Gerador termelétrico em estado sólido com aquecimento solar e resfriamento geotérmico

Abstract

In the search for electric power generation with a high level of sustainability and regional development potential for the Northeast of Brazil, the use of the Sun for energy generation is extremely considerable, due to the high levels of solar radiation in this region of the country. This research presents a proposal for an electric power generator that uses the phenomenon of thermoelectricity, transforming temperature difference into electrical power, using solar heating and geothermal cooling to obtain the temperature difference necessary for its operation. Simulations were developed using finite volume methods, which allowed the analysis of the individualized thermal behavior of each component of the project. In addition to the simulations, prototypes were made with the purpose of replicating the operation of the proposed model under simulated conditions by means of devices capable of reproducing the same scenarios found in the specialized literature regarding the performance of each phenomenon. The experimental results were monitored by a data acquisition system and thermographic analysis. Finally, the system composed of an association of four thermoelectric cells reached electrical power values of 281 W/m² delivered to a resistive load of 4.3 Ohms.