo.com
Click to expand...
How about a Peltier element? They can generate current from heat, if
you keep one side cool.
 
It would help if we knew what you wanted the electrical power produced for?
We might be able to suggest ways to achiave the same result with less power.


"Raymond" <rrgoldstein@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:97b022fc.0311271543.1b2cad93@posting.google.com...
Hey People, I hope one of you can help.

I need a way to generate current (low voltage) from a fairly constant
heat source. Probably need about 3 watts. The heat will be around 200
degrees F., maybe hotter, but always fairly constant. I've been told
about, and have done some reading, on thermocouples and, I understand
that many thermocouples, are called a thermopyile (pile?), but, my
problem is that I can't find anything that generates anything more in
output than milliamps, like, 20. (I'm not stuck on thermocouple
technology either.)

Can anyone help? I'd be VERY appreciative. p.s. (don't say
steam...thnx)

Feel free to e-mail me at rrgoldstein@yahoo.com
Click to expand...
 
Gary Tait <classicsat@yahoo.cominvalid> wrote in message news:<g6adsvs3d0u2vhgdn055j742fi7an6k3jr@4ax.com>...
On 27 Nov 2003 15:43:26 -0800, rrgoldstein@yahoo.com (Raymond) wrote:

Hey People, I hope one of you can help.

I need a way to generate current (low voltage) from a fairly constant
heat source. Probably need about 3 watts. The heat will be around 200
degrees F., maybe hotter, but always fairly constant. I've been told
about, and have done some reading, on thermocouples and, I understand
that many thermocouples, are called a thermopyile (pile?), but, my
problem is that I can't find anything that generates anything more in
output than milliamps, like, 20. (I'm not stuck on thermocouple
technology either.)

Can anyone help? I'd be VERY appreciative. p.s. (don't say
steam...thnx)

Feel free to e-mail me at rrgoldstein@yahoo.com

How about a Peltier element? They can generate current from heat, if
you keep one side cool.
Click to expand...

Not so long ago, I got some of these from BG Micro.

:)

-A
 
In article <97b022fc.0311271543.1b2cad93@posting.google.com>,
rrgoldstein@yahoo.com mentioned...
Hey People, I hope one of you can help.

I need a way to generate current (low voltage) from a fairly constant
heat source. Probably need about 3 watts. The heat will be around 200
degrees F., maybe hotter, but always fairly constant. I've been told
about, and have done some reading, on thermocouples and, I understand
that many thermocouples, are called a thermopyile (pile?), but, my
problem is that I can't find anything that generates anything more in
output than milliamps, like, 20. (I'm not stuck on thermocouple
technology either.)

Can anyone help? I'd be VERY appreciative. p.s. (don't say
steam...thnx)

Feel free to e-mail me at rrgoldstein@yahoo.com
Click to expand...
Here's a system.
http://www.ece.uvic.ca/~jbornema/Journals/064a-97ia-jmd.pdf

Asking for email is rude.

--
@@F@r@o@m@@O@r@a@n@g@e@@C@o@u@n@t@y@,@@C@a@l@,@@w@h@e@r@e@@
###Got a Question about ELECTRONICS? Check HERE First:###
http://users.pandora.be/educypedia/electronics/databank.htm
My email address is whitelisted. *All* email sent to it
goes directly to the trash unless you add NOSPAM in the
Subject: line with other stuff. alondra101 <at> hotmail.com
Don't be ripped off by the big book dealers. Go to the URL
that will give you a choice and save you money(up to half).
http://www.everybookstore.com You'll be glad you did!
Just when you thought you had all this figured out, the gov't
changed it: http://physics.nist.gov/cuu/Units/binary.html
@@t@h@e@@a@f@f@l@u@e@n@t@@m@e@e@t@@t@h@e@@E@f@f@l@u@e@n@t@@
 
In article <bq63mf$9a0$2@news.eusc.inter.net>, jerryg50@hotmail.com
mentioned...
For this technology what you will find is what is available. You would have
to use a lot of these, and put them in the proper series parallel
configuration as if they were small batteries. You will need a lot of them
to have any appreciable current. This is why they are not very popular.
Click to expand...
Not entirely true, see
http://www.ece.uvic.ca/~jbornema/Journals/064a-97ia-jmd.pdf

Check the temperature ratings of these. I think that 200 F may be at the
very bottom of where these start to work.
Click to expand...

--
@@F@r@o@m@@O@r@a@n@g@e@@C@o@u@n@t@y@,@@C@a@l@,@@w@h@e@r@e@@
###Got a Question about ELECTRONICS? Check HERE First:###
http://users.pandora.be/educypedia/electronics/databank.htm
My email address is whitelisted. *All* email sent to it
goes directly to the trash unless you add NOSPAM in the
Subject: line with other stuff. alondra101 <at> hotmail.com
Don't be ripped off by the big book dealers. Go to the URL
that will give you a choice and save you money(up to half).
http://www.everybookstore.com You'll be glad you did!
Just when you thought you had all this figured out, the gov't
changed it: http://physics.nist.gov/cuu/Units/binary.html
@@t@h@e@@a@f@f@l@u@e@n@t@@m@e@e@t@@t@h@e@@E@f@f@l@u@e@n@t@@
 
"Watson A.Name - Watt Sun, Dark Remover" <alondra101@hotmail.com> wrote in
message
Asking for email is rude.
Click to expand...
Oh come on. He didn't say he'd prefer email. He just said "feel free to
email me". As in "if you don't want to clutter up the newsgroup with chit
chat you can send me email instead".

What really would be impolite would be if we never heard from him again ;-)
 
Raymond wrote:
Hey People, I hope one of you can help.

I need a way to generate current (low voltage) from a fairly constant
heat source. Probably need about 3 watts. The heat will be around 200
degrees F., maybe hotter, but always fairly constant. I've been told
about, and have done some reading, on thermocouples and, I understand
that many thermocouples, are called a thermopyile (pile?), but, my
problem is that I can't find anything that generates anything more in
output than milliamps, like, 20. (I'm not stuck on thermocouple
technology either.)

Can anyone help? I'd be VERY appreciative. p.s. (don't say
steam...thnx)

Feel free to e-mail me at rrgoldstein@yahoo.com
Click to expand...

Within the past year or two Circuit Cellar did an article on using a
Peltier device that way.
Ah! I was wrong; it was the December 1999 issue (#113). "Generating
Thermoelectric Power" by Randy Heisch.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Welcome to EDABoard.com

Sponsor

Back
Top