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UNIVERSITY OF BUCHAREST
FACULTY OF PHYSICS Guest
2026-06-11 23:58 |
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Conference: Bucharest University Faculty of Physics 2026 Meeting
Section: Physics and Technology of Renewable and Alternative Energy Sources
Title:
Evaluating the Recovery of Heat from Stove Flues Using the Seebeck Effect
Authors:
Pavel ARGHIRA, Sanda VOINEA
Affiliation:
University of Bucharest, Faculty of Physics, 405 Atomiștilor str., PO Box MG-38, Bucharest-Măgurele, România
E-mail
arghirapavel@gmail.com
Keywords:
Seebeck effect, waste thermal energy, supercapacitor, TEG module, low-power sensor
Abstract:
This study examines the feasibility of harvesting waste thermal energy from wood stove flue pipes using thermoelectric generators (TEGs) based on the Seebeck effect to power autonomous monitoring systems in off-grid or energy-limited environments. The proposed system converts the temperature gradient between the hot flue surface (180–250°C) and a cooled heat sink (50–70°C) into electrical energy, generating approximately 0.5–3 W depending on operating conditions. A detailed thermal and electrical analysis was performed on a 40 × 40 mm high-temperature thermoelectric generator (TEG) module. Heat transfer calculations guided the selection of an aluminum heat sink with a thermal resistance below 0.6 K/W. Energy storage is achieved using a 5.5 V, 10 F supercapacitor, enabling intermittent operation of low-power sensors and wireless communication modules, with energy consumption estimated at 3.5–15 J per cycle. Additional thermal protection strategies were implemented to ensure system reliability and prevent overheating. The results indicate that although TEG systems have limited efficiency and are not suitable for large-scale energy production, they represent a viable, maintenance-free solution for powering low-energy devices in thermally active and remote environments. The proposed system offers a practical alternative to battery-based solutions for autonomous sensing applications.
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