LOW COST SOLAR THERMOELECTRIC WATER FLOATING DEVICE TO SUPPLY MEASUREMENT PLATFORM

Abstract

This work presents the prototype of the solar - thermoelectric device, which can float on water surface. It produces electrical energy as a result of the Seebeck effect in a commercial, low-cost Peltier module. The main application of the device will be an autonomous and a floating measurement platform. An important advantage of the presented solution is the possibility to work alike at day, when a solar light heats the surface of the absorber, and at night, when the different of temperatures between air and water causes the heat flux and in an effect the electricity. The device is capable of working for many cloudy days and also in winter on very short days. The presented device is based on low-cost and widely available components.

Keywords

• thermoelectric devices
• solar power generation
• energy conversion