

New technology promising to cut CO2 and save gas



thermoelectric generators or TEGs for short.




ten terawatt hours per year. 


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RE: Potato meet exhaust pipe...
By masher2 on 6/7/2008 1:51:13 PM , Rating: 2
> "So, it doesn't block the exhaust and cannot create an increased back pressure."

Yes, but remember the function of that exhaust is to allow heat to exit, not just hot air. Even without any additional backpressure, a wrapper around the exhaust pipe (or even the engine itself) will have a minor insulating effect, and will thus reduce engine efficiency somewhat.

I have no doubt the overall effect will be very small, possibly even negligible, but it most definitely exists.

RE: Potato meet exhaust pipe...
By MisterChristopher on 6/8/2008 5:17:12 AM , Rating: 2
Masher, your comment does not make sense. The point of a unit like this would be to collect energy in the form of heat and convert it to electrical energy. Therefor instead of insulating, you may actually find that if used in conjunction with an effective heatsincing system, this could potentially convert more heat to electrical energy than energy you might naturally dissapate via radiant heat off your muffler system.

Basically think of these things as a reverse peltier. They could potentially be attached to other radient heat surfaces like the engine block, the radiator, the hood of the car, or any other part of your car where there is a temperature differential between two surfaces because of air flow or coolant channeling. Effective car designs could easily channel air over certain areas.

The amount of current created is based solely on the difference in temperature. This means that when there is only a small difference in temperature between the two surfaces of the peltier, there will only be a small current. But, with well designed heat transfer systems, I can see a potential for creating several zones on the car which make hotspots for this for of energy harvesting. These areas should be able to generate very decent current. Definitely enough to completely replace your alternator, or enough to charge batteries in hybrids very effectively.

RE: Potato meet exhaust pipe...
By masher2 on 6/8/2008 5:26:05 PM , Rating: 2

Converting heat energy to another form is more difficult than simply exhausting heat -- all else being equal, any system which attempts to capture the energy of exhausted heat is going to radiate slower than one which does not.

Now while its feasible that this might be outweighed by an "effective heatsinking system", you're then not comparing apples to apples. One could easily put such a heatsink on just the radiator itself, without adding the thermoconverter itself.

RE: Potato meet exhaust pipe...
By MisterChristopher on 6/9/2008 4:01:11 PM , Rating: 2
I'm not comparing apples to apples. I am trying to show a way that this technology could easily equal or surpass the heat dissapation qualities of our current muffler systems. This technology is totoally plausible without creating any additional heat load or insulating effect compared to what we have now. It could possibly even reduce the average heat level dependant on your design and the temperature differentials that design creates.

This technology is excellent. You could go get a peltier right now and start using it to generate electricity without any complicated heatsincing and no insulating. Just get one and strap it onto your muffler. See what kind of current it produces. I bet if you had a few of these thermoelectric units attached to your car, you could power an HHO creation process via waste energy.

RE: Potato meet exhaust pipe...
By masher2 on 6/9/2008 4:32:51 PM , Rating: 2
> "Just get one and strap it onto your muffler. See what kind of current it produces"

You're still missing the point. Sure it'll produce current...but it'll also the heat level inside the muffler itself.

A single peltier won't raise it measureably...but it also won't create much current either. Cover the entire muffler surface with them, however, and you'll see not only a higher internal muffler temperature, but a slightly lower fuel efficiency as well.

The laws of thermodynamics are quite rigid. If you want to cool a system, you're going to have to input energy. You can't achieve a cooling effect simply by processing waste heat.


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