“THERMOELECTRIC POWER GENERATION
FROM WASTE HEAT PRODUCED BY A
HOUSEHOLD ROOF”
by
ELIAS A. ATTABAN JR
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
Electricity is one of the primary needs of a community and also one of the reasons for
a country development. Having access to electricity gives a community to ingress in any
economic activities and meet the standard of living which provides even the basic human
needs. Electricity is widely used for lighting rooms, working fans and other appliances that
provide comfort to people. Transportations and factories also depend on it. And until now,
many modern equipment’s are still developed because of electricity. However, the use of
electricity is increasing along with the growing rate of population, worlds energy demand is
continuously increasing day by day.
In a power situation report prepaid by the Department of Energy (DOE), it states that
the country’s total peak demand in 2019 was recorded at 15,581 MW, which is 799 MW or
5.4% higher than the 14,782 MW in 2018. As recorded by the System Operator, the Luzon
grid contributed 11,344 MW or 72.8% of the total demand while Visayas and Mindanao
contributed a share of 14.3% (2,224 MW) and 12.9% (2,013 MW), respectively. With
reference to year 2018, the peak demand of Luzon increased by 468 MW or 4.3% while
Visayas and Mindanao grew by 8.3% and 8.6%, respectively. It is also stated that the sector
with the largest consumption remains to be residential (28.8%) followed by industrial
(26.6%) and commercial (24.0%). This simply shows that the country is experiencing a boost
in electricity consumption.
According to a recent article released by Manila Bulletin, National Grid Corporation
of the Philippines (NGCP) has placed red alert status over the Luzon grid. This is because
weather is too hot and the demand for electricity is very high that water levels for dams and
other hydroelectric plants fail to produce enough electricity stored in the power grid.
1.2 Conceptual Framework/ Theoretical Framework
Figure 1-1 shows the conceptual framework of the Thermoelectric Power Generation
from Waste Heat Produce by a Household Roof. The input is the converting of waste heat
coming from a household roof into electrical energy with the help of thermoelectric
generator. On the other hand, its process consists of methods on how the researcher develop a
prototype in harvesting waste energy through heat. The output would be to successfully light
up the given lighting load.
Figure 1-1. Conceptual Framework
1.3 Statement of the Problem
Power shortage drive people to find alternative sources of energy to meet their needs.
Renewable energy is one of this. In fact, renewable energies like Biomass, Solar, Hydro,
Wind and Geothermal Power are now widely used. According to Department of Science and
Technology (DOST), about 25% of the country's power generation is came from renewable
resources.
Waste heat is another alternative source of energy. In almost all industrial processes,
more than half of the input energy is turned into waste heat. There are many known ways to
convert a waste heat into electrical energy. One approach is by using a thermoelectric device,
where a change in temperature across a semiconductor material creates a voltage that causes
electricity to flow.
Heat coming directly from the sun is considered also as a waste heat. Photovoltaic
devices are well known for converting the energy from the sun directly to electricity.
However, solar energy is a broader concept than just energy delivered by PV system. For
example, thermoelectric generators (TEG) can also use solar energy, in the form of heat, to
generate electrical power. It is possible for TEGs to directly convert as much solar energy
into electrical energy as their fellow PVs do.
It is known that Tuguegarao City is one of the hottest places here in the Philippines.
On average, the temperatures are always high that typically varies from 69°F to 95°F and is
rarely below 64°F or above 100°F. Tuguegarao City recorded the highest temperature at 42.2
degrees Celsius on Aug. 19, 1912, and on May 11, 1969. On May 14 last month, the
temperature hit 42 degrees.
In this study, the researcher proposes a thermoelectric power generation using peltier
module in a simple and reliable way. This will be a thermoelectric roof generator wherein the
heat coming from the roof will use for heating the hot side of the thermoelectric module
while heat sink is attached in the cold side and water will be use as a main source of cooling.
1.4 Objectives of the Study
The overall objectives of this project are as follows:
1) To produce an alternative power source by utilizing waste heat coming from a
household roof.
2) To light up led bulbs for a small household using thermoelectric device.
3) To develop a design that can produce a sustainable energy supply for a given heat
source.
1.5 Significance of the Study
This study will be extremely helpful in improving the quality of life for many people
who are not capable of equipping a power source for them to live a good life. This study aims
to provide a backup or alternative source of energy by using thermoelectric device.
Moreover, it is an environment-friendly energy conversion with the advantages of small size,
reliability and will not omit greenhouse gases to environment that increases the global
warming.
1.6 Scope and Limitations of the Study
This project focuses on producing a sufficient energy source by harvesting waste heat
coming from a household roof with the use of thermoelectric devise. The energy harvested
should be enough to charge a battery to supply 3 LED bulbs and can also be used as a backup
power when brownout occurs. This project does not include on producing power to run any
electrical appliances other than the 3 LED bulbs.
1.7 Definition of Terms
Heat – a measure of the warmth or coldness of an object or substance with reference to some
standard value.
Waste heat – heat rejected or escaping from furnaces of various types (as coke ovens,
cement kilns, or steel furnaces) after it has served its primary purpose.
Electricity – is the flow of charges where usually the charges will be carried by free-flowing
electrons.
Thermoelectric generator (TEG) – is an electric device that converts heat energy produced
from a heat source directly into electrical energy.
Peltier Module – are electronic devices designed for cooling objects to below the ambient
temperature or maintaining objects at a specific temperature by controlled heating or cooling.
Seebeck Effect- is a phenomenon in which a temperature difference between two dissimilar
electrical conductors or semiconductors produces a voltage difference between the two
substances.
Renewable energy – is useful energy that is collected from renewable resources, which are
naturally replenished on a human timescale, including carbon neutral sources like sunlight,
wind, rain, tides, waves, and geothermal heat.
Boost Converter – a DC-to-DC converter that steps up the voltage from its input to its
output.
Voltage Regulator – any electrical or electronic device that maintains the voltage of a power
source within acceptable limits.
Inverter – a device that converts either of the two binary digits or signals into the other.
