Generate Electricity From Walls!!

Intro: Generate Electricity From Walls!!

Generate Electricity From Walls!!

(if you like the project,kindly vote for my project as I'am taking part in power supplies contest.)

(Note:The initial one is just a concept,the feasible one starts from step 8 where i incorporated i power supply in the project.)

Surprised!? Well,It is possible to make electricity out of walls ..but it will work only in very cold or very hot climates.

You should have possibly guessed by now that Thermoelectric cooling is the principle. Peltier effect can make this possible.

Thermoelectric cooling uses the Peltier effect to create a heat flux between the junction of two different types of materials.

Currently Peltier modules are little expensive, however mass production with better technology can bring down the cost drastically

IN COLD COUNTRIES:

People use heaters inside their homes .A heater will produce an temperature of around 30 celsius while the outside temperature is around 2 to 3 degrees.We can use this difference to produce energy that will further power the heater or any other appliance

IN HOT COUNTRIES

People use air conditioners to keep the inside cool.The ideal temperature inside in countries like UAE is 25 degree celcius whiloe the outside temperature is around 50 degrees.This difference of around 25 degrees will enable us to create enough power to support the air conditioning and thus crating a chain cycle.

Please view the pictures that I inserted to get a clear understanding of the concept what I'am trying to explain

STEP 1: GET THE MATERIALS...

Cost of the Project: $15 (If you are using a medium sized Peltier and starting from scratch)

THE FOLLOWING LINKS ARE JUST FOR REFERENCE. DO NOT BUY FROM THE LINKS AS THEY ARE TOO EXPENSIVE. LOCAL ELECTRONIC PART SHOPS ARE CHEAPER

THE MATERIALS YOU WILL NEED ARE:

• A PELTIER (The type of Peltier depends on you because you will need a small one for the experimentation (Prototype) and a 2 Square meter Peltier for an actual wall)

http://www.amazon.in/xcluma-Tec1-12705-Thermoelect...

• WIRES TO ATTACH PELTIERS

http://www.amazon.in/REES52-40pin-Dupont-Jumper-Pi...

• BATTERIES TO STORE THE POWER GENERATED

http://www.amazon.in/Relicell-Maintenance-Free-Bat...

• A FUSE (OPTIONAL, SAFETY FIRST)

http://www.amazon.in/Bussmann-Fuse-Mini-20AMP-pack...

• THERMAL GREEN PASTE

http://www.amazon.in/Arctic-Silver-Thermal-Compoun...

STEP 2: SEARCH FOR THE RIGHT SPOT!!

DASH INTO YOUR HOUSE AND SEARCH FOR THE RIGHT SPOT.

YOU NEED TO FIND A SPOT WHERE TEMPERATURE DIFFERENCE EXISTS.

1. A HOLE IN THE WALL OF YOUR GARAGE
2. A INSULATED WINDOW
3. YOUR FRIDGE
4. CREATE A HOLE IN THE CUPBOARD

NOW,ATTACH THE PELTIER IN SUCH A WAY THAT ONE PART FACES THE OUTSIDE ATMOSPHERE AND OTHER PART FACES THE INSIDE OF YOUR HOUSE.THIS WAY YOU WILL BE ABLE TO GENERATE POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE AND USE THE BATTERY TO CHARGE IT.

OR TO MAKE IT MORE AWESOME AND EFFECTIVE

USE THE ULTIMATE SPOT THAT I FOUND - AN HARD BOX...(ANY SHAPE IS FINE BUT IT SHOULD BE CLOSED)

STEP 3: SNAP THEM!!!

NOW WE HAVE TO CUT THE BOX..

1.CUT IT IN THE SHAPE OF THE PELTIER..TAKE ADULT SUPERVISION

2.INSERT THE PELTIER INTO THE CUT SLOT

3.APPLY THERMO PASTE ON THE BORDERS OF THE PELTIER.

4.TEST IT BY BLOWING INTO THE BOX AND PRODUCING A POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE..(BLOW HARD)

5.USE A HEATING ELEMENT INSIDE THE BOX TO PRODUCE HIGH TEMPERATURE

STEP 4: STUFF IN THE BOX...

PUT WHATEVER INSULATING OR WARM MATERIAL INSIDE THE BOX LIKE

1.WOOL

2.COTTON BALLS

3.STYROFOAM

4.A HEATING ELEMENT(FOR BETTER EFFECT) - for experimentation only (PROTOTYPE)

http://www.amazon.in/Ceramic-Cartridge-Heating-Ele...

NOW BLOW WARM AIR INTO IT AND SEE WHETHER YOU CAN PRODUCE ANY POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE..

STEP 5: USE THE BOX...

NOW YOU HAVE TO USE THE ENERGY THAT IS PRODUCED DURING THE PROCESS..

YOU MAY:

1.USE AN LED AND MAKE IT YOUR EMERGENCY LIGHT WHEN PRESENT IN COLD ATMOSPHERES.

2.YOU MAY USE IT TO FURTHER POWER THE HEATING ELEMENT WHICH WILL PRODUCE MORE HEAT THUS MORE VOLTAGE

3.YOU MAY ATTACH IT TO A FAN AND USE IT AS A VENTILATOR.

4.IF YOU DO IT ON MASS SCALE THEN IT MAY PRODUCE ENOUGH POWER TO POWER UP YOUR HOUSE.

NOW TAKE THE BOX OUTSIDE OR INSERT IT ON THE WINDOW AND THE TEMPERATURE DIFFERENCE WILL CAUSE ELECTRICITY TO FLOW THROUGH IT.

VIEWER'S SUGGESTION

1.YOU WILL HAVE TO USE A TRANSFORMER IN ORDER TO POWER IT UP AS PELTIERS THEMSELVES CONSUME ELECTRICITY.

2.I always wanted to make a giant solar reflector to make a solar thermo-electric generator.

THANK YOU FOR READING

STEP 6: Where I Went Wrong?

Now,this was just a concept and I went wrong in many places.First,I will tell you where I went wrong and then put up an idea that will make this work.(now,I'am serious)

First,it violated the zeroth law of thermodynamics that says energy in an isolated system is conserved i.e the energy gets exchanged until both attain same potential.So,In a way I'am putting more pressure on the air conditioner or heater to eat up more energy in order to maintain the temperature.

Secondly,peltiers are heavy and expensive so cannot be transported easily.

What next?

Well,I got pretty cool suggestions from you guys that will make this process more efficient rather than prefect.

So,lets get into it guys.

STEP 7: The Help Came From Nature..

Alright so the problem is the man made heater and the air conditioner right!

Lets take inspiration from nature and optics.

If we use a convex lens and focus the sunlight rays that come from infinity we will get a concentrated spot at the focal length of the lens.

Now,If I keep one side of the peltier on this concentrated spot at the focus of the convex lens,I'll be able to get

a pretty good temperature rise.But,the problem is that the other side too will get heated by the zeroth law of thermodynamics.In that case,I will have to use a coolant like water to keep it cool and if we do it in a windy place the water will get evaporated and evaporation will further increase cooling.We may even use some sort of endothermic reaction like photosynthesis and evaporation.

Alright lets put a blue print of the plan which will help us build it..

cool side warm side

1.photosynthesis 1.light rays focused using a convex lens

2.coolant like passage of water

3.any endothermic reaction

Application:

This can be used in hydroelectric plants to produce extra energy while utilizing the same equipments(except the huge convex lens)

STEP 8: Second Bulid..

Materials required:

Same as above.But you will need these extra materials

1.convex lens.Magnifying glass would do.

2.a holder to hold the peltier in place

3.coolant maybe running water

STEP 9: Building Temp Difference by Solar...

Now using the convex lens,focus beams of sunlight so that one side gets hot and the other side is cooled by the water flow.

You can build the prototype like me.I joined the magnifying glass to the tripod using a cable.

Use a power supply to get energy in other forms.The blue one indicates the power supply.

Use a heat sink for better absorption of heat.

Attach it as shown in the figure.powersup

Everything elese is self explanatory.

STEP 10: Power Supply??

Now we are generating electricity and using it for the fridge,But we need an instrument to control all these.I'am talking about mass production when this is brought into real practice.So I'am using a power supply to power the mini controller and the thermostat.

STEP 11: Incorporating a Power Supply....

I used these power supplies.

The first one is a variable power supply fit for the peltier.

The second one will be used to control the entire system i.e in future if we want to control the previously made power generator and the fridge at the same time we can use the second power supply used to power the mini computer in the next step.

I further used the same power supply to support the incubator fan which i will post soon.

STEP 12: The Mini Controller..

In case you want to control the previously made power generator and the fridge at the same time you will have to use a mini computer.

I got this from my dad's car.It uses the power supply to convert regular mains to usable one.By programming the computer .You can monitor the electricity.

You can also use raspberry pi instead.

To control the water supply in the previously built power generator you can use this computer...

STEP 13: The Coding..

The python code for the thermostat can be downloaded from:

https://github.com/tom91136/thermostat

The python code for the electricity monitor can be downloaded from:

https://github.com/sjmelia/pi-electricity-monitor

The python code for the stepper motor controller for the water flow can be downloaded from:

https://github.com/tjmarkham/python-stepper

STEP 14: Finally Isolate It..

connect the power supply and you are ready to go....

Comments

[Zen Innovations]

These experiments are good for learning and Exploration but other than that, they're too inefficient to be of any use. They are currently just adding another strain on Room heater/ AC and is simply converting extra power from them.

A slightly better alternative would be to Place Peltier on Roof with large black heatsink and Convex Lens on Top to converge Suns Heat/Rays. The Other end could have water cooling.

[harishk99]

Will you join me in the Maker'space contest?Please

[Zen Innovations]

Hello, I would love to join however I do not have any project coming up for that.

[harishk99]

dude just enter all your earlier projects into it.

[Zen Innovations]

Can you guide me how to do It? AFAIK entering older projects is not allowed.

[harishk99]

with the keyword Infin9527

[harishk99]

You can even post really simple projects that would be featured...Will You join me please>

[smartrem]

Some companies are using this system to build self adjusting valves for heaters. This produces enough electricity to get a small motor to move the setting of a valve and send a radio message telling if the valve is open or closed. Of course, it's not going to power up a whole building but there are some applications already in use, it's not only fun. Have a look at Eltako FKS-E.

[harishk99]

After suggestion from members....I'am modifying the project to make it more efficient....

[niclasDE]

I always like to see curiosity in people and how they come up with new ideas. Maybe 1 in 10.000 ideas can make a change in the lives of people but unfortunately this one here cannot I am afraid. As stated above Peltier elements are very inefficient and they need to be placed on a spot of huge temperature difference. You totally want to avoid those spots when thinking about air-condition or heating as they will increase your energy bill. Just google "Perpetuum mobile"...

[DIY Hacks and How Tos]

Thermo-electric elements are really fun. I always wanted to make a giant solar reflector to make a solar thermo-electric generator.

[SoakedinVancouver]

Or you could go for miniature, like, a small solar ray concentrator beaming at a Peltier side, while the other side is immersed, via a heatsink, into water. With this, you could recharge a battery on a buoy used for scientific data gathering.

[harishk99]

thank you for your suggestion

[careframe]

You can connect pelletier only in parallel. Because pelletier consume electricity too... If you want more voltage you have to use transformer.

[harishk99]

thats true

[SoakedinVancouver]

You got the concept but you now have to read about the (devilish) details. Peltier devices are not very efficient, so the scalability as you see it is not possible at the present. Don't let that disappoint you! Lots of other practical uses... You have a good imagination, you will find applications :)

[domino88]

I am not very familiar with peltier elements. But if you use energy to cool your house or to heat your house based on the climate, replacing a wall of insulation with a wall of peltier modules that turn surrounding heat/cool into energy will surely require you to put more energy in cooling/heating your house I would imagine. In the end, things are a zero sum game and electricity does not get created out of thin air...

[harishk99]

Thank you..See the concept is not using an entire wall made up of peltiers...it is about using chunks of them in different walls...this way smaller peltiers can be used over a large surface area..This way it is easier to build temperature difference without wasting energy..In other words,you are trying to embed the peltier into the wall...thus,with the fusion of wall and peltier..this is possible

[domino88]

Sorry, my comment was not very well structured and a bit confusing. I guess there are two separate concerns: one is a reduced insulation and the second is that you need to "feed" your peltier elements with heat or cool from inside the house. On the second point, the peltier element will actually use up that heat energy and turn it into electricity. Bottom line, you will need to put more energy into cooling or heating your home for the peltier elements to function well... If my understanding is correct. Electricity does not get created out of thin air...

[CarsonH3]

yes. "free" energy is not free. you're just taking it from somewhere else.