Thermoelectric power source for building sensors - analysis and measurement

Abstract

This paper deals with using of heat emitted from machinery parts, radiators for human for building automation needs. The most of devices and applications in environment produced some values of waste heat to vicinity. Mostly this heat goes to the surrounded area without any benefits for us and we lose valuable energy that can be still use. Especially aim of this paper is using of human waste heat as an electric energy source for building sensors and switches. As heat absorber were used the standard low-cost Peltier element. The limitations for this applications are small heat transfer area (human palm, human finger), small mechanical dimensions and low temperature difference. This temperature difference depends on actual temperature of the human skin and on temperature of heat dissipation side of Peltier element. Temperature difference during measurement was only approximately 11 °C.