Development of thermoelectric power generation system for industrial furnaces

IHI is currently investigating applications of thermoelectric conversion systems based on the usage of radiant heat for industrial furnaces. The thermoelectric module units, which have been connected to a water-cooled jacket wall inside an electric resistance-heating-type industrial furnace, receive the heat originating from the in-furnace heat insulator by means of radiation, and collect the electric power based on the temperature difference. In this work, experimental results are presented, concerning the mechanical characteristics, as well as a performance simulation, of a two-step cascade connection type module based on the heat transmission and thermoelectric conversion characteristic.